Conservation and fish function

Abstract

The future for fish is a matter of concern. Individual fish may need specific conditions and are increasingly constrained by habitat changes and destruction, such as the reduction of wetlands. Pollution and temperature change affect fish negatively. It has recently been suggested that extinction rates for freshwater fish are very high. Generally, the wild fishery has no owner, ‘the tragedy of the commons’ may apply with nobody taking adequate responsibility. Increasing awareness is promoting conservation and conservation physiology. This can involve aquaculture, reducing the wild fisheries and captive breeding to rehabilitate stocks. Problems arise with overoptimistic views of bony fish reproductive capacity, a proportion may omit gametogenesis dependent on nutrition or temperature conditions. Conservation measures include establishing ‘marine protected areas’ which help recovery of fish populations. Support for conservation depends on education and knowledge-based decisions rather than inappropriate political compromises, particularly when international groups discuss the problems.