Have Fish Will Travel—A Scientist's View of the World

Abstract

In this article, I provide a brief description of my experience working in the field of fisheries in various countries around the world from Europe to Australasia. The fish and fisheries of New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea are discussed and the various factors affecting them are summarized and compared. Although environmental conditions and fish faunas vary considerably among these countries, all are affected to various degrees by human disturbances to land and water. Many fish species are particularly threatened by river modifications, such as impoundment and abstraction, resource development (e.g., mining), and changes in land use through forest clearance and agricultural development, as well as by the effects of introduced species, such as carp and trout. However, continued improvements in environmental management and implementation of species conservation programs provide hope that the declines may be halted or reversed. My experience suggests that working in a range of countries can provide a unique perspective on the problems facing the world's fish and fisheries.