Importance of fish biodiversity conservation and management

Abstract

One of the key concerns for enabling the sustainable use of natural resources is biodiversity and its conservation. Fish make up the most varied group of vertebrates and they are considered to be a reliable indication of water pollution. Humans are causing an increasing loss of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, which is likely to have a detrimental impact on ecosystem functioning, services, and resistance to future environmental change. Overfising from different water bodies is one of the major issues which could affect the aquatic ecosystems. These fishing pressures may alter the development and behaviour of fish, alter the life cycles and productivity of fish, and reduce availability of fish stocks. All ecosystems undergo change, and both the existence and number of species will fluctuate with or without human intervention and this should be taken into account for safeguarding biodiversity. In some of the most biodiverse areas in the globe, patterns and causes of aquatic biodiversity loss are poorly understood. This is concerning because a growing number of development projects, like hydropower dams, could have significant effects on the fish fauna of the associated river systems. Many of these areas are also among the most threatened aquatic system on Earth and have human populations that are heavily dependent on the ecosystem services they provide.