Title: Status of rare fish : literature review of Freshwater Fish in the UK
Author: I.J. Winfield
Author: J.M. Fletcher
Author: D. Cragg-Hine
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
A literature review was undertaken to identify freshwater fish species which may be endangered in Britain, and to review existing knowledge of whitefish ecology, genetic variability and artificial breeding techniques. Literature published up to December 1993 inclusive was covered, resulting in the examination of c. 600 articles of which c. 200 are cited in this review. The comprehensive reference list was also produced on disk in ASCII file format. In addition to the vendace Coregonus albula, whitefish C. lavaretus, burbot Lota lota and allis shad Alosa alosa, which are all protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, several other freshwater or estuarine species are also rare. Of the British freshwater fishes with marine affinities, the sturgeon Acipenser sturio, twaite shad Aloso fallax, hout Coregonus oxyrinchus and smelt Osmerus eperlanus should be considered for future research. Within the strictly freshwater group, the Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus requries immediate conservation action, as may the spined loach Cobitis taenia. To these species may be added rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus, crucian carp Carassius carassius and silver bream Blicca bjoerkna which, although currently common in parts of Britain are considered to be under varying degrees of threat in Europe as a whole.
Publisher: National Rivers Authority
Publication Date: 1994
Publication Place: Bristol
Subject Keywords: Freshwater fishes; Nature conservation; Endangered species; Literature study
Geographic Keywords: United Kingdom
Extent: 58
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4033
Total file downloads: 272
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