Status of the Diadromous Fish of the Iberian Peninsula: Past, Present and Trends

• Main Authors: Mota, Micaela, Rochard, Eric, Antunes, C.
• Other Authors: UNIVERSITE DE PORTO PRT, Partenaires IRSTEA, Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), AQUAMUSEU VILA NOVA DE CERVEIRA PRT, Ecosystèmes aquatiques et changements globaux (UR EABX), Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2016
• Subjects: IBERIQUE PENINSULE; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02603706

International audience We examined the past, present and predictable status of diadromous fishes on the Iberian Peninsula, with a focus on the species inhabiting the Minho River. Data on six diadromous species (five anadromous, one catadromous) were collected. Due to population extinction and abundance reductions, many species are now classified as threatened or endangered. Many populations persisted at only drastically reduced abundance levels. Habitat loss (especially damming), overfishing, pollution and, increasingly, climate change contributed to this decline of diadromous fish. Although there is still limited information on the conservation status, migratory behaviour, biology and ecology of diadromous fish in the Iberian Peninsula, and except for Sea lamprey, which have shown a recent rise in population size in some rivers, it is clear that diadromous fish populations are showing a general trend towards decline. Overall, Iberian diadromous species have suffered a great decline since the 20 th century. Although Iberian Sea lamprey populations are not criti cally endangered or endangered, they are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. Atlantic salmon populations experienced the first serious decline in the 19 th century, and the decline has continued during the 20 th century. Despite the importance of Sea trout in Galician (NW Spain) and North Portugal, to date, few studies have been performed. The reduction in the Portuguese Sea trout populations may have reached 98% of the number of mature individuals. Allis and Twaite shads were, at times, of large economic importance, but currently, some Iberian populations are severely extirpated. For example, in the Minho River, the catches have decreased by about 90% since the 50 th decade of the 20 th Century. In the Iberian Peninsula, eel disappeared from important Iberian catchment areas, and during the 1980s, commercial fishing showed a downward trend. As most of the larger Iberian rivers cross international borders, the ...