Neotropical freshwater fishes imperilled by unsustainable policies |
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| Authors: | Fernando M Pelicice Valter M Azevedo‐Santos Jean R S Vitule Mário L Orsi Dilermando P Lima Junior André L B Magalhães Paulo S Pompeu Miguel Petrere Jr Angelo A Agostinho |
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| Institution: | 1. Núcleo de Estudos Ambientais, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Porto Nacional, Tocantins, Brasil;2. Laboratório de Ictiologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, S?o Paulo, Brasil;3. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conserva??o, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Setor de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil;4. Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes e Invas?es Biológicas (LEPIB), Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brasil;5. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conserva??o de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Pontal do Araguaia, Mato Grosso, Brasil;6. Programa de Pós‐Gradua??o em Tecnologias para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade Federal de S?o Jo?o Del Rei, Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais, Brasil;7. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brasil;8. Campus de Sorocaba, Programa de Pós‐Gradua??o em Planejamento e Uso de Recursos Renováveis, Universidade Federal de S?o Carlos, Sorocaba, S?o Paulo, Brasil;9. UNISANTA, Programa de Pós‐Gradua??o em Sustentabilidade de Ecossistemas Costeiros e Marinhos, Santos, S?o Paulo, Brasil;10. Programa de Pós‐Gradua??o em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brasil |
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| Abstract: | Neotropical freshwater fishes are the most diverse on the planet (>5,500 species), although nations in Latin America have been negligent regarding their conservation. National policies have historically encouraged unsustainable practices, and recent decades have witnessed a sharp increase in harmful activities. Our aim with this review was to expose this situation and illustrate how national policies constitute the main threat to freshwater fish biodiversity. We explain that the most devastating, pervasive and systemic threats are rooted in official policies, particularly unsustainable activities (e.g. hydropower, water diversion, mining, aquaculture, agriculture and fishing), poor management/conservation (e.g. fish stocking and passages) and harmful legislation (e.g. poor licensing, non‐native species). We provide a broad portrait of the Neotropical scenario, where unsustainable policies have caused considerable damage to freshwater ecosystems, and focus on major examples from Brazil, where development projects have caused large‐scale losses to fish biodiversity. Such modus operandi of human development is incompatible with the persistence of biodiversity, and no simple solution is available to correct or minimize its effects. The current situation demands a profound behavioural shift towards better practices and policies, or these multiple high‐impact activities will continue eroding freshwater fish biodiversity and impairing essential ecosystem services. |
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| Keywords: | biodiversity loss conservation economy ecosystem function legislation policy |
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