Protecting Fish Species and Their Habitat - Version française à venir
There are numerous ways in which our activities can have a detrimental effect on fish and their habitat; however there are also a number of ways that we can protect them.
| Threats to Fish and Fish Habitat | Solution |
|
Removal of sand or gravel from beaches, river or stream banks |
While sand is an important source of construction materials, it is important to ensure the area is not an important one for fish. If it is, either dig somewhere else, or make sure there is plan to restore the area when the digging is finished. |
| Sewage | It is very important for cities and towns to properly treat wastewater at sewage treatment facilities before putting the water back into nature. Sewage treatment plants however, can be overwhelmed if they have to handle too much sewage or if there are toxins or other garbage in the water that should not be there. In towns and cities, people must be careful not to use excessive amounts of water or to flush toxic materials (e.g. paint thinner or oil) down the drain. The same is true in rural areas where dangerous waste can escape from septic systems. |
| Urban Runoff< | Don't pour waste down storm drains. Wash your car on the lawn. That way the soap gets soaked into the ground instead of going down the drain. Pick up after your pet, otherwise when it rains, the waste will end up in a river or lake. |
| Garbage Dumps | Reduce, reuse and recycle. Compost your organic waste (but not close to water). By reducing the amount of waste that goes to the dump, we reduce the number of dumps that we need. |
| Farming | Only use as much fertilizer as is needed. Maintain buffer zones with lots of trees and plants along waterways. That way, the plants can take up any excess fertilizer before it reaches the water. |
| Pesticides | Pesticides and herbicides sprayed outdoors may be washed by rainwater from farms, lawns and gardens into fish habitat. Use these chemicals only when really necessary and be sure not to use excess amounts. |
| Riparian vegetation | Maintain a buffer zone along waterways at least 15 to 30 m wide. Roots help hold the banks together to prevent erosion. Trees provide shade, keeping the water cool enough for fish in the summer. Plants take up extra nutrients in surface water runoff that would otherwise end up in the water and cause algal growth. |
| Destruction of shoreline | The best bet is to leave the shoreline untouched. Don't build walls to prevent erosion. If it is necessary to reinforce or rebuild banks, restore the grade to a natural slope and include local native vegetation in the redevelopment. |
|
Intakes for water supplies, cooling water and irrigation |
If water is removed, as much as possible, it should be put back. However, make sure that it is at least as clean as when you first got it. It should also be the same temperature. Fish are very sensitive to temperature changes. |