On World Fish Migration Day, a coalition of non-governmental organizations and local groups came together to celebrate events under the theme 'Connecting Fish, Rivers and People,' and raise awareness on conserving freshwater migratory fish and free flowing rivers.
24 May 2014: On World Fish Migration Day, a coalition of non-governmental organizations and local groups came together to celebrate events under the theme ‘Connecting Fish, Rivers and People,’ and raise awareness on conserving freshwater migratory fish and free flowing rivers.
The coalition used the Day to highlight examples of endangered migrations, such as the chipi chipi in the Bolivian Amazon, as well as the challenges that infrastructure such as dams poses to migratory fish, which are frequently prevented from returning to their breeding grounds. The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) were among the partners that organized the Day.
In addition, some 250 events were held globally, from New Zealand to Hawaii, US to bring attention to the need for open rivers and free routes for fish migration. [CMS News] [World Fish Migration Day Website] [NewsWatch National Geographic] [IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group website]