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MONLAR alleges freshwater fish extinction

04 Aug 2021

  • 61 endangered including 12 critical: Environmentalist 
BY Dinitha Rathnayake Sri Lanka’s freshwater fish species are currently in danger of extinction due to the use of agrochemicals, habitat destruction, and the export of freshwater fish found in the natural environment, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) alleged.  According to the Red List of Freshwater Fish 2020, out of 97 species of freshwater fish found in Sri Lanka, 61 species have been identified as endangered. This is a high percentage of about 63%. Only around 29 species have been identified as commonly reported freshwater fish which are not experiencing any threat.  Of the 61 endangered species, 12 are critically endangered, according to Chamikara, who further claimed that 29 species are endangered while 20 are nearing endangered status.  “Habitat destruction is one of the main reasons for the freshwater fish species facing this situation, in various ways. Of these, small hydropower projects have been identified as a major factor in the destruction of freshwater fish habitats in the wet and intermediate zone, to date. Small hydroelectric power plants completely destroy freshwater fish habitats by drying up large areas of streams. Small hydropower projects have caused some streams to dry up completely within an area of one kilometre to about five kilometres. In 1996, about 120 small hydropower plants were installed in wet and intermediate zones, generating about 220 megawatts of electricity. It is 9% of the total power generation in the country. But the damage it has done to many river ecosystems, the local biodiversity, and humans is not insignificant,” he further claimed.  The Ornamental Fish, Freshwater Fish and Shrimp Farming Development, Multi-Day Fishing and Fish Export State Ministry Secretary Jayantha Chandrasoma said that in general, freshwater species are not facing any danger, noting however that he has to check the particular freshwater fish species to give a specific answer.

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