World Fish Migration Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Fish

World Fish Migration Day occurs every other year on May 21. This event is a worldwide commemoration that highlights the significance of migratory fish and free-flowing rivers. On this day, ornithological organisations from around the world organise events with the theme “Connecting Fish, Rivers, and People.” The purpose of this day is to increase public awareness of the significance of migratory fish. It also encourages citizens to protect freshwater species by taking action.

The background of World Fish Migration Day

Many species of fish migrate for reproduction, nutrition, and completion of the life cycle. These organisms are a vital link in the food chain and play a crucial role in the development of productive and healthy river systems. Additionally, they are essential to the livelihoods of millions of people around the globe. Migratory fish are important ecologically, economically, culturally, and recreationally. Nevertheless, many species are currently ecologically imperilled or critically endangered. Therefore, environmentalists established this day to raise awareness about the significance of rivers and fish migration.

The objective of environmentalists is to find workable solutions in the domains of fish migration restoration, river recovery, and prevention of degradation. If not addressed, these problems will accelerate the extinction of migratory fish. Educating others and raising awareness about the current situation is a solid starting point for achieving this objective. On World Fish Migration Day, specialists and stakeholders identify and implement solutions to the problem. Different distances are traversed by migratory fish at different intervals. It migrates up and down rivers, between rivers and oceans, and across oceans. The routes they take are known as swimways, and they traverse thousands of miles through various bodies of water.

Dams pose one of the greatest threats to swimways because they tend to obstruct fish migration routes, preventing them from accessing their feeding and breeding grounds. Currently, the World Fish Migration Foundation is mapping fish migration routes and identifying hotspots. This will result in well-informed decision-making to mitigate the impact of infrastructure development on migratory fish. In 2014, the first World Fish Migration Day was celebrated in over 40 countries. Over the years, the festivity has expanded to reach millions of people through various media.

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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FISH

Diadromous fish are those that spend part of their existence in saltwater and part in freshwater.

Similar to sharks, the Atlantic sturgeon’s skeleton is composed primarily of cartilage and not bones.

In Canada, Atlantic sturgeon can survive for up to six decades, but only three in the Southeast.

State species of Maryland is the striped bass, also known as the Atlantic striped bass, striper, linesider, rock, and rockfish.

Even at temperatures as low as 28°F, the proteins and glycerol in rainbow smelt’s blood, liver, muscle, and other tissues prevent them from solidifying.

WORLD FISH MIGRATION DAY DATES