Saving the river fish in the UK as lack of rains dries up water bodies

The population of healthy fish in the UK is drying up because of lack of rains. Low level of water in many places have sent out alarms. Therefore, the Environment Agency has stepped in and it is drawing up plans to save them. The population of healthy fish is now corralled by the lowest water levels that many can remember. After waiting till the last minute, the agency has plans to rescue fish in some of the most rapidly vanishing pools and transfer them to other parts of the river. They plan to use a technique called electro-fishing. It involves passing an electric current through the water. This stuns the fish on a temporary basis. It is then collected and transferred to tanks that are full of oxygenated water. River fish being moved in struggle to survive low water levels. This is no doubt a drastic step. There are possibilities that some of the fish might not survive. They are already stressed due to a lack of oxygen and high temperatures in the small pools to which they have been confined for weeks. However, the loss might be far less than the fish that survive.

The River Wye on the Welsh/English border is home to some of our most vulnerable fish populations. These include salmon and sea trout that must migrate the length of the river. The salmon have been dying for weeks because of not just low levels of water and oxygen but also due to rising levels of pollution. Drop of water levels mean rise in concentrations of pollution. Cattle and poultry farms near the bodies of water add to existing pollution from sewage treatment works. The ongoing drought has worsened the situation.

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Australia faced wildfires in 2020, now in 2022 it is facing floods

Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia declared a national emergency because of the death of 22 people along the east coast due to floods. He described it as - "This is a major catastrophe... of national proportions." Many persons had to be rescued from flooded regions. The emergency would ensure ready availability of emergency powers. The country faced wildfires in 2020 that destroyed the vegetation and wildlife. Heavy rains led to the emergency in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. It seems members of the community stepped up rescue efforts and helped to keep the death toll to a minimum. The authorities carried out mass evacuation from areas that endured the highest floods ever recorded.

Personnel of the military extended assistance in the flood recovery in northern New South Wales. The number of homes and businesses flooded in southeast Queensland was more than 20000. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. It is the biggest city of Australia and it had to endure the wettest start to a year ever recorded.


Sky News dated 9 March 2022

Lord Shiva feels rains are the best option for cleaning (satire)

Lord Shiva had a huge smile on his face because it was the monsoon season and it was raining cats and dogs. The cities were flooded and most of the rivers were in spate. People ventured out only if really necessary – otherwise, they remained indoors to enjoy the beautiful sight and sound of the gushing waters. Either through the drainpipes or the roadside nullahs or the rivers.
Rain meant water and water meant life. That is why man was intensifying search for water on other planets.
Suddenly Durga came out of her kitchen.

‘Is the khichudi ready?’ Shiva asked.
‘Nearly,’ she said.
‘And what is the menu?’
‘Khichudi with an assorted set of fries like begun bhaja, aloor chop and papad.’
‘Good,’ Shiva said. ‘These are what make the monsoons memorable. By the way – the rains are a blessing in disguise for those who are crying themselves hoarse over Swatchh Bharat. The rain waters are washing away the dirt and muck from the rivers.’
‘Yes – it is lovely to see all those water hyacinths floating away downstream.’
‘I heard that there is a separate ministry set up to clean the Ganga.’
‘Yes, it is actually to keep the people engaged,’ Durga explained. ‘The Ganga has not become dirty all of a sudden. It has been a gradual affair and a result of not just ignorance but also of a couldn’t-care-less attitude of politicians who are patrons of industries.’
‘I know,’ Durga agreed. ‘Industrial waste goes into the waters just like all the wastes from cities that line the banks of the river.’
‘And the funds go down the drain,’ Durga added. ‘No amount of money can really clean all that dirt. To me, it is all eyewash.’
‘They have coined some nice sounding slogans like Namami Gange,’ Shiva smiled. ‘It sounds better than Ganga Action Plan but I doubt if they can go beyond slogans. The minister who is in charge now may suddenly be replaced by someone more near to the bosses.’
‘That is the saddest part,’ Durga sighed. ‘No one is serious. They all believe in cosmetic changes.’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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