A Possible Scenario for the Future of Australia’s Freshwater Fish Fauna

Abstract

Based on information available in both the overseas and Australian literature on threats to indigenous freshwater fish faunae from both habitat modification and the introduction of alien fish species, a hypothetical scenario is presented that describes what the Australian freshwater fish fauna may be like around the year 2000 under circumstances of maximal human population growth and minimal environmental controls. Although the scenario outlined is a rather pessimistic one, several suggestions are made in relation to governmental actions that should be taken to mitigate the worst of theses effects and to prevent this scenario from becoming reality