Freshwater Biodiversity Toolbox
Salvage Of Stranded Organisms
Freshwater organisms have the risk of becoming stranded on higher portions of land when water levels drop significantly in a short period of time. The changes in water level can be both due to natural or anthropogenic causes (e.g., hydropower dams, irrigation ditches) and can be difficult for fish to navigate. Measures to mitigate the stranding of organisms include physical habitat works, ramping rate limitations, and coordinating fish salvage with biologists and land owners. The stranding of organisms may contribute to mortality rates, so it is important to be able to relocate the organisms and return them to nearby wetted habitat.
Rating:
Nagrodski et al. (2012) scored poorly across all elements of CEESAT demonstrating limitations in the rigour and the transparency in which the review was conducted (i.e., no a-priori protocol, critical appraisal, or search strategy provided).
Nagrodski et al. (2012) scored well across almost all elements of RASCAT demonstrating high applicability and relevancy to a Canadian freshwater context. The synthesis only scored Amber in one category where they did not demonstrate consideration of implications, practical advice, or recommendations for decision-makers.
Photo credit: Walter Baxter
