https://reasonstobecheerful.world/fish-thriving-river-seine/
"On a damp and grimly grey winter day in Paris, Bill François is a beacon of
positivity.
After a brief stroll along the River Seine, we come to a halt at the Henri IV
Dock with Notre Dame cathedral just about visible through the mist. Here,
François flicks his wrist back and then gently launches a fishing line out into
the choppy waters.
“The Seine is a wild place in the heart of Paris,” enthuses François, who has
come prepared in an all-weather outfit that includes a cap, sunglasses and
waterproof pants. “It’s like an aquarium. The water is quite clear these days
and the fish are multiplying.”
François, a marine biologist by training, fishes in the Seine several times a
week in different locations, surveying what he catches for long-term population
monitoring by Parisian fishing associations. And year by year, François and
other fishers are finding more and more.
In fact, in the 1970s there were only three fish species left in the
777-kilometer (482-mile) river, which spans northern France and cuts through
the capital city. But after decades of urban water policies alongside community
efforts, there are now nearly 40 that have been officially registered, with new
species turning up all the time.
Beyond fish, according to François, there are also other kinds of creatures
such as jellyfish, crustaceans, sponges, shrimp and kingfishers coming back to
the Seine.
“The restoration efforts of this river have been a real success,” adds
François.
The Seine’s thriving biodiversity is largely due to an improvement in urban
wastewater treatment and the quality of water that is now being discharged into
the river, according to French officials."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
