Beneath the surface: Public perception of fish biodiversity

Freshwater ecosystems and their associated fish fauna are threatened worldwide. Their restoration and protection are determined by decisions made by society, which in turn depend on the ideas or perceptions that people have of... [ view full abstract ]

Freshwater ecosystems and their associated fish fauna are threatened worldwide. Their restoration and protection are determined by decisions made by society, which in turn depend on the ideas or perceptions that people have of the freshwater environment. These perceptions reflect the state of the environment, but they are also influenced by the social and cultural imprint of the individuals. This study reports the results of the first cross-national and representative survey on the general public´s perception of native fish biodiversity and non-native fish species in four European countries (France, Germany, Norway and Sweden). In all four countries, the respondents performed on average only three types of activities in or near rivers and lakes, but they had predominantly pro-ecological world views and values. The overwhelming majority felt not well informed (90%) about fish biodiversity issues and the respondents were not familiar with many native and non-native fish species. For example, rainbow trout and brook trout, two fish species that were introduced into Europe a century ago, were widely perceived as native species. However, the public also expressed concern about the native fish biodiversity and supported conservation measures. The perception of the freshwater environment varied significantly between the four countries, but not in accordance with their biogeographic regions. We conclude that although the general public is not closely linked to the biodiversity of freshwater fish, their general worldview offers many opportunities to promote conservation as long as country-specific social and cultural factors are taken into account.