Where Have All the Fish Gone?

he decline in the inland fish catches has become a topical issue in many countries. In the U.K., the threat to inland migratory salmonid and eel stocks, as well as a sig-nificant change in species composition, is well documented. In Norway, fish suffer from se-vere malformations. Fewer fish are being found in Danish and French waters.In Switzerland, the reported trout catch in streams and rivers has plummeted by 60% since the early 1980s (Figure 1). This drop has been accompanied by regional declines in fish health in Switzerland. What are the causes of this pan-European decline in fish catches, and how can it be reversed?Switzerland is fortunate to have >240,000 recre-ational anglers. Proceeds from their fishing licens-es benefit the maintenance of rivers and streams. But, just as importantly, these anglers keep per-