Impacts of recreational motorboats on fishes: a review.
A considerable amount of research has been conducted on the impacts of recreational boating activities on fishes but little or no synthesis of the information has been undertaken. This review shows that motor boats impact on the biology and ecology of fishes but the effects vary according to the species and even particular size classes. Direct hits on fishes by propellers are an obvious impact but this aspect has been poorly documented. Alterations in the wave climate and water turbidity may also influence fishes and their habitats, especially submerged and emergent plant beds. Sound generated by boat motors can also influence the communication and behaviour of certain species. Pollution arising from fuel spillages, exhaust emissions and antifouling paints all have detrimental effects on fishes. Finally, the use of recreational boats as vectors of aquatic invasive organisms is very real and has created major problems to the ecology of aquatic systems.
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. Electronic address: a.whitfield@saiab.ac.za.
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Whitfield
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia; Institute for Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
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Becker
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D017753:Ecosystem; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005399:Fishes; D058865:Introduced Species; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010150:Paint; D010944:Plants; D011998:Recreation; D012767:Ships
D019216:Metals, Heavy
Boat traffic; Degradation; Disturbance; Invasives; Pollution