Flushed with the flood: the raimbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Shatt Al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Heavy storms continually persisted throughout the Iranian highlands and Iraq during the last few months. The consequences of the storms were recorded in several cities in Iraq; however, the toughest effects appeared to be in central and northern governorates, primarily regions through which the Tigris River runs, and those areas adjacent to Iran. The flood water, with high speed current seems to destroy and displaced several aquaculture facilities in Iran that propagate several fish species including the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. This study reports on the presence of specimens of rainbow trout seem to be probably washed away by the flood and ended in the river of Shatt al-Arab, Basrah, south of Iraq. With the harsh environment of Shatt al-Arab River, i.e., unfavourable high salinity and temperature, the question will remain whether the rainbow trout will survive and establish a populations?