What Is The Link Between Acid Rain And Big Old Fish?

Acid rain is produced when rain falls through the atmosphere that is contaminated by pollutants. It has been affecting trees and old buildings for some time but, about 20 years ago, people started to realise that the acid rain was affecting large lakes as well.

People started to catch fewer fish in the lakes, but the fish they caught were much bigger and older than usual and no one understood why this should be. Research showed that the water in the lakes that were affected had become acid and this change had been deadly to young and small fish, but less so to bigger and older fish.

With the youngsters out of the way, the older fish lived even longer because there was no competition for food or space. They grew bigger and aged, getting fat on the rich pickings in the lake.

This was good for them but not for the fish population as the older fish could not breed and the fish stocks could not be replenished.