Fish Fauna of Shatt al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq: A More than Quarter a Century of Changes

Shatt Al-Arab River is originated from the convergence of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and it is the main surface water source in the region and serves around three million people, the majority living in Basra city. The river is generally used for human consumption, agricultural, trade and industrial activities, transportation, electric power plants and recreation. The decreases in freshwater inflows into the estuary have allowed the salt water to intrude about 80 km upstream the river mouth. A decrease in river discharge into an estuary could increase the tidal range and the wave celerity, and consequent increase in salinity levels.