Panama Canal Expansion Drives Surge in Marine Predators, Threatening Ecosystems
The 2016 canal expansion has significantly altered fish populations in the Gatún Lake, raising concerns about invasive species and ecological disruption.
- Marine fish now comprise 76% of the fish biomass in Gatún Lake, up from 26% before the Panama Canal's 2016 expansion.
- The increase in marine species, particularly large predators like the Atlantic tarpon, is linked to the new, larger canal locks that transfer more saltwater into the freshwater lake.
- Scientists warn that the altered food web in Gatún Lake could harm local fisheries and reduce populations of native freshwater species.
- The risk of invasive species crossing the canal and entering the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans has risen, with potential long-term impacts on marine ecosystems.
- The findings, based on a study by German, Panamanian, and U.S. researchers, highlight the unintended ecological consequences of infrastructure projects.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 
Der Tagesspiegel 
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung 
Sächsische Zeitung 
DER SPIEGEL 