What happens to all the fresh water fish in a river that eventually empties into an ocean?

Question

Do fish just turnaround and say nope, not for me.

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

You are exactly right.

The transition between rivers that flow into the sea and the sea is called an estuary. Estuaries are a distinct ecosystem with different wildlife from the coastal water and river.

Whether or not freshwater fish will swim or breed in the estuary depends on the fish. Some avoid it and for some it’s an integral part of their lifecycle. Estuaries are typically placid. Freshwater fish don’t just get dumped into the sea.