A United Nations report issued on Tuesday highlights the alarming decline of migratory freshwater fish populations, which are vital for maintaining river ecosystems and supporting millions of livelihoods. These populations are at risk of collapsing.
Key threats to these fish include habitat destruction, overfishing, and water pollution, spanning rivers from the Amazon to the Danube. These factors jeopardize the survival of hundreds of species that make significant yet largely unnoticed journeys along major rivers around the globe.
The report, unveiled at the start of the COP15 summit on migratory species in Brazil, describes freshwater fish as “among the most imperiled vertebrates” due to the multiple threats they face. The report cites the Mekong giant catfish, European eel, and various sturgeon species as examples of populations that have significantly declined in recent decades. Human activities, such as dam construction and caviar harvesting, have heavily impacted these species.
Some species, like the Chinese paddlefish, have already been declared extinct, while others rely on captive breeding and reintroductions to sustain wild populations. According to the conservation organization WWF, migratory freshwater fish populations have dropped by approximately 81 percent since 1970.
These fish provide a crucial protein source for humans and animals worldwide and need unobstructed routes to migrate between spawning and feeding areas, which often cross international borders. This necessitates global cooperation to halt their decline.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) report identifies nearly 350 migratory fish species that could benefit from enhanced protection under international agreements.
Species such as salmon, eels, and lampreys will be discussed at the March 23-29 meeting in Campo Verde. The majority of these species are found in Asia, followed by South America and Europe.
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Priority river basins identified include the Amazon and La Plata-Parana in South America, the Danube in Europe, the Mekong and the Ganges-Brahmaputra in Asia, and the Nile in Africa.
“This assessment shows that migratory freshwater fish are in serious trouble, and that protecting them will require countries to work together to keep rivers connected, productive, and full of life,” said Zeb Hogan, the lead author of the assessment, in a statement.
© Agence France-Presse
