Freshwater Fish Populations Vanish by 81%!

Freshwater fish populations have collapsed by 81% globally since 1970, a crisis largely overlooked despite its severity. These aquatic migrations, some spanning thousands of miles, are now under immense threat due to human activities. The dorado catfish, for instance, undertakes an 11,000km migration from the Andes to the Amazon estuary.

Pollution, dams blocking vital waterways, and overfishing decimate these populations. The climate crisis exacerbates the damage by increasing water temperatures. These migratory species are crucial for inland fisheries, sustaining hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

International cooperation is deemed essential to protect these transboundary species. While 325 migratory fish species have been identified for protection, only 24 are currently listed. Brazil is advocating for stronger international agreements at the CMS meeting in Brazil to address this biodiversity crisis before these vital migrations are lost forever.