Endangered Species

The Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius), declared extinct in 2022, exemplifies the irreversible consequences of failing to protect endangered fish: once abundant in the Yangtze River, it was eliminated by dam construction (blocking spawning migration), overfishing, and pollution within 40 years of the river being opened to industrial development. The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) was listed as Endangered in the western Atlantic, though strong management has enabled partial recovery in the east. Freshwater shark species (river sharks, Glyphis) remain critically data-deficient; several may already be extinct. For most endangered fish, captive breeding is impractical — habitat protection and restoration are the only viable conservation strategies.