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Overfishing, pollution, and climate change threaten the survival of many fish species in our oceans. Here are 10 of the most endangered fish species: Atlantic bluefin tuna, Chinese paddlefish, European eel, Goliath grouper, Hawksbill turtle, Pacific bluefin tuna, Redfish, Sawfish, Sevan trout, and Vaquita. Conservation efforts are needed to protect these species and ensure their survival for future generations. This includes reducing fishing quotas, limiting pollution, and protecting their habitats. Awareness and support from the public can also help to raise attention and inspire action to save these endangered fish species.
A fisherman tying a bluefin tuna tail in the water during the end of the Almadraba tuna fishing season near the Barbate coast, in Cadiz province, Spain in 2014. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of endangered species reveals that 1,616 species of fish are at risk of extinction, with another 989 being endangered and 627 being critically endangered. Although habitat loss and pollution contribute significantly to the decline of these species, the most significant threat is overfishing.
If you catch an endangered fish, it’s best to release it back into the water. However, before doing so, you should take note of a few details. When and where did you find the fish? How many and what size were they? Were they adult or juvenile? What activity did you observe them doing? You should provide this information, along with any photographs taken, to local wildlife officials.
The following list represents ten endangered fish that are commonly caught for food.
10: Atlantic Halibut
The Atlantic halibut is frequently caught as bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries.
NOAA
The Atlantic halibut is the largest of the flatfish species and is found in the New England/Mid-Atlantic region. With a lifespan of 50 years, it can grow up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) long and weigh around 700 pounds (318 kilograms). However, because this slow-growing fish doesn’t reach sexual maturity until the age of 10-14, it is particularly vulnerable to overfishing. Although Atlantic halibut are typically caught using hooks and lines, they are often caught as bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries. The IUCN classifies them as endangered, and their numbers are not expected to recover anytime soon. This prompted the United States to manage Atlantic halibut fishing in its coastal waters. The Atlantic halibut stock is at a very low level, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
9: Beluga Sturgeon
The beluga sturgeon is heavily overfished for its prized eggs.
Photos.com/Thinkstock
The beluga sturgeon is native to the Caspian Sea and is well-known for its fillets and its eggs, which are considered a delicacy. These ancient fish have been around for over 200 million years and can grow to be 24 feet (7 meters) long, weigh more than 3,500 pounds (1,588 kilograms), and live up to 100 years. Due to the popularity of their eggs, they are heavily overfished, typically with gill nets, which is a significant threat to the species. This is particularly concerning because males reproduce for the first time at 10-15 years and females at 15-18 years, with an estimated generation length of 20-25 years.
In addition to fishing pressures, beluga sturgeon also suffer from habitat reduction, having lost 90 percent of their historic spawning grounds over the past several decades. Due to these pressures, the IUCN has classified the beluga sturgeon as critically endangered, and the population is expected to continue to decline. Statistics reveal that in 1992, 573 tons (520 metric tons) of beluga were caught, while in 2007, 36 tons (33 metric tons) were caught, representing a 93 percent decline in catch. In 2020, 7,000 farm-raised baby sturgeon were released into the Danube River to help reverse this population decline, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
8: Southern Bluefin Tuna
Since the 1950s, bluefin tuna have been overfished due to the high demand for sushi worldwide. Southern bluefin tuna can be found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. They can grow up to 8 feet long, weigh up to 573 pounds and live for at least 40 years. The population of southern bluefin tuna is critically endangered, with an estimated spawning stock biomass decline of around 85 percent between 1973 and 2009. If the current fishing rate continues, the population is expected to fall below 500 mature individuals in 100 years.
7: Orange Roughy
Also known as the “slimehead,” orange roughy can be found in the coasts of New Zealand, Australia, Namibia and the northeast Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. They can live for over 140 years and reach sexual maturity between 20 and 32 years old, making them vulnerable to overfishing. Fishermen tend to trawl for orange roughy when they congregate to feed and breed, which leads to catching multiple generations and causing severe declines in their population. Orange roughy is considered a delicacy in U.S. restaurants and can grow up to 2.5 feet long and weigh up to 15 pounds. Although the IUCN hasn’t reviewed this species to determine if it is endangered, other organizations recognize the significant decline in their numbers after only 25 years of commercial harvesting.
6: Nassau Grouper
The Nassau grouper can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the western North Atlantic. They can grow up to 4 feet long, weigh up to 55 pounds and live up to 29 years old. The Nassau grouper is highly valued by commercial and recreational fisheries, leading to heavy fishing on spawning aggregations, causing severe declines in their population. More than 30 of the known 50 aggregations across its range have disappeared, and it’s now banned from harvesting in the U.S. due to low stocks. This decline has earned the Nassau grouper a critically endangered rating from the IUCN.
5: Red Handfish
The red handfish was once found in eastern Tasmania, but now only exists in two small subpopulations in the Frederick Henry Bay in Australia. With only about 100 mature individuals left, the red handfish is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. Threats to this species include loss of spawning substrate, habitat loss and degradation, water pollution, siltation, and increasing densities of native sea urchins. They are also less than 4 inches in length and are bright red to light pink/brown, making them difficult to find.
4: European Eel
The European Eel faces a unique set of challenges due to its unusual life cycle, which leads to overfishing. Found mainly in the North Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean Seas, these eels start their development cycle in the sea and then move inland to freshwater streams where they can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. Once they reach sexual maturity, which can take anywhere from 6 to 30 years, they return to the sea to spawn. If they can’t reach the sea, they spend their life in freshwater and can live up to 50 years. However, if they reproduce in saltwater, they die. Due to this life cycle, any eel caught at sea is a juvenile that hasn’t had a chance to spawn yet. The species also faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, parasitism, pollution, predation, and overfishing, leading to a critically endangered rating from IUCN.
3: Winter Skate
Winter Skate, found mainly in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Canada to the United States, is a fascinating species that uses electric shocks to deter predators and stun prey. Previously considered a “trash fish,” it is now used for fishmeal, lobster bait, and even human consumption. However, increased trawling has led to a significant decline in population, with juveniles often mistaken for other, more abundant species. Winter Skate are slow to reach sexual maturity and have few offspring, contributing to a 90% reduction in mature individuals since the 1970s. This decline earned the species an endangered rating from IUCN.
2: Chinese Sturgeon
Historically found in Korea, Japan, and China, the Chinese Sturgeon is now only found in the Yangtze and Pearl rivers and the East and South China Sea. The species, which has survived for over 140 million years, is critically endangered due to overfishing and the construction of the Gezhouba dam, which blocked its migration routes to spawning sites. Currently, there is only one remaining spawning ground below the dam. Despite efforts to repopulate the Yangtze, the fish cannot reproduce due to the dam, resulting in an estimated annual rate of reproduction between 4.5% and zero. Chinese Sturgeon can grow up to 16 feet (4.8 meters) long, weigh up to 990 pounds (450 kilograms), and live at least 35 years.
1: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is in danger of becoming extinct due to overfishing, as it is a popular catch among commercial and recreational fishermen. This species can grow up to 15 feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds. Despite efforts to regulate harvesting, the bluefin tuna population continues to decline, with a 51% decrease since 1970. The IUCN lists both Eastern and Western Atlantic stocks as endangered.
There are over 1,616 endangered species of fish according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Some fish on the list include the orange roughy, winter skate, Atlantic halibut, Acadian redfish, bluefin tuna, and the Beluga sturgeon. Sharks, bluefin tuna, monkfish, and Atlantic halibut are among the most vulnerable to overfishing. Other marine mammals, like whales and dolphins, are also at risk. The smooth handfish is the most recent fish species to go extinct due to overfishing, with its extinction occurring in 2020.
Endangered Fish FAQ
Are any fish endangered?
There are more than 1,616 endangered species of fish in the world according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
What fish are on the endangered species list?
Some fish on the endangered species list include the orange roughy, winter skate, Atlantic halibut, Acadian redfish, bluefin tuna and the Beluga sturgeon.
Which types of fish are most vulnerable to overfishing?
Species that are the most threatened by overfishing are sharks, bluefin tuna, monkfish, and the Atlantic halibut. Other mammals that are not as commonly associated with the seafood industry, such as whales and dolphins, are also at risk.
What fish has gone extinct as a result of overfishing?
One of the most recent fish species to go extinct is the smooth handfish, which went extinct in 2020.
FAQ
1. Why are these fish species endangered?
There are a variety of reasons why these fish species are endangered. Some of the main reasons include overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Overfishing is particularly problematic, as it can lead to a decline in population numbers and disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.
2. Which fish species are on the list?
Some of the fish species on the list include the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, the Vaquita, the Goliath Grouper, the European Eel, and the Chinese Paddlefish, among others. Each of these species faces unique threats to their survival.
3. How can we help protect these fish species?
There are a number of ways that we can help protect these fish species. One important step is to reduce our consumption of seafood, particularly those species that are considered endangered. We can also support conservation efforts, such as marine protected areas and sustainable fishing practices.
4. What impact do these endangered fish species have on the ocean ecosystem?
Endangered fish species play a crucial role in the ocean ecosystem, and their loss can have far-reaching impacts. For example, the decline of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna can disrupt the food web and impact other marine species that rely on it for food.
5. Are there any success stories in conserving endangered fish species?
Yes, there have been some success stories in conserving endangered fish species. For example, the population of the Southern Bluefin Tuna has increased following the implementation of sustainable fishing practices. However, much more work needs to be done to protect other endangered fish species.
6. What role do governments and policymakers play in protecting these fish species?
Governments and policymakers play a critical role in protecting endangered fish species. They can implement regulations and policies to limit overfishing and protect critical habitats. They can also invest in scientific research to better understand the threats facing these species and develop strategies to address them.
7. How does climate change impact these fish species?
Climate change can impact these fish species in a number of ways. For example, rising ocean temperatures can alter migration patterns and impact reproduction rates. Ocean acidification can also harm fish populations by making it more difficult for them to form shells and skeletons.
8. What can individuals do to help protect these fish species?
There are a number of actions individuals can take to help protect these fish species. These include reducing seafood consumption, supporting sustainable fisheries, reducing plastic pollution, and supporting conservation efforts. Individuals can also raise awareness about the threats facing these species and advocate for stronger protections.
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