THE WORLD’S FORGOTTEN FISHES

Freshwater fishes, comprising 51% of all known fish species, are facing an unprecedented extinction crisis due to habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change. Despite their critical role in global food security for hundreds of millions of people and their contribution to multibillion-dollar industries, they remain overlooked by policymakers. The report calls for a strategic global transition to restore freshwater ecosystems through a six-pillared recovery plan.

• Freshwater fishes exhibit extraordinary diversity, accounting for 51% of all known fish species (18,075 species), which represents approximately one-quarter of all vertebrate species globally.
• Freshwater fish populations are in severe decline: migratory populations have fallen by an estimated 76% since 1970, and 'megafish' (species heavier than 30kg) have crashed by 94% in the same period.
• Approximately one-third of all freshwater fish species are currently threatened with extinction, and 80 species have already been declared extinct by the IUCN.
• Wild freshwater fisheries are vital for global food security, providing the primary source of animal protein and essential nutrients for at least 200 million people, particularly in Asia and Africa.
• The economic value of freshwater fisheries is significantly underestimated; including 'hidden harvests' from artisanal and subsistence fishers, they are estimated to be worth over US$38 billion annually.
• Recreational fishing is a massive global industry generating over US$100 billion annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in regions such as Europe and the USA.
• The ornamental fish trade is a global business with a retail value of US$15-30 billion, involving 5,300 species across 125 countries, though it can facilitate the spread of invasive species.
• The primary drivers of the freshwater fish crisis include habitat degradation (loss of 35% of wetlands in 50 years), poorly planned hydropower dams, pollution, over-abstraction of water, and climate change.

APA

Hughes, K. (2021). THE WORLD’S FORGOTTEN FISHES. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1732/wwfintl_freshwater_fishes_report_1.pdf

Chicago

Hughes, Kathy. THE WORLD’S FORGOTTEN FISHES. WWF International, 2021. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1732/wwfintl_freshwater_fishes_report_1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hughes |first1=Kathy |title=THE WORLD’S FORGOTTEN FISHES |publisher=WWF International |date=2021 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1732/wwfintl_freshwater_fishes_report_1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hughes2021worlds, author = {Hughes, Kathy}, title = {{THE WORLD’S FORGOTTEN FISHES}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2021}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1732/wwfintl_freshwater_fishes_report_1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }