Living Planet Index for Migratory Freshwater Fish

Issued by the World Fish Migration Foundation and Zoological Society of London, The Living Planet Index for Migratory Freshwater Fish is the first comprehensive global report on the status of migratory fish. The technical report finds migratory freshwater fish are under immense threat from human-made impacts and urgent action is required to halt and then reverse the alarming decline. FCF was one of a number of organizations that assisted with reviews, editing, and compiling information.

Soon to be updated, this report measured the status of migratory fish around the world and the findings confirmed that migratory freshwater fish may be more threatened throughout their range than previously documented. The updated information should serve as a dire warning that many migratory fish populations or species may be lost if conservation actions are not implemented.

Some findings of the report:

• Migratory fish populations have declined, on average, 76% for the period of 1970–2016
• For Europe, the average declines of migratory fish are at 93%
• For Latin America & Caribbean, the average declines of migratory fish are at 84%
• In North America, average declines of migratory fish are lower 28%, suggesting that management of fisheries and aquatic habitat have improved
• The rate of decline for migratory fish is higher than the rate observed for terrestrial and marine species
• Protecting migratory fish habitat also protects other freshwater vertebrate life, where overall declines are reported at an 83% loss
• Populations that received some form of management decreased less than the unmanaged ones
• Habitat degradation, alteration, and loss account for approximately half of the threats to migratory fish
• Hydropower, overfishing, climate change and pollution are all factors that caused declining populations

The authors and organizations associated with this report call upon the global community to protect free-flowing rivers and guide basin-wide planning by addressing existing threats, adhering to ongoing conservation initiatives and water protection laws, investing in sustainable renewable alternatives to the thousands of new hydropower dams that are planned across the world and fostering public and political will.