Focus on Arts and Ecology

Hey Jon,

Dazzlingly diverse, freshwater fish are vital for communities, economies, and ecosystems. Around the world, freshwater fisheries provide the main source of protein for 200 million people across Asia, Africa and South America, as well as jobs and livelihoods for 60 million people. That’s a lot of people!

But freshwater fish are often overlooked and forgotten – and under ever-increasing threats. Despite the importance of our freshwaters, they’re being lost to habitat destruction, dams on free-flowing rivers, domestic, agricultural and industrial pollution and more. And losing them is impacting people and nature. 

In less than a lifetime, monitored freshwater species populations have fallen by an average of 83%. That’s the largest decline of any species group and reflects just how much our lakes, rivers and wetlands are at risk of collapsing altogether. And freshwater fish are one of the worst impacted groups – with a third of species now facing extinction. 

We can’t let this continue. For a living planet, we need our freshwater species to bounce back.

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