HAVE FISHES HAD THEIR CHIPS - THE DILEMMA OF THREATENED FISHES

The conservation status and factors threatening fishes worldwide are r eviewed in order to introduce a series of one-page articles on 'Threat ened fishes of the world', and to encourage the incorporation of infor mation on threatened fishes into international conservation programmes . Information on fish extinction and threat rates are compared with th ose of other animal groups, and the unique characteristics of fish con servation problems are highlighted. At present 979 species of fishes a re listed as threatened in the IUCN Red List and at least 36 species a nd three subspecies are listed as recently extinct. It is argued that these figures are probably gross underestimates and that they may misl ead conservation authorities and resource users about the seriousness of the situation. Freshwater fishes may be the most threatened group o f vertebrates after the Amphibia. `Urgent action is required to save m any narrowly endemic, stenotopic species from extinction, especially i n Africa, Asia and South America. The conservation of common species t hat drive essential ecological processes is also important. Anthropoge nic pressures, especially habitat degradation, the introduction of inv asive species and pollution, on inland and coastal waters are particul arly severe and many major fish communities are threatened with elimin ation throughout the world. The conservation of marine fishes is compl icated by the fact that it is difficult to ascertain their rarity. The importance of the retention of genetic variation is highlighted, and both orthodox and innovative conservation measures are encouraged. Fur ther research on minimum viable populations, genetics, and the factors that cause fishes to become vulnerable to extinction, is urgently req uired.