The Australian freshwater fishes at greatest risk of extinction

Many Australian freshwater fish species have declined sharply in recent decades, and as many as 90 of our ~315 freshwater fishes may now meet criteria as threatened. With so many fish at risk, understanding which species are in greatest peril is a vital first step in preventing extinctions. Our research has identified 22 species that are highly likely to become extinct by 2040 unless there is new conservation action to save them.

The study is part of a larger project by the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Program to identify the plants and animals at high risk of extinction.

The research has been published in Pacific Conservation Biology: https://doi.org/10.1071/PC19053