Buzz
In 2014, a fisherman ties a bluefin tuna tail in the water as the Almadraba tuna fishing season comes to a close off the Barbate coast, Cadiz province, Spain. Image by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesImportant Insights
- Overfishing remains the primary danger to numerous fish species, causing their endangered status, evident in species like the Atlantic Halibut, Beluga Sturgeon, and Southern Bluefin Tuna.
- Other factors such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change are also major contributors to the decline of fish populations, including the Red Handfish and European Eel.
- Efforts to protect these species include the release of captive-bred individuals and the establishment of protected zones, though issues like international regulation gaps and illegal fishing continue to present challenges.
"The old saying goes, 'There are plenty of fish in the sea.' But is that really true? The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of endangered species reports that 1,616 fish species are currently at risk of extinction, with an additional 989 listed as endangered and 627 critically endangered. While pollution and habitat destruction play a role, the biggest threat by far is overfishing."
What should you do if you catch one of these endangered fish? The best course of action is to release it back into the water, but be sure to take note of some key details first. When did you spot the fish? Where were you? How many did you see, and what were their sizes? Were they adults or juveniles? What were they doing (swimming, feeding)? Be sure to provide this information to local wildlife authorities, along with any photos you may have taken.
Although it's tough to pinpoint the most endangered fish species, the following list highlights 10 commonly harvested fish that are at risk.
10: Atlantic Halibut
The Atlantic halibut often falls victim to bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries. NOAAFound in the New England/Mid-Atlantic region, the Atlantic halibut is the largest among flatfish species. With a lifespan of up to 50 years, it can grow to a staggering 15 feet (4.5 meters) in length and weigh up to 700 pounds (318 kilograms). However, due to its slow growth and late sexual maturity (10 to 14 years), this species is especially vulnerable to overfishing. Though they are typically caught with hooks and lines, Atlantic halibut are also often caught as bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries. Classified as endangered by the IUCN, their population is unlikely to recover soon. This has led the United States to implement regulations for Atlantic halibut fishing in its coastal waters, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports the stock is critically low.
9: Beluga Sturgeon
The beluga sturgeon is heavily overfished for its prized eggs. Photos.com/ThinkstockThe beluga sturgeon is renowned for its fillets, but its eggs, known as "true caviar," are considered a luxurious delicacy. Native to the Caspian Sea, these ancient fish have existed for over 200 million years. They can grow up to 24 feet (7 meters) long, weigh over 3,500 pounds (1,588 kilograms), and live for a century. However, their eggs are a major source of overfishing, often caught using gill nets. This overfishing poses a serious threat, especially since males do not begin to reproduce until they are 10-15 years old and females at 15-18 years old, with a generation length of 20-25 years.
Apart from fishing pressures, beluga sturgeon also face the threat of habitat loss, having seen 90 percent of their traditional spawning areas disappear over recent decades. Due to these combined threats, the IUCN has classified the beluga sturgeon as critically endangered, with the population expected to keep declining. Data shows that in 1992, 573 tons (520 metric tons) of beluga were caught, but by 2007, that number had plummeted to just 36 tons (33 metric tons), marking a 93 percent drop in catch. In 2020, 7,000 farm-raised baby sturgeon were released into the Danube River in an attempt to counteract this population decline, as reported by the World Wildlife Fund.
8: Southern Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna have been heavily exploited since the 1950s, driven by the global demand for sushi. ThinkstockThe Southern bluefin tuna inhabits the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. It can grow up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) long, weigh as much as 573 pounds (260 kilograms), and live for at least 40 years. The IUCN has classified this species as critically endangered, with its spawning stock biomass estimated to have fallen by about 85 percent between 1973 and 2009. Intensively fished since the 1950s due to the rise of sushi culture, the population of southern bluefin tuna is projected to dip below 500 mature individuals in the next century if current fishing rates persist.
7: Orange Roughy
The orange roughy has a lifespan that can exceed 140 years. Dorling Kindersley/Getty ImagesAlso known as the "slimehead," the orange roughy is found in a variety of habitats, ranging from the coasts of New Zealand, Australia, and Namibia, to the northeast Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. With a potential life expectancy of over 140 years, these fish reach sexual maturity between 20 and 32 years of age, making them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. The problem is exacerbated by the practice of trawling for orange roughy when they gather to feed and reproduce, which often decimates entire generations. Orange roughy is sold either fresh or frozen, skinned and filleted, and is considered a delicacy in many U.S. restaurants. Though the IUCN hasn't formally assessed whether the species is endangered, other organizations have acknowledged the sharp decline in its population after just 25 years of commercial fishing. These fish can grow up to 2.5 feet (76 centimeters) long and weigh as much as 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms).
6: Nassau Grouper
Once a commonly caught fish in the waters off the U.S. coast, the Nassau grouper is now classified as endangered. Didier BRANDELET/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesThe Nassau grouper is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the western North Atlantic. This fish can grow as large as 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length, weigh up to 55 pounds (25 kilograms), and live for nearly 29 years. Highly sought after by both commercial and recreational fishers, the Nassau grouper's spawning aggregations have been heavily targeted, leading to sharp declines in their population. More than 30 out of 50 known aggregations across its range have disappeared. Although once abundant off U.S. shores, the Nassau grouper is now protected, and harvesting has been banned in the U.S. due to dwindling stocks. This dramatic drop in numbers has led the IUCN to classify the Nassau grouper as critically endangered.
5: Red Handfish
The Acadian redfish's reproduction is hindered by trawling. Joseph Kunkel, Professor, University of MassachusettsOnce native to eastern Tasmania, the red handfish now survives only in two small subpopulations in Frederick Henry Bay, Australia. The IUCN has classified the red handfish as critically endangered, with only around 100 mature individuals remaining. The species faces numerous threats, including the loss of spawning grounds, habitat destruction, water pollution, siltation, and the rising numbers of native sea urchins. Their small size (less than 4 inches/10 centimeters) and bright red to light pink/brown color make them extremely difficult to spot.
4: European Eel
The European Eel's complex life cycle has contributed to the overfishing of the species. Picavet/Getty ImagesPrimarily found in the North Atlantic, Baltic, and Mediterranean Seas, European eels face a number of survival challenges. They have a remarkable life cycle, beginning life in the sea and migrating to freshwater streams miles inland, where they can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). Upon reaching sexual maturity at 6 to 30 years of age, they make their way back to the ocean to spawn. If their path to the sea is blocked, they return to freshwater and may live up to 50 years. However, if they manage to reach the ocean and reproduce, they die. Due to this complex cycle, any eel caught at sea is a juvenile that has not yet reproduced. Additional threats, including climate change, habitat degradation, invasive species, pollution, predation, and unsustainable fishing practices, have pushed the European eel into critically endangered status according to the IUCN.
3: Winter Skate
The winter skate is known for its ability to shock predators and stun prey with a jolt of electricity. Found mostly in the northwest Atlantic, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to North Carolina, it was once considered a "trash fish". However, it's now used for fishmeal, lobster bait, and even marketed for human consumption. The rise in trawling for this species has led to the accidental capture of juveniles, who are often mistaken for smaller, more abundant fish. This has contributed to a dramatic decline in the winter skate population, which is slow to mature and produces few offspring. As a result, the number of mature individuals has plummeted by 90 percent since the 1970s, earning the winter skate an endangered status from the IUCN.Joseph Kunkel, Professor, University of Massachusetts
2: Chinese Sturgeon
A Chinese sturgeon swims in the Yangtze River in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, April 10, 2021.
Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty ImagesHistorically, the Chinese sturgeon was found in southwestern Korea, western Kyushu, Japan, and across China in rivers such as the Yellow, Yangtze, Pearl, Mingjiang, and Qingtang. Today, however, it is confined to the Yangtze and Pearl rivers as well as the East and South China Sea. Despite having survived for over 140 million years, their future now appears bleak. Overfishing and the construction of the Gezhouba Dam in 1981, which blocked their migration routes, have severely impacted their population. There is now only one remaining spawning site, located below the Gezhouba Dam. As a result, the IUCN has classified the Chinese sturgeon as critically endangered. This giant species can reach weights of up to 990 pounds (450 kilograms), grow as long as 16 feet (4.8 meters), and live for at least 35 years. Although the Chinese government attempted to repopulate the Yangtze by releasing 9 million sturgeon between 1983 and 2007, without the ability to reproduce naturally, their numbers did not grow. Currently, the annual reproductive rate is estimated to be between 4.5 percent and zero.
1: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Due to its popularity among both diners and chefs, bluefin tuna has been subject to extensive overfishing.
ISSEI KATO/Reuters/CorbisArguably one of the most iconic endangered fish, the Atlantic bluefin tuna is found throughout most of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Known for being one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean, this species can grow to an impressive length of 15 feet (4.6 meters) and can weigh over 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms). Its reputation as a powerful fighter has made it a prized target for recreational fishermen. Additionally, at a market value that can reach up to $100,000 per fish, it is highly sought after by commercial fishermen. Due to overfishing, bluefin tuna populations are in severe decline, and experts warn that without immediate action, the species may face extinction. However, regulating their harvest is a challenge, as the bluefin tuna migrates across vast distances in the ocean. Despite efforts to curb the catch, these attempts have been largely ineffective. The IUCN has classified the Atlantic bluefin tuna as endangered, with both Eastern and Western Atlantic populations having dropped by at least 51 percent since 1970.
