SHOAL aims to get more people involved and excited about freshwater species and their conservation. If you are interested in our projects, there are lots of things you can do to help:

1. Donate to a project: By donating to a project you can contribute towards the work of our wonderful partner organisations in the field, allowing them to make a difference to the survival of some of the most threatened freshwater species.

2. Participate in a project: While some of our projects are implemented by conservation professionals in the field, others rely on engagement from individuals around the world. For example, if you are a fishkeeper you could participate in a coordinated ex situ breeding programme. Get in contact to find out more about these opportunities.

3. Share a project on social media or with your friends: You can share your stories with other members of the SHOAL network by using #SHOAL on Facebook and Twitter. SHOAL also wants to create a broader network, where people can learn about other projects and share knowledge and ideas.

4. Support a local conservation project: SHOAL works directly with a number of projects around the world, but to save freshwater species at the scale and pace required there need to be many more. You can contact your local conservation organisation and ask if they are working on wetland or freshwater species projects, or even start a project yourself. A number of SHOAL strategic partners also have specific opportunities for volunteers to get involved.

5. Join an association or expert network: Joining an aquarist or angling association can be a great way to get involved with other like-minded people and to coordinate efforts to safeguard freshwater species or habitats. There are also expert networks such as the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group where you can share your knowledge on a particular species and help contribute towards global tools which inform and support conservation worldwide, such as the IUCN Red List.

6. Sustainable practices: You can also learn more about how to conduct your hobby in a sustainable way which does not threaten wild populations. This can not only help to protect freshwater species, but also ensure the long-term viability of the hobby itself.

Together, through the cumulative impact of all our individual actions, we can make a truly meaningful and transformational difference to freshwater species, to the habitats they depend upon, and to the people whose subsistence and livelihoods rely upon healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystems.