The SHOAL is the global ecosystem of partners and collaborators who work together to safeguard the health of Earth's freshwater habitats and conserve the most threatened freshwater species. As with a shoal of fish, the strength of the SHOAL lies with the number of partners all working together.
Blueprint for Conservation Action for 1,000 Freshwater Fishes
SHOAL's flagship initiative sets out a plan for how significant collaborative conservation effort can lift freshwater fishes and potentially thousands of other neglected freshwater species to a new elevated platform of conservation attention and greatly enhance freshwater conservation efforts globally.
Freshwater film made it all the way to the BAFTAs this year – here’s more freshwater films you can check out today.
Freshwater made it to thes earlier this year, thanks to an acclaimed film by Karni Arieli and Saul Freed.
Wild Summon(nominated for Best Animated Short) combines animation with live-action underwater photography to tell the dramatic life cycle of the wild salmon in human form – her fight for survival as she migrates from a freshwater river to the open ocean – and then all the way back to her birthplace to spawn her young.
Narrated by Marianne Faithfull, the filmmakers describe Wild Summon as a “natural history fantasy”.
“If you watch the film without the sound, it might look like some sort of science-fiction film about creatures that live underwater. If you do the opposite – if you just listen to the voiceover – then it’s a straight natural history documentary”, Freed says. The arresting film has won multiple awards since it premiered at the Cannes film festival last year, as well as being nominated for a Palme d’Or, shortlisted for an Academy Award, and up for a BAFTA.
If Wild Summon has got you falling down the freshwater film rabbit hole too, here’s more you can check out today!
Artifishal: The Fight To Save Wild Salmon (2019), Blue Heart: The Fight For Europe’s Last Wild Rivers (2018), DamNation: The Problem With Hydropower (2014)
We’ve cheated a bit here because number 1 on our list is actually three films. Patagonia have made three films about freshwater issues, with the goal to spark dialogue and encourage change.
Artifishal: The Fight To Save Wild Salmon (2019) is a film about people, the fight for the future of wild fish and the environment that supports them. The film explores wild salmon’s slide toward extinction, threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature.
Blue Heart: The Fight for Europe’s Last Wild Rivers (2018) is a shocking look at the tsunami of dam development in the Balkan Peninsula, as the construction of 3,000 proposed hydropower developments threaten to destroy the last wild rivers in Europe.
The majestic cinematography of DamNation: The Problem with Hydropower (2014) highlights the destructive effect of obsolete dams on healthy river ecosystems and habitats, as well as rivers splashing back to life when the infrastructure is removed.
The Ghosts of Table Mountain (2022) is an intimate look at the Table Mountain Ghost Frog by Freshwater Films.
The short documentary reveals the secret lives of the critically endangered frog – one of SHOAL’s Fantastic Freshwater species – as well as other freshwater creatures who depend on South Africa’s ancient, rocky beacon of biodiversity Table Mountain, including caddis-flies and Cape galaxias.
A story of conservation, collaboration and hope – the filmmakers aim to introduce viewers to the rare and beautiful amphibian, as well as the threats that are impacting the rivers and streams it calls home.
The great lakes are Earth’s largest freshwater system, holding around 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater and home to more than 35,000 species of flora and fauna.
This feature length documentary by Julia Robson and Alyssa Armbruster follows the co-creators of Walk to Sustain Our Great Lakes as they embark on a 343 mile walk from the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, WI, all the way to Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Filmmakers Ferenc Kriska and György Kriska put the spotlight on some of the most important, but overlooked, species in the freshwater ecosystem in this short documentary.
If you only have half an hour to spare, spend it diving into the secret worlds of a range of invertebrate fauna of the wetland – including pond skaters, mayflies and water spiders.
New Blueprint for Conservation Action for 1,000 fishes by 2035
SHOAL has launched an ambitious new initiative to mobilise conservation action for 1,000 of Earth’s most threatened freshwater fish species by 2035.
Conservation action for 1,000 freshwater fishes by 2035? There’s a reason for conservation optimism. Keep scrolling to learn more about one of our most ambitious campaigns to date.
In April we launched the SHOAL Blueprint for Accelerated Conservation Action for 1,000 Freshwater Fishes by 2035, an exciting and ambitious new initiative that will place at least 1,000 threatened freshwater fishes on the path to recovery by 2035.
It’s not just a plan for 1,000 fishes. It’s a plan for hundreds of critical freshwater habitats, vital to thousands of other species and communities – very often the poorest on the planet – that rely on these fish and the freshwater habitats for their everyday lives.
The Blueprint was pulled together with the expert support and guidance from SHOAL partners the IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (FFSG) and IUCN Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team (BAKT).
Freshwater fishes have been largely neglected in conservation planning and yet the ecosystems they inhabit are vital to the survival of the planet. The incredible diversity of freshwater fishes in only 1% of the Earth’s surface area represents more than half of fish diversity overall. The Blueprint is therefore an extremely welcome and important call to action to halt the loss of so many species under the threat of extinction.
Brian Zimmerman, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group
The blueprint was launched in April at an event kindly hosted by the Fishmongers’ Company at Fishmongers’ Hall in London, where SHOAL‘s executive director Mike Baltzer presented how the crucial initiative will mobilise collaborative conservation efforts for global conservation impact.
The Blueprint is a fundamental framework to Phase Two of SHOAL‘s strategy, and will define the organisation’s work for the coming decade. It is wildly ambitious – perhaps the single most ambitious conservation framework in terms of species numbers ever written*!
*We’d welcome people pointing us in the direction of a more ambitious framework!
Freshwater fishes are slipping through the net of conservation and are silently sinking towards extinction. The Blueprint identifies which species need urgent attention and how to cost effectively and collaboratively implement conservation action at scale to ensure at least 1,000 species are under suitable conservation action within a decade. This is the scale of action required to save freshwater fishes and the time to act is now.
Barney Long, Senior Director of Conservation Strategies, Re:wild
This Blueprint is the level of ambition that is desperately needed to make up for the damage caused by decades of neglect in the world’s freshwaters, and to ensure they are conserved and protected long into the future. With funding and support from those able to offer it, it is very much achievable.
Hear what our partners say about working with SHOAL, and why the Blueprint is so critical 👇
The Blueprint shows the level of ambition and determination we need to turn back the tide on the freshwater biodiversity crisis, and halt extinctions and recover populations of the world’s most threatened freshwater fish. It is collaborative to its core and puts local communities at the forefront of impactful conservation action. It is urgent that we now push on and mobilise the conservation actions outlined by The Blueprint – our planet’s freshwaters depend on them.
Michael Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL
For freshwaters, the time for action is now.
Together – as a strong and determined shoal – we’ll show that collaborative conservation can change the trajectory for freshwater fishes and save the world’s freshwater ecosystems.
Checking out one of our Fantastic Freshwater plant species this International Plants Appreciation Day.
We’re giving some love to our Fantastic Freshwater plants this International Plant Appreciation Day.
Just 5% of all plants live in freshwaters, but they are absolutely vital to these ecosystems – and the species that call them home – surviving and thriving.
Plants oxygenate water, reduce flood risk, support nutrient cycling, and remove pollutants. They’re really doing some heavy lifting to keep our freshwater fresh!
Meet malabar rotala
With its characteristic small pink and red flowers, malabar rotala (Rotala malabarica) is a beautiful plant native to the Kannur District in Kerala, India, from where it was described in 1990.
The species has in fact only been recorded in a total of 22 ponds, with more than half of the known population in a single pond. One pond with half the population!
The Western Ghats – home to the Denison’s barb – runs along the coast of western India. The range of mountains support a very wide range of wetland-dependent plants, and represent one of the global centres of diversity of aquatic and wetland plants.
Malabar rotala is one of the 50 landmark species at high risk of extinction identified in SHOAL’s Fantastic Freshwater* report. Published on 19th May 2022 (International Day for Biodiversity), Fantastic Freshwater highlights the diversity and beauty of freshwater species and the immense threats they face to their survival.
Wetlands are very sensitive ecosystems and rely on specific environmental conditions; any disruption of these specific conditions can pose serious threats to freshwater flora. Threats to malabar rotala include:
Leakage of waste and habitat destruction from mining
Quarrying of the laterite bedrock which hold the seasonal pools where it occurs
Herbicide pollution from nearby cashew plantations
Unfortunately there are currently no conservation actions in place to protect and restore the malabar rotala.
As with other freshwater plants, more research is needed to increase our knowledge of its ecology, threats, habitat and population trends, so that effective conservation actions can be taken.
If you want to support the work SHOAL are doing to conserve freshwater species through action-driven conservation donate here and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter The Stream to get all the latest freshwater news straight to your inbox
Interview with Dr Cüneyt Kaya and Dr Münevver Oral (finding the leopard barbel)
On the heels of the news that 25% of freshwater fish are at risk of extinction, a team of ichthyologists in Türkiye has rediscovered hope in the shape of a carp-like, spotted fish: the leopard barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus).
The species – one of SHOAL and Re:wild’s Most Wanted – was last scientifically documented in 2011. That is until last November, when Dr Cüneyt Kaya and Dr Münevver Oral’s team found the fish in the Turkish section of the Tigris River.
We got the chance to catch up with Kaya and Oral about the amazing rediscovery – including the dramatic night the fish was found – and their next challenge.
SHOAL: Congratulations on the rediscovery, how do you feel now that the news is out and what has the response been like?
DR MÜNEVVER ORAL (MO): We’re really excited. In fact, the right word would be we are thrilled, because the leopard barbel is the second species that we found from SHOAL and Re:wild’s 10 Most Wanted Lost Fishes list. As far as we are aware, no other country has found any species and Türkiye has a 100% success rate – so in this sense we are super happy and proud.
SHOAL: Going back to the beginning, when did you start looking for the leopard barbel and how did you approach the search?
MO: We started the search operation in late October. We spent more than a week trying to bring everyone together and talking with the local authorities. Where the species distributes is almost at the border of Syria and Türkiye, and the Syrian border is where you need to be careful in terms of security.
There are also a lot of dams built on the Tigris river so we needed to come up with a strategy. The Ilısu Dam was built in 2018 and is the second biggest in Türkiye in terms of water collection capacity. We did extended and comprehensive expeditions across the surrounding cities – including Batman, Hasankeyf, Şırnak, Mardin, Siirt (Botan) – and checked pretty much every single river collection point to the Tigris river.
The leopard barbel is the second species on SHOAL and Re:wild’s Most Wanted Lost Fishes list to be rediscovered, having found the Batman River loach in Southeastern Türkiye in late 2021. The leopard barbel, a difficult second album, required an adjustment in strategy.
MO: The Batman River loach prefers much shallower rivers so it was easier to go into the river and find the species, it was mostly on us, but the leopard barbel prefers deeper water so we needed fishermen with hands-on experience.
It was a lot of work but I’m so glad that it could pay off eventually.
SHOAL: The moment the fish was found sounds very dramatic, what happened?
MO: On the 12 November we finished the third expedition which had taken more than a week in Şırnak, Cizre. Cüneyt went to an IUCN meeting in Antalya (southern Türkiye), and I came back to my faculty where we are based. Then after 3 days, on 15th November at 10.30 pm, we received this facetime call from our fisherman [Mehmet Ülkü].You should have seen our faces. I was like “What’s happening at this hour? Why is he calling me on facetime?” and he was like “I have a surprise!”.
The minute I received the news I started driving in less than 30 minutes. Cüneyt was in Antalya, the southern part of Türkiye.
DR CÜNEYT KAYA (CK): Quite far away.
MO: And if you were driving how long would that take, maybe 16 hours?
CK: No, more than that. It’s really far.
MO: So he got on the first direct flight from Antalya to Van (nearest direct flight) and drove another 6 hours to finally reach Cizre.
CK: When we got there it was almost sunset.
MO: What was thrilling was whilst we were on our way Mehmet called me again and showed me this wonderful looking, much younger smaller one. A second specimen of the leopard barbel.
CK: Amazing.
MO: That can only be described as a miracle, I don’t have any other words.
CK: On the plane I saw these photos and was like “what’s happening?”!
MO: It was quite an unforgettable experience for both of us.
SHOAL: It’s such a dramatic tale! What did it feel like when you finally saw the fish with your own eyes?
MO: Well the second fish, the young one, is quite good looking. The same thing applies to every human being and animal – as we get older we tend to get a little uglier. But the younger fish was amazing, you could see the spots easily.
CK: It was yellow-ish – like a golden-yellow – so very healthy
MO: Yeah, super handsome! One of the established ichthyologists, Dr.Jörg Freyhof saw the photos and was like “Oh my god, that’s one of the best photos ever taken of the leopard barbel”, so we were very happy.
The stunning pictures of the two specimens taken by photojournalist Metin Yoksu showcase the leopard barbel in all its spotted glory. Once done marvelling at how handsome the fish was, Kaya and Oral admit to being surprised by the fish’s quiet nature.
MO: Wild species are normally super fast and they really don’t like seeing people, but this fish – both of them – wouldn’t get scared. I think it’s in their biology that they don’t. Maybe it’s because of their predator behaviour? They tend to hunt as opposed to being hunted. They were super handsome and they were quiet.
SHOAL: Handsome and brooding, that’s so interesting.
SHOAL: Did you feel that with the rediscovery of the Batman River loach a few years ago, you felt quite confident going into the search for the leopard barbel?
CK: Yes.
MO: We were quite confident because we kept receiving anonymous calls from the locals.
CK: In the same genus there are many species, so they’d confuse them – but sometimes the calls were correct.
MO: And it’s not only the leopard barbel on our target list, there are other species. Cüneyt is the field man, he goes at least 10 or 20 times in the year…
CK: …more…
MO: …to this and other parts of Türkiye and we always observe the habitat. We had positive signs to make us think that the leopard barbel was still alive, but we wouldn’t have any proof until the night that we found the species.
SHOAL: What are your hopes for the leopard barbel both on a local level and an international level?
MO: The biggest motivation for us is to make sure that we do everything to protect the leopard barbel. That’s why we say Cizre, but we don’t pinpoint exactly where we found the species to make sure the people won’t go and hunt for it. It’s somewhere along a 40km radius, so good luck with that!
We will be going back to Şırnak to bring all the fishermen together to help them learn what to do and what not to do. There’s some fishing gear which is forbidden which causes a lot of issues for the whole aquatic ecosystem – fish, mammals, crustaceans, everything, these are called ghost fishing. It’s easily solved, during the expedition we gave instructions to local authorities and they took super fast actions. Our fisherman [Mehmet Ülkü] will be the bridge between us, academia, and local fishermen. We are so happy to have him in our team.
Also we will be in touch with the national education department to give some seminars to teachers so they can discuss the issues and understand how to protect our biodiversity for future generations.
Every second day we speak with our fisherman [Mehmet Ülkü], and an engineer from the local fisheries and agriculture department was a graduate from our department, Rıdvan Hüsem, so they’re taking us really seriously. Hopefully we as a large team will be able to carry out as many awareness activities as possible.
From his immense knowledge of the local waterways to catching the specimen itself – not to mention keeping it happy and safe as Kaya and Oral raced across the country! – the two are very emphatic that Ülkü’s contribution was vital to the successful rediscovery.
MO: He’s the star, not us. If he didn’t trust and collaborate with us, we wouldn’t be able to achieve what we achieved. His expertise helped us a lot. He is very excited and he’s already a star in Cizre when we found the species and where he’s from.
SHOAL: On an international level, Türkiye is the only country to have a 100% hit rate for rediscovering the 10 Most Wanted Lost Fishes.
MO: Yeah! Where is the award? I want to meet Leonardo Di Caprio in person! He used to be my crush in high school, so I don’t know maybe a date or a dinner?
SHOAL: Oh definitely! Why do you think it’s so important to rediscover lost species?
MO: In the ecosystem, everything is connected. It can be finding a new species or it can be rediscovering a species, it’s always important.
If you don’t know what you have at a country level or international level, you don’t know what to protect.
SHOAL: And in the communities and organisations you’ve worked with, it must be really exciting and motivating.
MO: Oh my god you know everyone is calling, everyone is clapping. Obviously Leonardo has helped us a lot, and I’m so happy, but this is already important as it is. We know that the biodiversity crisis is increasing with global warming, so we really do need to take care of our biodiversity as much as possible.
SHOAL: So what is next for you both, do you have another ambitious project on the horizon?
MO: That question I ask to SHOAL and Re:wild. Hey guys, do you think you will be challenging us to find another lost species perhaps?
There are already so many species that we are looking forward to finding. There are already so many species that we want to figure out their phylogenetic relationships. We’re up for any challenges! If you want to update the list feel free, we’re so up for new challenges.
On the heels of the news that 25% of freshwater fish are at risk of extinction, a team of ichthyologists in Türkiye (Turkey) has rediscovered hope in the shape of a carp-like, spotted fish — the leopard barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus) — in the Turkish section of the Tigris River. The species, which was last scientifically documented in 2011, is the second species on SHOAL and Re:wild’sMost Wanted Lost Fishes list to be rediscovered. The first, the Batman River loach, was found by the same intrepid team in Southeastern Türkiye in late 2021.
“There is nothing quite like the feeling of finding that a species that has been pushed to the brink of extinction is still hanging on, despite the odds. It is even more thrilling than discovering a new species because it means that we can give a rare species a second chance. With both the Batman River loach and now the leopard barbel, we have an obligation to mobilise conservation efforts to ensure neither becomes lost again”.
Cüneyt Kaya, associate professor at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University and member of the expedition team
The leopard barbel was once abundant, ranging from Eastern Türkiye, Eastern Syria, Iran and Iraq in the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Over the last three decades, however, fishing, pollution, habitat destruction and dam construction have pushed the species to the edge of extinction. Anecdotal evidence from local fishers suggested that the fish may still be out there, so Kaya and Münevver Oral, an assistant professor at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University enlisted their help, in addition to working with the local fisheries aquaculture department.
The team started by looking at the scientific literature about where the species had been previously found. However, those data were collected before nine dams were built in the Turkish portion of the Tigris River. The dams alter water flow regimes, and cold water that accumulates at the bottom of reservoirs is sometimes released downstream. The release of cold water drives many freshwater fish toward warmer waters, so the team had to adjust its strategy to look further downstream from the dams.
Just days after the second of two expeditions, Kaya and Oral got the video call they had hoped for from local fisherman Mehmet Ülkü: he had caught a 50-centimetre (20-inch), 2-kilogram (4.4-pound) fish with conspicuous black spots and the telltale fleshy filament that dangles from the mouths of this type of freshwater fish.
Ülkü kept the fish alive in a tank with a constant oxygen supply overnight, while Kaya took a direct flight to Van city, then drove nearly six hours to Cizre, where the species was found, while Oral drove more than 11 hours through the night to see — and help release — the fish. By the time they arrived, Ülkü had caught a second leopard barbel safely in his nets.
“We dropped everything and would have gone to the ends of the Earth to see this fish, this legend, alive in the wild. I have never seen a fish as beautiful as this. It was the realisation not only of our dream to find this lost species, but of the hope that not all is lost — we still have a chance to protect the leopard barbel and all of the other incredible freshwater species it shares its home with”.
Münevver Oral, assistant professor at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University and member of the expedition team
After Kaya and Oral took photos and measured the size and shape of the two fish, they were joined by the local Cizre fisheries aquaculture department to safely release the fish, which they described as a joyous event.
“We all have a role to play in protecting our incredible natural heritage and I am proud to have used my skills to help rediscover the leopard barbel. Safeguarding this species into the future is going to require educating other fishers and continuing to bring together scientific knowledge and local expertise.”
Kaya and Oral are planning to conduct a series of seminars for fishers and teachers to help build pride in their riverways and wildlife, using the rediscovery as a case study to protect the Tigris River and its rich biodiversity. They are also hoping to get a better understanding of how many leopard barbel might still exist and where they are still found across their historic range.
In November 2023, the International Union for Conservation of Nature released an updated assessment of freshwater fish across the planet, finding that dams and water extraction are putting 45% of all threatened freshwater fish at risk of extinction. Not only have several dams built in the Turkish portion of the Tigris River impacted the leopard barbel, but a new dam is under construction in Cizre, very close to where the two leopard barbels were found.
“Freshwater ecosystems play a tremendous role in maintaining the overall health of our planet. Addressing threats and safeguarding the biodiversity that maintains these ecosystems is critical to solving the climate and biodiversity loss crises, and essential for human wellbeing. We hope the rediscovery of the leopard barbel will serve as an inspiring catalyst for future freshwater biodiversity conservation efforts in this region.”
Dr Harmony Patricio, conservation programme manager, SHOAL and Re:wild
A fish that can leap out of water to escape predators, an air-breathing catfish, and some blood-sucking vampires highlighted in New Species 2022. In March we released our second annual New Species report, detailing the 201 freshwater fish species described in 2022.
“SHOAL’s New Species reports shine a much-needed light on a group of creatures that get very little attention.”
Mike Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL
Contributions from researchers and taxonomists who work hard to discover and describe new species make the landmark report possible. We’re now looking forward to New Species 2023, and we want to hear from you again! If you have come across a species this year you think should be included, get in touch.
In the Spring, SHOAL Executive Director Mike Baltzer travelled to Southeast Asia to meet conservation partners and visit some of the world’s most exciting freshwater ecosystems first hand.
“The trip gave me an invaluable opportunity to connect with local experts, plan future collaborations and see some of the world’s most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems first-hand.”
In July we released The Strategic Framework to Accelerate Urgent Conservation Action for ASAP Freshwater Fishes in Southeast Asia, alongside our partners the IUCN Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) and Mandai Nature. Years in the making, this major new report sets the course for urgent conservation of 90 freshwater fishes on the brink of extinction across 11 countries in the region.
To celebrate the launch key voices in freshwater conservation from SHOAL, PROGRES and the National University of Singapore came together for our “Securing a Future for Freshwater Fishes in Southeast Asia” webinar. Catch up here→
Alongside the report, the SHOAL-ASAP Freshwater Fish Conservation Grant was launched to support work to conserve Critically Endangered freshwater fishes in Southeast Asia. The grant directed funding to four brilliant projects across Indonesia and the Philippines.
Paratherina labiosa Hasanuddin University – Biology Department (Indonesia)
Poropontius tawarensis PGKB – Research Centre for Elephant and Forest Biodiversity Conservation (Indonesia)
Betta burdigala Airlangga University, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Studies (Indonesia)
Barbodes manguaoensis and Bostrychus expatria Community Centred Conservation (Philippines)
“Southeast Asia is the world’s hotspot for highly threatened species. This framework provides the direction and clarity required to focus and catalyse action to bring the most threatened freshwater fishes back from the brink of extinction.”
The Pathala eel loach, star of SHOAL‘s New Species 2022 report, has shot to fame after Hollywood legend Leonardo DiCaprio celebrated its discovery on his Instagram.
Mr Abraham discovered the species by complete accident when it plopped out of the shower head and has demonstrated the amazing impact of a local campaign to engage community members in citizen science. His wife Suja says: “Now we’re always on the lookout for these creatures in our wells, tanks and tap water, after the researchers told us about them.”
In September we published our Phase One report, celebrating the highlights of our four year journey so far and outlining plans for the next 10. In four years SHOAL has launched programmes across 5 continents, helped develop 2 new NGOs, engaged 50+ brilliant strategic and local action partners, and much more.
By 2032, we aim to support 300 local organisations to protect, restore and rewild more than 300 habitats and halt the extinction of 1,000 of the Earth’s most threatened freshwater fish species.
“We are proud that we are recognised globally in conservation circles as an important actor in freshwater species conservation, that we have established programmes across five continents, and that we have built powerful partnerships with leading organisations who have been and will continue to be instrumental in helping us achieve our goals of protecting and restoring freshwater habitats and conserving the most threatened freshwater species globally.”
In October we released The Action Plan for the Conservation of Mexico’s Goodeid Fishes, an urgent new initiative with an ambitious multinational conservation programme – the first time this has ever been done.
The action plan was released in collaboration with Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo‘s AquaLab, Chester Zoo, the Goodeid Working Group, the IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee, and Guardianes del río Teuchitlán.
The launch was marked by the “Plan G: Conserving Mexico’s threatened goodeids” webinar, now available to watch online.Catch up here→
In December we announced our partnership with a selection of UK aquarium stores, where our brand new range of collectible enamel pins will be available – with donations going towards our SOS: Support Our Shoal campaign.
Designed to bridge the gap between the home aquarium community and impactful conservation of the world’s most threatened freshwater fish, SOS: Support Our Shoal provides a reliable channel for aquarists to direct vital funds to the freshwater species and ecosystems that need them most.
“SOS: Support Our Shoal is a rallying cry to those who care about what is happening to freshwater species and want to be part of the solution. SHOAL provides a reliable platform for the aquarium world to fund conservation projects that really work. This is a landmark time for the aquarium community, and collaborating with us is a demonstration that it is beginning to take conservation seriously.”
Mike Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL
You can find the pins at any of our brilliant partner aquarium stores across the UK:
If you want to support the work SHOAL are doing to conserve freshwater species through action-driven conservation donate here. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter The Stream to get all the latest freshwater news straight to your inbox.
Post Overview
Michael Edmondstone
December 21st 2023
SHOAL, Stories
Share this post:
Recent News
One quarter of freshwater animals at risk of extinction – IUCN Red List
Action Plan for the Conservation of Mexico’s Goodeid Fishes published today
Action Plan for the Conservation of Mexico’s Goodeid Fishes Published Today
The Action Plan outlines the necessary steps for an integrated, ambitious multinational conservation programme for Mexican goodeids – the first time this has ever been done.
On 31 October, SHOAL and partners from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo’s AquaLab, Goodeid Working Group, Chester Zoo, and the Freshwater Conservation Committee launched the Action Plan for the Integrated Conservation of Mexican Goodeid Fishes.
Mexican goodeids are one of Earth’s most threatened groups of fishes, with 90% of the 40 known species threatened with extinction, and one already extinct. This Action Plan provides a framework to save these species for the first time, relying on robust partnerships of passionate and knowledgeable individuals and organisations.
The launch builds on previous conservation work by AquaLab, the Goodeid Working Group, and Chester Zoo to breed and reintroduce species such as the Extinct in the Wild Tequila splitfin and golden skiffia. Early signs show populations of both species are increasing.
Testimonials:
“The Goodeid Working Group was founded in 2009 out of concern for the dramatic population declines of Mexican goodeid species and the large-scale loss of their habitats. Today, the group is part of a dedicated network working together with utmost effort to conserve goodeids, offering a real chance to save this amazing group for future generations.”
Michael Köck – Cofounder and Chair, Goodeid Working Group
“I’m delighted to see such a passionate group from diverse backgrounds come together to create a plan that can make a real difference for this highly threatened group of fishes. I hope this plan will not only save these species but also set an example for freshwater conservation worldwide.”
Paul Bamford – Regional Field Programme Manager – Latin America, Chester Zoo
“With 21 extinctions already recorded, Mexico is the country with the most lost species. This Action Plan aims to conserve the iconic Goodeidae species and their habitats through strategic efforts.”
Topiltzin Contreras-MacBeath – Head of Conservation Biology Research, University of Morelos, and Co-Chair, Freshwater Conservation Committee, IUCN Species Survival Commission
Next Steps:
The next steps are to raise vital funds to start the conservation work that will boost the survival chances of Mexican goodeids.
SHOAL’s Phase One report highlights many of our achievements from the past four years and outlines our strategy and aims for the coming decade.
SHOAL’s Phase One report showcases some of SHOAL’s main achievements since the initiative’s conception in 2019. Inside, you can learn about the suite of programmes across five continents that we have launched, the development of two new NGOs we’ve been instrumental in helping with, the SOS: Support Our Shoal campaign we’ve rolled out to provide a reliable and trustworthy mechanism for the aquarium hobby to engage in conservation, and much, much more.
The report draws attention to our brilliant Local Action Partners and Strategic Partners, and shines a light on the stories surrounding the search for the fat catfish and the reintroduction to the wild of the golden skiffia.
“We are proud that we are recognised globally in conservation circles as an important actor in freshwater species conservation, that we have established programmes across five continents, and that we have built powerful partnerships with leading organisations who have been and will continue to be instrumental in helping us achieve our goals of protecting and restoring freshwater habitats and conserving the most threatened freshwater species globally”.
Michael Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL
There is, of course, much work to be done. This first phase is just the start of a strategy of work leading up to 2032, all efforts of which will support the achievement of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s New Global Framework for Managing Nature Through 2030, the UN Decade of Restoration, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals targets
New roadmap sets the course for urgent conservation of freshwater fishes in Southeast Asia
Major report published today by the IUCN Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP), Mandai Nature and SHOAL.
Today marks the release of The Strategic Framework to Accelerate Urgent Conservation Action for ASAP Freshwater Fishes in Southeast Asia, a new roadmap which sets the course for the urgent conservation of freshwater fishes in Southeast Asia.
The IUCN has identified 90 freshwater fishes on the brink of extinction in the region, across 11 countries including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
The aim of this new roadmap is to see all 90 Critically Endangered ASAP freshwater fishes receiving active conservation efforts by 2030.
“Southeast Asia is the world’s hotspot for highly threatened species. This framework provides the direction and clarity required to focus and catalyse action to bring the most threatened freshwater fishes back from the brink of extinction.”
Michael Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL
Freshwater habitats are home to 51% of all known fish species, yet one third of freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction – making them one of the most highly threatened taxa globally.
Southeast Asia alone is home to 30% of global freshwater fish species, making up 15 of the 16 fish species declared extinct in 2020.
“The lack of targeted conservation action requires a ramp up of support and funding for these overlooked species.”
Dr Sonja Luz, CEO, Mandai Nature
The framework identifies rapid loss and degradation of natural habitats as the primary threat to nearly all Critically Endangered freshwater fishes. Many of these habitats are shared across borders, highlighting the vital need for cross-country cooperation to achieve meaningful conservation impact.
“Collective efforts across Southeast Asia are urgently needed and are crucial to halt declines immediately.”
Trip Diary: Conservation in Southeast Asia with Mike Baltzer
Come with SHOAL to Southeast Asia to meet conservation partners and visit some of the world’s most exciting freshwater ecosystems first hand.
It’s been a busy Spring for SHOAL’s Mike Baltzer. Our Executive Director has just returned from a journey across Southeast Asia that took him from Singapore to Cambodia to Thailand and back to Singapore.
“The trip gave me an invaluable opportunity to connect with local experts, plan future collaborations and see some of the world’s most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems first-hand.”
The meeting brought together experts from the region alongside those with an expertise in writing action plans for threatened species in the region, like Mike. The group discussed the process of developing this ambitious project, and how to ensure the results have the greatest impact.
“The ASEAN expert meeting was a wonderful opportunity to discuss SHOAL and freshwater conservation with national experts and potential partners, and find ways to move forward with action in each of the Southeast Asia countries.”
Mike was also able to meet up with some of our partners in Singapore including PROGRES, a conservation NGO in Sulawesi, Indonesia, which fuses science with the power of locally-led conservation action. Read more about PROGRES’ amazing work on our blog→
One of Indonesia’s leading conservation specialists Prof. Mirza Kusrini then met Mike for an enlightening and helpful discussion about potential partners in Papua and West Papua in Indonesia.
Mike then headed to Siem Reap, the home of the breathtaking Angkor Wat, to meet potential partners and discuss future activities in the Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. The area is one of the world’s most large and valuable wetlands.
He and the team were able to capture some striking shots of the extensive fisheries on the lake, as well as explore potential conservation projects.
“In Cambodia, I was struck by the damage, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to the local economy and threat this now posed to natural resources as people seek ways to pay off loans and restore their businesses and income sources. It was clear to see that the great fisheries of the Tonle Sap were once again a vital source of food security during the toughest times.”
On return to Singapore Mike took the opportunity to stop over in Bangkok and meet with Dr Dindo Campilan, Regional Director of the IUCN Asia Regional Office, and his team to explore potential collaboration on projects in the region.
The next day, Mike returned to Singapore for a full day meeting with the IUCN SSC ASAP and Mandai Nature team to prepare for the launch of The Strategic Framework to Accelerate Urgent Conservation Action for ASAP Freshwater Fishes in Southeast Asia on 3rd July 2023.
The trip was drawing to a close, but there’s no way Mike could fly back to the UK without squeezing in a visit to the new Bird Paradise at Singapore Zoo, after being kindly given a ticket.
“Bird Paradise is incredible. You can walk through huge aviaries and really feel that you are seeing the birds in the wild – all with clear conservation messages and actions. And of course it was great to be harassed by beautiful salmon-crested cockatoos – one of my favourite birds!”
Southeast Asia is considered the region with the highest number of species facing immediate extinction, and freshwater fish make up the largest group with almost 100 species Critically Endangered. As aquatic species in general are overlooked globally amongst conservation actions, there is presently very little targeted conservation action underway.
“As we prepare for the launch of our new report in collaboration with IUCN SSC, ASAP and Mandai Nature it is important that we meet to discuss with as many local experts as possible on potential projects and partners. There are a lot of ASAP fishes there that need immediate attention so building capacity of local NGOs across the region is a high priority.”
Formed under the IUCN SSC, the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) are an alliance of more than 220 partners working to save Critically Endangered species in Southeast Asia.
Post Overview
Michael Edmondstone
June 18th 2023
Conservation, Fish, Stories, Trips
Share this post:
Recent News
One quarter of freshwater animals at risk of extinction – IUCN Red List
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
