Cichlid species, previously ‘lost’ to science rediscovered in Lake Victoria!

Lipochromis microdon

Guest author: Anna Mahulu

Lipochromis microdon is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria. It hasn’t been formally recorded since 1985 and for decades, it was thought to be lost or possibly extinct as a victim of the dramatic ecological changes in Lake Victoria. Like many other haplochromine cichlids, and fish larvae eaters specifically, this species faced immense pressure from habitat degradation and the arrival of invasive species. However, in a surprising turn of events, recent sampling efforts have confirmed that Lipochromis microdon is still alive, offering a glimmer of hope for its conservation.

A Species Once Thought extinct

Originally described as Haplochromis microdon, this species was later placed in the genus Lipochromis when Peter Humphrey Greenwood revised the systematics of haplochromine cichlids in 1979/1980. Lipochromis is a genus of cichlids known for their specialised feeding behaviour of eating haplochromines cichlid larvae. Lipochromis microdon was part of Lake Victoria’s rich cichlid community until the mid-1980s. However, after the sudden increase in population of the introduced Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) in the 1980s, following several decades of strong eutrophication, populations of many native and endemic cichlids including Lipochromis microdon, plummeted to below detection limit. For four decades, it was feared that the species had disappeared entirely.

The Rediscovery

During field expeditions in 2023 and 2024, Ole Seehausen’s research team set out to revive regular sampling surveys of the haplochromine diversity at rocky reefs in the Mwanza region of Lake Victoria after several years of a sampling break. Using targeted sampling methods at rocky reefs in the southern Mwanza Gulf, we recorded two male individuals of Lipochromis microdon, one in 2023 and one in 2024 in the same place. This finding is significant because it provides the first confirmed sighting of the species in decades. It is also significant because many other sites were sampled in these years too, but this species was not sighted in any of them, and the same site was sampled many times between 1989 and 2015 but the species was never sighted there either in those years.

The rediscovery of Lipochromis microdon underscores the resilience of some of Lake Victoria’s endemic cichlids. It also highlights the need for comprehensive surveys of the entire lake, as other ‘lost’ species may still persist in pockets of the lake’s ecosystem.

Lipochromis microdon
Lipochromis microdon

What This Means for Conservation

The survival of Lipochromis microdon is encouraging, but its future remains uncertain. The threats that led to its decline are still present. The rediscovery presents an opportunity to reassess conservation priorities for Lake Victoria’s cichlids, particularly those species that are Critically Endangered or feared extinct.

We must act now to protect the fragile remnants of Lake Victoria’s unique biodiversity. Strengthening habitat protection, reducing pollution and curbing eutrophication, and supporting sustainable fisheries management will be crucial steps in ensuring that species like Lipochromis microdon do not disappear forever.

Catching up with Local Action Partner C3 Philippines

Five people in life jackets sitting in a small wooden boat, and one person in a life jacket standing in the water next to the boat.

Catching up with Local Action Partner C3 Philippines

Our local action partner C3 Philippines have just wrapped up the first stage of their project at Lake Manguao – let’s check in with what they’ve been up to (and what’s next)!

A little backstory

C3 Philippines is a grassroots, community-centred organisation who work in close collaboration with the local community to deliver effective, sustainable and impactful conservation to areas of critical biological importance.

C3 Philippines’ latest project takes them to Palawan in the municipality of Taytay, identified as one of the Key Biodiversity Areas for its global significance on biodiversity conservation.

Lake Manguao, known locally as Lake Danao, was formed when a volcanic eruption obstructed an ancient river valley and is now considered as one of the most biologically important lakes in the Philippines.

Pristine landscape surround the lake’s 600-hectare catchment area, home to a diverse range of wildlife including three lake-endemic freshwater fishes (Barbodes manguaonensis, Barbodes bantolanensis, and Bostrychus expatria), as well as an additional four fish species that are endemic to northern Palawan and its satellite islands.

The valuable ecosystem services provided by Lake Manguao include:

  • Fishing – the lake is an important fishing site for the local community, which depends on the fisheries for their livelihoods
  • Resources – wild plant species are utilized for food, traditional medicine, timber and fuel
  • Migratory waterbirds – during migration periods, groups of herons and egrets come together at Lake Manguao to feed, rest, and occasionally breed
  • Air quality – extensive forest coverage filters out pollutants and plays a part in climate regulation by storing and sequestering greenhouse gases
  • Tourism – the local government of Taytay is developing the lake as a tourist destination, in the hopes of fostering a sustainable agri-ecotourism industry in the region

Three people sitting listening to three people presenting to them with a board behind saying: "Lake Manguao Municipal Conservation Area and Ecotourism Zone"

What’s Happening at Lake Manguao?

In recent years, both the lake and its surrounding habitats have come under threat due to human activities and other environmental pressures. Threats include:

  • Unsustainable agriculture and other harmful activities, including illegal logging and *kaingin* (slash and burn farming) – this disrupts natural habitats, degrades water quality and threatens native biodiversity
  • Limited understanding of the importance of the lake’s biodiversity – this leads to low community participation in conservation and management efforts
  • Lack of an enabling environment to strengthen management strategies and secure conservation policies 

Thus the initiative “Strengthening Management Strategies and Community Awareness on Threatened Freshwater Fishes in Lake Manguao, Palawan” was launched, with the goal to combat these challenges.

The aims of the initiative are:

  1. Identify and map out the anthropogenic threats of the lake habitat and involve communities in developing appropriate management strategies for forest protection, agriculture and other land uses
  2. Develop education and outreach program for the surrounding communities of the Lake Manguao including the youth, indigenous peoples and women to promote lake endemic fish conservation and habitat protection
  3. Strengthen enabling policy support for the conservation of the globally threaten Lake Manguao endemic fishes

 

Four men standing in a lake holdng a large fishing net between them.

What’s Happening at Lake Manguao?

Over the last year C3 Philippines have carried out extensive surveys and interviews to build a clearer picture of the situation at Lake Manguao, a social monitoring survey, fisher landing surveys, and the collection and sampling of three (3) lake-endemic target fish species.

The team observed the distribution of the three (3) lake-endemic target fish species – Barbodes manguaonensis, Barbodes bantolanensis, and Bostrychus expatria – across eight (8) sampling stations. After three (3) months of fish landing survey, 263 individuals of Barbodes manguaonensis, 113 individuals of Barbodes bantolanensis, and 93 individuals of Bostrychus expatria were recorded.

The team also engaged 30 local families in interviews about fishing and farming practices, perceived resource conditions and threats, and their awareness of the three (3) lake-endemic target fish species.

“We are rediscovering the beauty and importance of Lake Manguao not only to Taytay municipality but also for the province of Palawan. The endemic fish that can only be seen in the lake and not anywhere else in the world, as well as other important biodiversity of the area, are a source of pride for the people of Taytay and Palawan.”
Reynante Ramilo, C3 Philippines

 

Two women sitting and talking, one has a notepad and pen.

What’s next for C3 Philippines and Lake Manguao?

C3 Philippines has a clear view of the road ahead for the Lake Manguao project. Their recommendations are to:

  • Publish the data collected from the social monitoring survey, fisher landing surveys, and the collection and sampling of three endemic fish species.
  • Develop and distribute content to engage local communities and stakeholders raising awareness and encouraging sustainable practices that support Lake Manguao’s biodiversity
  • Provide local authorities and management bodies with enhanced insights to inform local regulations, and work in close collaboration to translate research findings into actionable policies that promote the effective, sustainable and impactful conservation of Lake Manguao

C3 Philippines will continue to work closely with the local government units of Taytay, PCSD and DENR together with the communities around the lake to protect its beauty and biodiversity for the future.

Eighteen people sitting in the forest and smiling at the camera,

New Species 2024 report released

aquarel © Samanta Vanesa Faiad

Our annual New Species report, highlights the 260 freshwater fish described throughout 2024.

A fish that lives not in water but in … mud!

Just one of the weird and wonderful new fishes described to science in 2024: This World Wildlife Day, SHOAL release their fourth annual New Species report. New Species 2024 draws attention the the 260 freshwater fish species described throughout the year, and celebrates the taxonomists who work so hard to bring these fishes to the light.

The class of 2024 includes:

  • Berlin’s Bloodworm Eel, a blind eel uniquely adapted to life in the mud
  • Adriana’s Pearlfish, discovered just meters from a tourist path, a stone’s throw from the mighty Iguazú Falls, Argentina.
  • Two species of pacu, a vegetarian close relative of the piranha, including one named after the Lord of the Rings villain Lord Sauron.

We also catch up with three leading taxonomists to learn more about their incredible work.

Let’s look at the numbers!

Of the 260 freshwater fish first described in 2024, there are:

  • 137 from Asia
  • 84 from South America
  • 28 from Africa
  • 4 from Europe
  • 4 from North America
  • 3 from Oceania

“Just as taxonomic discovery opens the doors to later scientific research and understanding, we hope that getting to know the stories of each of these new freshwater fish species will help strengthen the desire to protect them and the habitats they need to survive. Sure, conservation news can sometimes be depressing; but there yet remains so much biological richness that is worth fighting for.”

Chouly Ou and Nathaniel NG, SHOAL

New Species 2024 is a collaboration…

…between SHOAL, the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, and the California Academy of Sciences. As well as highlighting the newly described species, it deep dives into a selection of fish species and showcases some of their incredible adaptations.

The report is the fourth edition of SHOAL’s annual release of New Species reports. Read previous New Species editions here.

Read this year’s below ↓

New Species 2024 report

Saving Mexico’s Goodeid Fishes: Plan G update Feb 25

surveying a private cisterne © Mike Köck/Plan G

Saving Mexico’s Goodeids: Plan G update Feb 25

The Laguna de Sayula in Jalisco, Mexico, was once home to five species of Goodeid fish. However, excessive water extraction for agriculture and declining rainfall due to climate change have drastically reduced water levels, wiping out most of these species from their natural habitats. By 2019, only one species, Goodea atripinnis, remained in the area.

As part of Plan G – the international collaboration to save the 40 species of threatened Goodeids – experts have launched an ambitious project to restore Goodeid populations to the Laguna de Sayula basin, with support from the Junta Intermunicipal de Medio Ambiente Lagunas (JIMAL) and the Wilhelma Botanical and Zoological Garden.

In January 2024, a team from Plan G, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, and JIMAL conducted a week-long research expedition across 80 sites in the basin. Their goal was to find any surviving populations, identify potential reintroduction habitats, and establish a breeding programme.

A major milestone was achieved with the successful transfer of approximately 250 Skiffia francesae from the Fish Ark in Morelia to a specially designed geocistern in Amacueca. This facility, established in partnership with JIMAL and local authorities, will serve as a breeding centre to prepare fish for future reintroductions.

a small water reservoir in the Mexican highlands, eventually a place for Skiffia francesae reintroduction © Mike Köck/Plan G
A small water reservoir in the Mexican highlands, eventually a place for Skiffia francesae reintroduction © Mike Köck/Plan G

Searching for Survivors

Despite the widespread drying of rivers and streams, the expedition uncovered some hopeful signs. In the Arroyo Citalá near the village of Citalá, researchers found small numbers of Xenotoca melanosoma, one of the missing Goodeid species. Even more encouraging was the discovery of a strong population of Zoogoneticus purhepechus in a river near Teocuitatlán de Corona, an area where it was thought to have disappeared. These findings provide a critical foundation for conservation efforts, as both species were relocated to JIMAL’s breeding facilities for protection and population recovery.

Additionally, the discovery of Ilyodon whitei—a species previously unrecorded in the region—raises questions about historical water connections between basins. Further studies will determine whether this population is native or introduced, influencing future conservation strategies.

 

Next Steps: Expansion and Community Engagement

With these promising results, Plan G is now focused on expanding conservation efforts. Additional geocisterns will be installed to house Xenotoca melanosoma, Zoogoneticus purhepechus, and Ameca splendens—a species believed to be extinct in the wild in the Sayula basin. Efforts are underway to locate any remaining Ameca splendens in private ponds, reservoirs, or local collections. A public awareness campaign, including search posters, aims to engage local communities in the hunt for this lost species.

In Amacueca, scientists will begin experiments to assess the impact of invasive Guppies on native fish populations. Meanwhile, discussions with local authorities in Teocuitatlán de Corona will explore ways to improve water quality and habitat conditions for the remaining Goodeid populations.

surveying a polluted river in Santa Gertrudis © Mike Köck/Plan G
Surveying a polluted river in Santa Gertrudis © Mike Köck/Plan G
preparing Skiffia francesae for release in the geozisterne © Mike Köck/Plan G
Preparing Skiffia francesae for release in the geozisterne © Mike Köck/Plan G

A Hopeful Future

The Laguna de Sayula restoration project is well underway, with three key missions already making significant progress:

  • Returned Skiffia francesae to valley where it was extirpated – Successfully completed
  • Identifying future habitats – Successfully completed
  • Locating lost Goodeid species – Two-thirds completed

With continued research, habitat restoration, and local engagement, Plan G aims to restore these unique and endangered fish to their rightful place in Mexico’s waterways. The road ahead is long, but the mission is on track, and hope remains strong for the future of Mexico’s Goodeid fishes.

As Mike Köck, Plan G’s Chair, says, “Mexico is showing the change it is capable of and deserves our support and trust. We can do this!”

If you are interested in contributing to this urgent programme to save Mexico’s highly threatened Goodeid species, get in touch today.

 

 

Michael Köck European tour update: 4

© Mike Köck

Michael Köck European tour update 4: Stuttgart, Germany – Caen, France

On 23 September 23, I took an early train from Stuttgart to Karlsruhe Zoo, Germany. I was welcomed by Matthias Reinschmidt, the zoo’s director, who is passionate about birds, especially parrots. We spent the first hour talking about his breeding successes with rare parrot species, and then visited the aquarium, where he showed us a group of Ataeniobius toweri, a Goodeid species from San Luis Potosí, which the zoo keeps. He showed interest in Plan G and promised me that he would organise an exhibition for Goodeids and support the conservation plan financially once it had been set up.

After Karlsruhe, I travelled to Pforzheim to fulfil a promise: Weeks earlier, I had met a retired teacher who had spent several years in Mexico as a paleontologist and now dedicates himself to teaching science  to young people. One project was about the territorial behaviour, use of space and reproduction of Xenotoca doadrioi. I offered him the opportunity to talk to the children about Plan G and the species they keep, and he was very enthusiastic. Even the press was present and ‘Dino’, as he is called by his friends, organised a nice event. He also promised to support Plan G by organising a charity event by the end of the year to raise money. A big man with a big heart!

With Matthias Reinschmidt © Mike Köck
With Matthias Reinschmidt © Mike Köck

The following day I headed to Zurich, Switzerland. Holger Kraus, the curator in charge, welcomed me and gave me a tour of the zoo. There are some wonderful projects happening and lots of funding has been invested by donors. He has a great passion for fish and praised Plan G as ‘the blueprint for the One Plan approach’. Unfortunately, Zurich Zoo limits its financial support to only seven ongoing projects, without the possibility of adding another one or incorporating Plan G into one of them. But he offered me an interesting option: Zurich Zoo has excellent contacts with the Max Planck Institute, and he favours collaboration on a scientific project that is led and paid for by the zoo that involves artificial intelligence. This project would give us the opportunity, for example, to identify fish that we have released into the wild without having to physically tag them beforehand. A huge advantage, because we need nothing more than a high-resolution image of the fish before we start the reintroduction.

I then had to travel back to Stuttgart. Unfortunately, last-minute changes to the timetable made it necessary to travel there and back, but there was no way to change this. I was welcomed by Isabel Koch, the aquarium curator, and Stefanie Reska, the curator for conservation projects. The Wilhelma zoological-botanical garden, the full name of Stuttgart Zoo, has been supporting a Goodeid conservation project run by the Aquatic Biology Laboratory of the university of Morelia for several years, so this visit was essentially to give an account and provide first-hand information. But Plan G was so well received that Isabel and Stefanie decided to increase the amount of funding to support this project and they promised to use their contacts and influence to help increase our chances of funding and help us develop key elements to increase our impact. A very generous offer that I gladly accepted!

At the Wilhelma zoological-botanical garden © Mike Köck
At the Wilhelma zoological-botanical garden © Mike Köck

On 26 September, I travelled from Zurich to Basel by train. Together with Zurich Zoo, Basel Zoo is one of the two largest zoos in Switzerland. There I met a good old friend of mine, Fabian Schmidt, aquarium curator, and presented Plan G to him, staff from the entire zoo and the director. Plan G was again very well received, and Basel Zoo wants to support the project financially, but will have to wait until the position of conservation project curator is filled again early next year. More information will then be available. In the afternoon, I travelled by TGV train at a speed of more than 200 km per hour / 124 miles per hour to Paris and from there to the vicinity of Fontainebleau in the evening. The curator of L’Aquarium Tropical, Charles-Edouard Fusari, had invited me to spend the night with him and to travel to Paris with him the next morning to talk about Plan G.

 

Wilhelma © Mike Köck
Wilhelma © Mike Köck

In the morning of 27 September, Charles-Edouard and I visited L’Aquarium Tropical. He immediately promised me his support, but as the aquarium does not charge an entrance fee, he can only donate small amounts, he said between EUR 1,000 and 3,000 per year. I was happy to agree. Every coin counts, and any support is very welcome. I also gave him information about Plan G for Alexis Lecu from the Parc Zoologique de Paris. Alexis wanted to see me to talk about Plan G but was unavailable due to a veterinary congress in Canada. Fortunately, he is also the vet at L’Aquarium Tropical, so I took the opportunity to introduce him to Plan G via Charles-Edouard. In the evening, I took another train to travel to Caen on the coast of the English Channel. The plan for the next day was to take the ferry to Portsmouth in the morning, but the visits to the UK and finally Hungary will be part of the fifth and final travel report. Stay tuned!

Michael Köck European tour update: 3

Mike with Eric Diener, curator of Zoo Hellabrunn in Munich © Michael Köck

Michael Köck European tour update 3: Nuremberg, Germany – Stuttgart, Germany

On 11 September, I took the bus from Leipzig to Nuremberg and arrived at the zoo around noon. Director Dag Encke left an ongoing meeting to say hello and scheduled our meeting an hour later, so I had some time to visit the zoo. Nuremberg is one of only few zoos in Europe that house manatees and even dolphins. Though an hour seems a long time, I didn’t get further than seeing these animals, partly due to a heavy rain shower that rolled in.

The meeting itself was awesome! Plan G was – again – well received and several possibilities of supporting this conservation plan through the zoo were evaluated. We found a possible way to combine Goodeid conservation with the zoo’s work on Ambystoma dumerilii, the Lake Patzcuaro salamander endemic to the Pátzcuaro lake drainage.

We also discussed several support possibilities through the zoo and with organisations associated with zoos, some of which were already approached by me, others scheduled for next year.

I spent the night in Prague and visited Plzeň Zoo on 12 September, which is about one hour west of Prague. This zoo has built a house for endangered fish species, including Goodeids, so it was of course worth a visit. Curator Tomaš Peš picked me up at the train station, brought me to the zoo and showed me the exhibition. I was really impressed to see threatened fish from all continents in one room, but even more impressed that the zoo drew attention to the cooperation between hobbyists and zoos – an important relationship in conservation that I have been talking about for years.

After lunch with Tomaš, director Jiří Trávníček and his son – both of them experts in Mexican reptiles, especially rattle snakes – I presented Plan G to them and other representatives of the zoo. Already during the presentation, I was offered financial support for Plan G for this and the coming year, so Plzeň Zoo joined the Goodeid conservation alliance!

The next day I proceeded to Zoo Hellabrunn in Munich. Thanks to curator Eric Diener, who became a dear friend on this trip, I was allowed to sleep in the zoo for three nights. The wish in Munich to display Goodeids and contribute to their conservation is high, so we discussed several possible approaches, including linking Goodeid conservation with that of an Ambystoma species. A few days later I received an encouraging email from Eric, saying that Zoo Hellabrunn wants to support Plan G, initially for three years with €5,000 to €10,000 annually, focusing on a reintroduction project or a project related to reforestation.

Future Goodeid aquarium in Salzburg Zoo After enjoying a weekend off in Munich, I visited Zoo Hellbrunn. Though the name sounds very similar to Munich Zoo Hellabrunn, this zoo is located in Salzburg, the Austrian city that many people connect with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Sound of Music. I met Lisa Sernow, the responsible curator and Mario Katzinger, who is responsible for everything related to South and Central America. We talked about Plan G and its dimensions, with the result that the aquarium in the so-called South America house will be changed into a Goodeid tank to create awareness and collect donation from visitors. The zoo is also willing to directly support Plan G.

Nuremberg Zoo aquarium So, six days, four zoos, one hundred per cent support – what else can be asked for! After another day in Salzburg, due to severe flooding in Austria which had caused all train and bus connections to be canceled, I finally arrived in Vienna to spend a few days with my family and take a well-deserved vacation.

Then on 22 September, I was on the bus again to meet a dear friend in Stuttgart and prepare more meetings for the Monday, starting with the Zoo in Karlsruhe that has its own conservation foundation, the “Artenschutzstiftung”. The meeting there and a few more in Switzerland and France will be part of the Travel Report number four, so stay tuned!

Michael Köck European tour update: 2

Rostock Zoo's Aquarium

Michael Köck European tour update 2: Rostock – Nuremberg, Germany

On 5 September I introduced Plan G to Rostock Zoo curator Jens Bohn and some of his colleagues. Our conservation idea was well received, the zoo wants to support Plan G and build up a Goodeid tank to promote Goodeid conservation.

In the afternoon, I had a meeting with Tim Schikora, the director of Schwerin Zoo. Although in previous correspondence with the zoo, they weren’t initially on board with participating in a freshwater fish conservation project, this changed during the meeting and the final outcome was similar to Rostock: an aquarium with Goodeids should tell the stories of threat, extinction, recovery and reintroduction, and the will to support Plan G financially was also shown. A really successful day!

I headed to Berlin on Friday 6 September. A meeting in the zoo’s aquarium was unexpectedly postponed, but this wasn’t a big problem as I planned to stay a few days in Berlin. The following day I presented Plan G to the local association of aquarists. A big success: further cooperation possibilities were discussed and Uwe Abraham, chair of the “1000-Arten-Projekt” and host of the event showed big interest in running a large Goodeid breeding facility in cooperation with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), simply by increasing the capacity of aquariums of their member zoos. Future talks will happen to see how this could be achieved.

1000 Arten Projekt, Berlin
1000 Arten Projekt, Berlin

After a touristic Sunday in Berlin, I met Tobias Kohl from Stiftung Artenschutz – a foundation that supports conservation projects globally  – on Monday the 9th. I already sent an application to them weeks ago, so the visit was mostly to clarify questions about our application.

Directly after, I met Markus Klamt, curator of the Berlin Aquarium to make up for my postponed meeting from 6 September. As he spent several years in Vienna, my hometown, we had a lots to talk besides Plan G, but also our conservation project was discussed widely. I reached Leipzig later that day and slept in an apartment in the zoo.

On 10 September, I headed to the Bergzoo Halle/Saale, which is just 30 min away from Leipzig. The meeting with the director, Dennis Müller, and members of his team was great. He directly promised Plan G €5,000 annually for 2024 and for 2025, of course also in combination with an aquarium presenting Goodeids to the public.

Mike talking to Tim Schikora, director of Zoo Schwerin
Mike talking to Tim Schikora, director of Zoo Schwerin

In the afternoon, I met Ariel Jacken, the responsible curator of Leipzig Zoo, his curator colleague Till Rahm and members of the conservation team. Plan G was well received and I had to answer an hour of questions. After all, Leipzig has a very complex conservation strategy, which means that Plan G, which really caught their interest, needs to fit in the frame of this strategy. However, they want to support our plan, so Leipzig Zoo is eagerly looking for this possibility. Let’s cross fingers and wait for the next part of the trip, starting with Nuremberg Zoo in Germany.

Stay tuned!

Michael Köck European tour update 1: Mexico City – Rostock, Germany

Den Bla Planet Aquarium, Copenhagen, Denmark

Michael Köck European tour update 1: Mexico City – Rostock, Germany

Michael Köck, Chair of Plan G: the initiative to save the highly threatened Goodeinae family of Splitfins in Mexico, is currently touring zoos, public aquaria and museums across Europe with the aim of engaging stakeholders in Plan G’s conservation plan. Here, he gives his first update on the trip.
Leaving Mexico on 27 August, I arrived the following day in Copenhagen, Denmark. Next day I took a connecting flight to Sandefjord, about 20 km west of Oslo, Norway. I got picked up by a friend who brought me to his farm in Porsgrunn where I spent two days acclimatising. He is a hobby fishkeeper who has been to Mexico a few times, so we spent those days talking a lot about fish, Mexico and Plan G.

Two more friends visited us and we created some really nice ideas around Plan G. For example, one of these guys works with several friends in a company that plans ecological and sustainably functioning cities and towns, and they would be very interested to work with Teuchitlán [the town where the Golden Skiffia was successfully reintroduced] on a pro bono basis. He wants to convince his partners to support Plan G financially.

On 31 August, we all went by car to Fiskebäckskil, Sweden where I gave a talk at the 50-year anniversary of the hobbyist organisation Poecilia Scandinavia about Plan G. More than 20 people from five countries joined the meeting and the talk was well received. Directly after, Poecilia Scandinavia donated €3,000 to Plan G and another €1,500 to the Aqualab in Morelia and asked me to write an article about Plan G for one of the next issues of their magazine.

Backstage breeding tank Zoogoneticus tequila, Malmö Museum, Malmö, Sweden
Backstage breeding tank Zoogoneticus tequila, Malmö Museum, Malmö, Sweden

I headed to Malmö on 2  September, where I had a meeting with the leader of the Aquarium of the Malmö Museum, Jesper Flygare in the morning and gave a presentation about Plan G to him and the staff. The people were impressed by our conservation work and promised to help. The museum is run by the town of Malmö and the concept doesn’t allow any straight donations, but we agreed on making an exhibition with Goodeids and a donation function for visitors, as well as promoting Plan G to the local fish club. The aquarium already keeps two species of Goodeid and even runs an ex situ conservation project for one of them, so there is already a strong connection. My presentation was followed by the head animal keeper of the Tropikariet Indoor Zoo in Helsingborg, Jonas Östander, who got invited to my presentation by the Malmö Museum team. He invited me to present Plan G to his director who is interested in supporting new conservation projects. Though my schedule was very tight, I promised to find a time slot for the next day in the late afternoon.

Presenting in front of Poecilia Scandinavia, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
Presenting in front of Poecilia Scandinavia, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden

On 3 September, I paid a visit to the Den Blå Planet, Denmark’s biggest public aquarium. The head animal keeper Peter Petersen showed me around and I was impressed not only by the number of rare fish in their show tanks, but also to see huge colonies of several Goodeid species backstage. They have joined the EAZA Goodeid Ex Situ Program (EEP) and are focusing on ex situ conservation of many endangered fish species from many fish groups. I presented Plan G to Peter and he suggested he will present it to the board of directors to select Plan G to get funded by their conservation fund. Luckily, I prepared USB sticks with the Plan G logo in a little bag with Mexican sweets and a pen made of copper – a little gift from Santa Clara del Cobre near Lake Pátzcuaro for all my contacts on the tour. The USB sticks hold information about the “Guardianes del Río Teuchitlán” and SHOAL, as well as my Plan G presentation.

Starting at 14:00, I started for Helsingborg, knowing time would be tight for Tropikariet Zoo, as it closes at 17:00. Unfortunately, a taxi driver brought me to the wrong train station and I arrived 10 min too late. The zoo was informed but unfortunately no one could wait for me. I was however able to leave my little present with the USB stick, and I will for sure contact them after my return to Mexico.

On September 4 I took a ferry transfer from Trelleborg, Sweden to Rostock, Germany, where I have a visit to the local zoo scheduled for 5 September, and one to the zoo in Schwerin in the afternoon. I will let you know how these visits and the ones in Berlin thereafter went.

Stay tuned!

Interview with Michael Köck – Plan G

Michael Köck discussing goodeid conservation.

Interview with Michael Köck – European tour of zoos, aquaria and museums

“I thought I should introduce myself and Plan G to potential new partners in this exciting conservation plan, which has the potential to raise the bar for other projects and set new standards in freshwater conservation.”

Michael Köck

Michael and team in the field collecting goodeids in Mexico. Michael and team in the field collecting goodeids in Mexico.

Over the coming weeks Michael Köck, Chair of Plan G: the initiative to save the highly threatened Goodeinae family of Splitfins in Mexico, will travel around zoos, public aquaria and museums across Europe in a bid to engage stakeholders in an exciting and ambitious conservation plan. His travels will take him through Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, France and the United Kingdom and it is hoped the trip will inspire relevant organisations and generate vital funding to save these species from extinction.

We caught up with Michael to learn more.

Could you say a bit about your background – introduce yourself a little?

Michael: I am a 56-year-old Austrian biologist who worked as a curator in a public aquarium in Vienna for 18 years. Last year I gave up this well-paid job and started working in freshwater fish conservation in Mexico, as the Chair of a 10-year conservation plan for an endemic Mexican fish group called Splitfins (subfamily Goodeinae, family Goodeidae). If you ask me why I gave up my job to work in Mexico, I will answer because I have seen what the people in this country are capable of achieving. I was impressed by the success they were able to reach with limited resources and I wanted to be part of this movement. I have faith in this community: Mexicans are incredible when they want to arrive at something and the people I work with are passionate about succeeding in conservation. I’m here to help them where I can and to learn from them whenever I can.

What is the purpose of this European tour?

Michael: The overall aim of this European zoo tour is to encourage zoos and public aquaria to become more involved in the conservation of Mexican Goodeid fish and to create something like a Goodeid Conservation Alliance. This unique group of fish is one of the most endangered in the world: 90% of the described species are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN and are therefore already in the focus of conservation efforts by many zoos and organisations. However, we want to unite all these efforts under one umbrella, and as the projects in our Plan G portfolio follow the one plan approach, meaning they include both ex situ and in situ work and involve local communities, they are certainly of interest to many zoos and public aquaria.

What are some of the key places you’ll visit?

Michael:Certainly the big zoos in Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Munich are important places, as well as Basel and Zurich, but there are others I’m looking forward to, such as Budapest and the museum in Malmö, which already play an important role in the conservation of Goodeids, or the zoo in Pilsen with a house for endangered fish. Honestly, every place I visit will be a highlight on my tour and I’m looking forward to each and every one of them.

Michael and colleagues
Michael and colleagues

Why did you choose these places in particular?

Michael:I have selected zoos and public aquaria that are already contributing to the conservation of the Goodeids or Mexican freshwater fish and that I will be able to reach on my tour. There are public institutions that I have known for many years and where people I call friends work, and there are others where I only know the key people virtually, and finally there are zoos that claim to be strongly committed to conservation but have not worked with fish before. These are the most exciting ones as you never know if they are also interested in freshwater fish, but as freshwater habitats are the most threatened in the world, some zoos have broadened their focus and are open to dialogue. All in all, a mixture of good old friends and hopefully new contacts.

It’s a lot of travelling! And a lot of visiting zoos, aquaria and museums. Have you done anything like this before?

Michael: No, this is something I’ve never done before. That’s what came to mind when we launched Plan G, and with it my role of chair and ambassador. So I thought I should introduce myself and Plan G to potential new partners in this exciting conservation plan, which has the potential to raise the bar for other projects and set new standards in freshwater conservation. Every penny and cent counts for these fish, and every metre on this journey is worth it. In the end, I should have visited more than 30 zoos and public aquaria in 48 days and hopefully gained more members for the Goodeid Conservation Alliance.

What can zoos, aquaria and museums offer as key allies in conservation?

Michael:Zoos, aquaria and museums reach a large group of people. Zoo visitors, who don’t really think of fish when they think of endangered animals, are awakened and interested, and lectures in museums could reach a whole new audience. By working together with them, the circle of people we can reach with our conservation efforts expands enormously. Temporary actions in zoos to create support or raise money, or the conservation euro collected by several German zoos, contribute directly to conservation and the network between zoos strengthens such an alliance and makes it very stable. As it stands, however, it is easier to approach zoos and public aquaria than museums, although the latter probably need a slightly different approach.

Michael and colleague in in the field.
Michael and colleague in in the field.

Finally, what are your hopes and expectations with this tour?

Michael:It would be presumptuous to have any expectations for this tour. The budget for this year has already been spent or committed, so I’m not thinking about immediate support. In the long term, I hope that I can convince many of the places I visit how important their contribution is. Protecting freshwater fish is not just about reintroducing a species, but also about listening to the local people, trying to understand their problems, aspirations and hopes, and it involves trying to get them on board and working with them to solve their problems.

This also includes environmental education and social work. A healthy, clean lake is something that everyone wants, but that the people who live on it and from it often cannot afford. But with smart and clever ideas and the will of multiple stakeholders, we could build something like a constructed wetland that helps clean the lake’s wastewater, and if you plant it with flowers that a women’s startup can sell at markets, you are not only cleaning a lake, but you are also helping to increase the community’s wealth and promote gender equality. Conservation work starts with the people and ends with them. I hope that many of the places I visit in Europe recognise this and help us find a balance between freshwater habitat conservation and people’s needs that can serve as a model for the rest of the world.

The zoos, aquaria and museums Michael will be visiting:

Monday 02 September: Malmö Museum.

Tuesday 03 September: Den Blå Planet Aquarium.

Wednesday 04 September:  Rostock Zoo.

Thursday 05 September: Schwerin Zoo.

Friday 06 September: Aquarium Berlin (morning), Tierpark Berlin (afternoon).

Saturday 07 September: 1000 Arten-Projekt and Berlin Group of Livebearer breeders.

Monday 09 September: Stiftung Artenschutz.

Tuesday 10 September: Bergzoo Halle (morning), Zoo Leipzig (afternoon).

Wednesday 11 September: Zoo Nuremberg.

Thursday 12 September: Zoo Pilsen (morning) , then Prague (afternoon, pending).

Friday 13 September: Zoo Hellabrunn, Munich.

Saturday 14 September: Museum Mensch & Natur.

Monday 16 September: Zoo Salzburg Hellbrunn (morning), Haus der Natur (afternoon, pending).

Tuesday 17 September: Zoo and Aquazoo Schmiding (pending).

Monday 23 September: Zoo Karlsruhe (morning, pending), Keplergymnasium Pforzheim (afternoon).

Tuesday 24 September: Zoo Zürich (morning), Zoo Basel (afternoon).

Wednesday 25 September:Wilhelma, Stuttgart (morning), Zoo Mulhouse (afternoon, pending).

Thursday 26 September: Zoo Nancy (pending)

Friday 27 September: Aquarium Tropical and Parc Zoologique Paris.

Monday 30 September: Bristol Zoo Gardens (morning), and Tropiquaria Zoo (afternoon).

Tuesday 01 October: Whipsnade Zoo (morning), Hertfordshire Zoo (afternoon).

Wednesday 02 October: Chester Zoo (morning), Blue Planet Aquarium (afternoon).

Thursday 03 October: Bolton Museum Aquarium and Ornamental Aquatic Wholesale.

Friday 04 October: Budapest Zoo (morning) and Tropicarium Budapest (afternoon).

Monday 07 October: Sosto Zoo (afternoon).

5 freshwater conservation highlights of 2024 (so far)

A photograph of a man and a woman in a river with a new, the man holds a fish in one hand.

This year’s been one of our busiest yet, so take a midpoint deep dive into our most memorable moments so far.

A photograph of a pale beige fish with brown spots underwater.

Rediscovering the leopard barbel

In January we were thrilled to announce that the leopard barbel was been rediscovered by a team of ichthyologists in Türkiye, led by Cüneyt Kaya and Münevver Oral.

“We dropped everything and would have gone to the ends of the Earth to see this fish, this legend, alive in the wild.”

Münevver Oral, Assistant Professor at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Last scientifically documented in 2011, the species is the second of our Most Wanted Lost Fishes to be rediscovered, after the Batman River loach was found by the same team in 2021.

“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

Find out more

A blue pin card with a brown fish with black stripes on it, along with the text "leopard corydoras, corydorus leopardus" on it, as well as logos for SHOAL and SHOAL's SOS: Support Our Shoal camapign. Underneath is a blue pin card with a blue, red and silver fish on it, along with the text "cardinal tetra, paracheirodon axelrodi" on it, as well as logos for SHOAL and SHOAL's SOS: Support Our Shoal camapign. Underneath is a blue pin card with an orange and black fish on it, along with the text "butterfly pleco, dekiseria brachyura" on it, as well as logos for SHOAL and SHOAL's SOS: Support Our Shoal camapign. These three cards are on top of a big neverending pile of the same three cards.

SOS: Support Our Shoal

Our brand new range of collectible enamel pins are available in select aquarium stores across the UK – 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. 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:

The Fish Barn – Crawley, Sussex

Fish Planet London – Finsbury Park

Friends In Soggy Homes – Leicester

Kings Aquatics – Ebbw Vale, Wales

Lincs Aquatics – Alford, Lincolnshire

Riverside Aquaria – Broxburn, West Lothian

Sweet Knowle Aquatics– Stratford-upon-Avon

The Goldfish Bowl – Oxford

Wharf Aquatics – Pinxton, Nottingham

Find out more

A photograph of a pink flesh coloured fish with no eyes and a horn protruding.

New Species Report 2023

A minnow hiding in a megacity, 7 Swiss whitefish, and a cavefish that eats out of people’s hands were highlighted in New Species 2023. In March we released our third annual New Species report, detailing the 243 freshwater fish species described in 2023.

“Awareness-raising is a critical part of the work needed to give these species a chance of survival, and it’s our hope and expectation that New Species reports will go some way to driving a greater appreciation for freshwater fish.”

Mike Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL

Find out more

Two large grey fish underwater.

Mekong Report

In March the WWF and partners released a flagship report focussed on the dazzlingly diverse fishes of the Mekong.

The river is home to some of the world’s largest freshwater species and one of the smallest, but the species are under increasing threat.

With one-fifth already facing extinction, urgent action is needed to safeguard the future of these extraordinary fishes, as well as the people & ecosystems that depend on them.

Find out more

A photograph taken half above water and half below, with a shoal of brown fish under the water.

The 1,000 Fishes Blueprint

In April we launched an ambitious new initiative to mobilise conservation action for 1,000 of Earth’s most threatened freshwater fish species by 2035.
The SHOAL Blueprint for Conservation Action for 1,000 Freshwater Fishes by 2035 is perhaps the single most ambitious conservstion framework in terms of species numbers ever written, and certainly our most ambitious project to date here at SHOAL.

“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.”

Mike Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL

We are celebrating the launch with a photo competition, which ends Saturday 31st August 2024.

Find out all about that here