Global Rivers at Risk as Migratory Freshwater Fish Near Collapse
A CMS-backed UN assessment warns migratory freshwater fish have declined by about 81% since 1970, risking river health and livelihoods; habitat loss, overfishing and pollution across basins from the Amazon and Danube to the Mekong, Ganges–Brahmaputra and Nile threaten hundreds of species, with some already extinct and others surviving mainly in captivity. About 350 migratory species could gain protection under CMS, underscoring the need for cross-border river connectivity and international cooperation ahead of COP15 in Campo Verde.