The updated European Red List of Freshwater Fishes – the most comprehensive assessment in 15 years – reveals little evidence of species recovery and calls for urgent action to protect Europe’s aquatic biodiversity.
Nearly six in 10 native European freshwater fish species are now of elevated conservation concern, according to the assessment, which evaluated all 558 native species. The findings show that 42% are threatened with extinction, while an additional 18% are classified as Near Threatened.
A warning for Europe’s freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater fishes are the most diverse vertebrate group on Earth and act as key indicators of ecosystem health. The deteriorating status of freshwater fishes signals broader ecosystem decline. Without urgent, coordinated action to tackle habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and climate change, Europe risks losing a significant portion of its aquatic biodiversity within a generation.
“Europe’s rivers and lakes are sending a clear warning: nearly two thirds of freshwater fishes are at risk, and many show no recovery over the past 15 years. Strengthening data collection, research and evidence-based management is essential to safeguard these species and the freshwater ecosystems we all rely on,” said Matthew Ford, lead author of the report and member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Freshwater Fish Specialist Group.
“The report proves once again that conservation action works. The recovery of species such as the Pearlfish (Rutilus meidingeri) demonstrates that when science, policy and coordinated conservation efforts come together, declines can be reversed. This European Red List should therefore serve both as a wake-up call and as a roadmap for policymakers to accelerate the protection and restoration of Europe’s freshwater ecosystems and maintain strong policy guardrails,” said Boris Erg, IUCN European Regional Director.
Key findings of the European Red List
Produced through the collaboration of over 135 experts from more than 30 countries, the European Red List of Freshwater Fishes provides a scientifically rigorous, evidence-based assessment of extinction risk. The proportion of threatened species has risen by 5% since 2011, and the results show little evidence of recovery across the region.
Migratory species face particularly acute pressures. Approximately 39% of migratory freshwater fishes are declining, compared to around 14% of non-migratory species – a disparity that points to the devastating effect of barriers to fish movement such as dams and weirs.
The assessment identifies karst systems as the most imperilled habitat, with over 90% of resident fish species threatened. Freshwater springs and intermittent rivers and streams – each hosting around 54% of threatened species – are also under severe pressure. Many of these sensitive systems are concentrated in Mediterranean Europe, where water stress and accelerating climate change are compounding existing threats.
The drivers of decline are wide-ranging and often overlapping. Habitat modification in the form of dams and other physical barriers affects 69% of assessed species, making it the most pervasive threat. Pollution impacts more than 65% of species, while invasive species affect 56%. Climate change, though already affecting 35% of species, is expected to grow as a driver in coming decades, particularly in southern Europe.
A timely resource for policy
Europe’s rivers, lakes and wetlands are among the continent’s most valuable yet most threatened ecosystems. This new European Red List of Freshwater Fishes arrives at a pivotal moment, as inland waters are finally gaining the recognition they deserve in global and European biodiversity agendas. With the recent publication of the European Water Resilience Strategy, this report offers timely guidance to help strengthen the integration of biodiversity considerations into water management and restoration efforts.
The findings provide robust scientific evidence to support the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Nature Restoration Regulation, and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Repeated Red List assessments over time provide a long-term biodiversity indicator. Improvements or declines in abundance and diversity of fish communities are also captured by biological indicators under the Water Framework Directive, but the Red List of Freshwater Fishes specifically addresses the situation species by species.
Therefore, assessment under the Water Framework Directive at water body level, and the Red List of Freshwater Fishes at species level are necessary to design impactful restoration and mitigation measures.