List of vulnerable fishes

In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 1245 vulnerable fish species.^[1] Of all evaluated fish species, 8.1% are listed as vulnerable. The IUCN also lists eight fish subspecies as vulnerable.

Of the subpopulations of fishes evaluated by the IUCN, 18 species subpopulations have been assessed as vulnerable.

For a species to be assessed as vulnerable to extinction the best available evidence must meet quantitative criteria set by the IUCN designed to reflect "a high risk of extinction in the wild". Endangered and critically endangered species also meet the quantitative criteria of vulnerable species, and are listed separately. See: List of endangered fishes, List of critically endangered fishes. Vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species are collectively referred to as threatened species by the IUCN.

Additionally 3191 fish species (21% of those evaluated) are listed as data deficient, meaning there is insufficient information for a full assessment of conservation status. As these species typically have small distributions and/or populations, they are intrinsically likely to be threatened, according to the IUCN.^[2] While the category of data deficient indicates that no assessment of extinction risk has been made for the taxa, the IUCN notes that it may be appropriate to give them "the same degree of attention as threatened taxa, at least until their status can be assessed."^[3]

This is a complete list of vulnerable fish species and subspecies evaluated by the IUCN. Species and subspecies which have vulnerable subpopulations (or stocks) are indicated.

• Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis)

Chondrichthyes includes sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish. There are 121 species and eight subpopulations of cartilaginous fish assessed as vulnerable.

Species

Subpopulations

• Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) (2 subpopulations)

There are 74 species and one subpopulation in the order Rajiformes assessed as vulnerable.

Species

Subpopulations

• Apron ray (Discopyge tschudii) (1 subpopulation)

Species

Subpopulations

Species

Subpopulations

• Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) (2 subpopulations)

• Ogilby's ghostshark (Hydrolagus ogilbyi)

There are 1114 species, eight subspecies, and four subpopulations of ray-finned fish assessed as vulnerable.

Includes sturgeons and paddlefishes.

Species

Subspecies

• Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)

Species

Subpopulations

• Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) (3 subpopulations)

There are 85 species and three subspecies of toothcarp assessed as vulnerable.

• Pachypanchax arnoulti
• Pachypanchax patriciae

Species

Subspecies

Cypriniformes includes carps, minnows, loaches and relatives. There are 298 species and one subspecies in the order Cypriniformes assessed as vulnerable.

Species

Subspecies

• Incilevrek baligi (Phoxinellus zeregi fahirae)

Includes sticklebacks and relatives.

Species

Subpopulations

• Little dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis) (1 subpopulation)
• Longtail seamoth (Pegasus volitans) (2 subpopulations)

Includes freshwater smelts and allies.

There are 89 catfish species assessed as vulnerable.

There are 405 species, one subspecies, and one subpopulation in the order Perciformes assessed as vulnerable.

Species

Subspecies

• Sarotherodon galilaeus borkuanus

Species

Subpopulations

Species

Subspecies

• Astyanax mexicanus jordani

Includes the pipefishes and seahorses.

Species

Subspecies

• Clupeonella abrau muhlisi

• Lists of IUCN Red List vulnerable species
• List of least concern fishes
• List of near threatened fishes
• List of endangered fishes
• List of critically endangered fishes
• List of recently extinct fishes
• List of data deficient fishes
• Sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification