In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 1245 vulnerable fish species. 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. 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."
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.
Lobe-finned fishes Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis)
Cartilaginous fishes Chondrichthyes includes sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish. There are 121 species and eight subpopulations of cartilaginous fish assessed as vulnerable.
Angelsharks
Mackerel sharks Species
Subpopulations Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) (2 subpopulations)
Rays and skates There are 74 species and one subpopulation in the order Rajiformes assessed as vulnerable. Guitarfish species
Whiptail stingrays
Narcinids Species
Subpopulations Apron ray (Discopyge tschudii) (1 subpopulation)
Skates
Softnose skates
Other Rajiformes species
Ground sharks Species
Subpopulations
Carpet sharks
Squaliformes Species
Subpopulations Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) (2 subpopulations)
Other cartilaginous fish species Rabbit fish (Chimaera monstrosa) Silver chimaera (Chimaera phantasma) Striped rabbitfish (Hydrolagus matallanasi) Broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus)
Lampreys
Ray-finned fishes There are 1114 species, eight subspecies, and four subpopulations of ray-finned fish assessed as vulnerable.
Acipenseriformes
Species
Salmoniformes Species
Subpopulations Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) (3 subpopulations)
Silversides
Toothcarps There are 85 species and three subspecies of toothcarp assessed as vulnerable.
Goodeids
Pupfish species
Aplocheilids Pachypanchax arnoulti
Rivulids
Nothobranchiids Species
Subspecies
Poeciliids
Fundulids
Cypriniformes Cypriniformes includes carps, minnows, loaches and relatives. There are 298 species and one subspecies in the order Cypriniformes assessed as vulnerable.
Hillstream loaches
True loaches
Cyprinids Species
Subspecies Incilevrek baligi (Phoxinellus zeregi fahirae)
Suckers
Esociformes
Species
Gasterosteiformes
Species
Subpopulations Little dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis) (1 subpopulation) Longtail seamoth (Pegasus volitans) (2 subpopulations)
Osmeriformes
Catfishes There are 89 catfish species assessed as vulnerable.
Ictalurids
Sisorids
Loach catfishes
Claroteids
Airbreathing catfishes
Loricariids
Mochokids
Bagrids
Other catfish species
Batrachoidiformes
Perciformes There are 405 species, one subspecies, and one subpopulation in the order Perciformes assessed as vulnerable.
Gouramis
Cichlids Species
Subspecies Sarotherodon galilaeus borkuanus
Percids
Epinephelids Species
Subpopulations
Gobies
Sparids
Sand stargazers
Sciaenids
Labrisomids
Serranids
Chaenopsids
Combtooth blennies
Wrasses
Threefin blennies
Other Perciformes species
Beloniformes
Synbranchiformes
Osteoglossiformes Mormyrids
Gobiesociformes
Characiformes Species
Subspecies Astyanax mexicanus jordani
Syngnathiformes
Clupeiformes Species
Subspecies Clupeonella abrau muhlisi
Scorpaeniformes
Ophidiiformes
Tetraodontiformes
Other ray-finned fish species
Hagfishes
See also 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
References