Animal group · Fish
Endangered fish
Threatened fish in this selection are dominated by sharks, rays, and sawfish, alongside sturgeon, eels, and reef species. Several are slow-growing and late-maturing, which makes them especially sensitive to fishing pressure.
Each record shows its IUCN category and links to authoritative sources, with NOAA Fisheries used for many marine species.
57 records in this view · last reviewed
Many threatened fish are sharks and rays affected by fishing pressure. NOAA Fisheries is a primary source for the marine species below.
Data limitations
- These are educational summaries, not the official assessment. Conservation status can change as new science and threats emerge.
- We show the global IUCN Red List category. National and local status can differ from the global category.
- Each record shows a last-verified date and a data-confidence flag so you can see how current and how checked it is.
- Always verify the current status on the official IUCN Red List and the relevant national wildlife authority. FaunaHub does not replace conservation authorities.
Dataset last reviewed: Full data methodology →
Fish records
Adriatic Sturgeon
Acipenser naccarii
- Population trend
- Stable
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewAngelshark
Squatina squatina
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewBeluga Sturgeon
Huso huso
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Source of beluga caviar; heavily affected by overfishing.
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewBowmouth Guitarfish
Rhina ancylostoma
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewChinese Bahaba
Bahaba taipingensis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewChinese Sturgeon
Acipenser sinensis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewEuropean Eel
Anguilla anguilla
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewEuropean Sturgeon
Acipenser sturio
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGanges Shark
Glyphis gangeticus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGiant Sea Bass
Stereolepis gigas
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGreat Hammerhead
Sphyrna mokarran
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGreen Sawfish
Pristis zijsron
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewKaluga
Huso dauricus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewLargetooth Sawfish
Pristis pristis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewMaugean Skate
Zearaja maugeana
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewMekong Giant Catfish
Pangasianodon gigas
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewNassau Grouper
Epinephelus striatus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewOceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewRussian Sturgeon
Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSakhalin Sturgeon
Acipenser mikadoi
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewScalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewShip Sturgeon
Acipenser nudiventris
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSmalltooth Sawfish
Pristis pectinata
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSpotted Handfish
Brachionichthys hirsutus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewTope Shark
Galeorhinus galeus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewWest Indian Ocean Coelacanth
Latimeria chalumnae
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
A deep-water 'living fossil' lineage once thought extinct until rediscovery in 1938.
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewAmerican Eel
Anguilla rostrata
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewBanggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewBasking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewDusky Shark
Carcharhinus obscurus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewDwarf Sawfish
Pristis clavata
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGiant Freshwater Stingray
Urogymnus polylepis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGiant Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Also called the Napoleon wrasse; a large, slow-growing reef fish.
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewJapanese Eel
Anguilla japonica
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewKnysna Seahorse
Hippocampus capensis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewShortfin Mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSouthern Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus maccoyii
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSpeartooth Shark
Glyphis glyphis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewAtlantic Goliath Grouper
Epinephelus itajara
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Down-listed from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable in 2018.
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewBigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGreat White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewIndonesian Coelacanth
Latimeria menadoensis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewLined Seahorse
Hippocampus erectus
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
See FaunaHub animal profile →Source review pendingMurray Cod
Maccullochella peelii
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewPorbeagle
Lamna nasus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewShortnose Sturgeon
Acipenser brevirostrum
- Population trend
- Stable
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSilky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSmooth Hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSpiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewSterlet
Acipenser ruthenus
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewTotoaba
Totoaba macdonaldi
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Endemic to the Gulf of California; its swim-bladder trade also drives vaquita bycatch.
Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewChinese Paddlefish
Psephurus gladius
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
- Verified
Declared Extinct by the IUCN in 2022; one of the largest freshwater fish.
Sources: IUCN Red List, FishBase
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial review
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are so many sharks threatened?
Is the great white shark endangered?
Is this every endangered fish?
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