At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Chinese bahaba is a large coastal fish hunted intensely for its extremely valuable swim bladder. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its swim bladder is among the most expensive fish products in the world.
Range & habitat
Coastal waters of south-eastern China.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing for its swim bladder
- Habitat loss
- A collapsing population
Why it matters
A large coastal fish driven down by the extraordinary value of its swim bladder, the Chinese bahaba is a stark example of luxury-driven overfishing.
Sources
Sources for Chinese Bahaba
- IUCN Red List — look up Chinese Bahaba (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Chinese bahaba so heavily fished?
Its swim bladder is extraordinarily valuable in some markets, which has driven intense targeted fishing despite the species' collapse.
Why is the Chinese bahaba Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite overfishing for its swim bladder, habitat loss, and a collapsing population. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
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