Migratory fish species experiencing drastic decline, says new UN report

Migratory species, including fishes, are facing serious population declines and extinction due to factors such as bycatch, overfishing, and pollution, a new UN report has detailed.

The first-ever “State of the World’s Migratory Species” report published on February 12 by the United Nations Environment Programme covers over 1,000 species protected under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, revealing that nearly half of these species are experiencing declines.

Fish species are faring the worst, with 97 percent facing extinction.

The report aims to guide global conservation leaders in creating new strategies for protecting migratory species, emphasizing the urgent need to protect migratory fish species and suggesting measures such as attaching LED lights to nets to deter certain fish.