The most endangered fish are the most overlooked

“Nearly 50% of the scientific publications for the fishes studied only concerned a subset of 1% of the species“

The most threatened reef fishes are the most overlooked by scientists and the general public. That is the startling finding of a team of scientists.

In a study to be published in Science Advances on July 17, they measured the level of human interest in 2,408 species of marine reef fish and found that the attention of the scientific community is attracted by the commercial value more than the ecological value of the fishes.

The public, on the other hand, is primarily influenced by the aesthetic characteristics of certain species, such as the red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and the mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus).

Image: Steve Childs | CC BY 2.0 Generic

Consider blennies (Blenniidae) and gobies (Gobiidae). These two fish families largely swim under the radar of both researchers and members of the public yet, as cleaners, they play a key role in the functioning of reefs. Small in size, they are essential to transfer of energy and matter from tiny prey to bigger consumers in reefs (trophodynamics).

The research team’s work brings to light a bias that directly threatens the conservation of marine reef fish, a bias of such magnitude that it compels them to sound the alarm. They emphasize the importance of aligning human interest in biodiversity with conservation needs and priorities for healthy ecosystems. They suggest launching campaigns to raise public awareness of threatened and neglected species. Finally, they advocate the establishment of research programs that take into account all ecosystem components, for a global conservation strategy that is no longer driven by commercial imperatives.

Journal reference: N Mouquet et al, Low human interest for the most at-risk reef fishes worldwide SCIENCE ADVANCES 17 Jul 2024 Vol 10, Issue 29