Did you know that some of the longest animal migrations in the world are the river journeys of freshwater fish? You’ve likely heard of salmon or eel migrations, but billions of fish make epic treks, some as long as seven thousand miles across continents.
But now, these migrations are under threat by overfishing, pollution flowing into rivers and lakes, and dams blocking crucial waterways. Looming over it all is the ever-present threat of climate change causing water temperatures to rise.
Migratory freshwater fish that feed millions of people are some of the most vulnerable wildlife species on the planet. In fact, global freshwater fish populations have plummeted by 81 percent since 1970. Now is the time for nations to work across borders to solve the problem — before it’s too late.