SHOAL

17/08/2026

Freshwater fish conservation? Kinda chic actually.

04/08/2026

🎉 A big day for conservation funding.

Today sees the launch of the Phoenix Species Fund – a new global initiative committing USD 200 million to help recover 100 of the world's most threatened species.

It's exciting to see freshwater life so well represented. Seven SHOAL Priority Fishes from the 1,000 Fishes initiative have been selected:

🐟 Golden Skiffia
🐟 Hump-backed Mahseer
🐟 Lake Tawar Carp
🐟 Vermilion Darter
🐟 Charco Azul Pupfish
🐟 Red Pencilfish
🐟 Steinfort's Killifish

🦐 The list also includes the Cardinal Shrimp from Sulawesi's Malili Lakes – one of the habitats SHOAL is working to conserve.

Freshwater biodiversity has long been overlooked by conservation funding, despite being among the most threatened on the planet. It's encouraging to see these species recognised and to see significant investment reaching those working to secure their future.

We're proud to see so many Priority Fishes recognised, and we can't wait to see how this support funnels into the 1000 Fishes initiative! 🌍

https://phoenixspeciesproject.org/
Phoenix Species Project // Re:wild // Leonardo DiCaprio

The Phoenix Species Project is an audacious effort to save and recover 100 of the world’s most threatened species.

31/07/2026

Conservation succeeds when it starts with people. In Tanzania's Mbezi River Basin, David Alila from the University of Dar es Salaam, is working with local communities to protect some of the world's rarest killifish – highlighting that lasting conservation is built on knowledge, trust and local leadership.

Proud that SHOAL and The Rufford Foundation could help make this work possible.

Read David's guest post on the SHOAL blog 👇

Protecting Tanzania's extraordinary killifish and the communities who hold the key to their future.

29/07/2026

Protecting endangered species doesn't happen overnight. It takes long-term commitment, strong local partnerships, and the support of people who care.

Our latest Save Denise's Friends update highlights the progress being made to conserve the Denison's Darb in India's Western Ghats – from strengthening habitat protection and community engagement to building momentum for the species' recovery.

None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our supporters. Every donation has helped fund this work on the ground and is making a real difference for one of the world's most threatened freshwater fishes.

There's still a long way to go, and we'd love your help to keep this vital work going. If you'd like to be part of the story, please consider making a donation.

Read the latest update and support the campaign 👇

Save Denise’s Friends update: What your support has helped achieve for the Denison’s Barb When people support SHOAL, they’re…

20/07/2026

Invasive species are one of the biggest threats freshwater fishes face around the world.

Fresh research shows highlights biodiversity fears as human-bred hybrid fish integrate into Philippines lake: Escaped flowerhorn cichlids are causing concern for native species and about parasites capable of infecting humans

“This is just one lake in the Philippines, but the release of species outside their natural ranges is a major contributor to biodiversity loss worldwide.”

Escaped flowerhorn cichlids are causing concern for native species and about parasites capable of infecting humans

14/07/2026

Future for Nature Foundation — Future for Nature Award 2027

Are you a young (between 18 to 35 years old) and dedicated nature conservationist committed to protecting wild species? Do you combine passion with action to create concrete results in nature conservation? Are you the Future For Nature?

The Future for Nature Award aims to stimulate a new generation of nature conservation leaders.

🟢 The award is made to candidates of any nationality or residence, not older than age 35, who have achieved substantial and long-term benefit to the conservation status of one or more animal and/or plant species, or that of a specific population.
🟢 Work-related to the conservation and protection of endangered species is a priority.
🟢 The award is made to individuals, not organisations.
🟢 Each of the three award winners will be given a cash prize.
🟢 The winners are expected to invest their prize of €50 thousand in a conservation project of their own choice.
🟢 The application deadline is 23 August 2026.

👉

Are you a young (between 18 to 35 years old) and dedicated nature conservationist committed to protecting wild species? Do you combine passion with action t ...

26/06/2026

Our Season on Springs concludes with the third of three webinars.

Conservation and Policy for Springs gives a fantastic insight into some of the policy challenges for these critically important ecosystems, and suggests conservation priorities for how they can be safeguarded in future.

We spoke with:

👉 Sanot Adhikari
CEO, Alliance for Environment, Chairperson, the Youth Alliance For Environment (YAE), Nepal

👉 John Simaika
Senior Researcher, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

👉 Joseph Holway
Assistant Director, Spring Stewardship Institute

👉 Nelida Barajas
Executive Director, CEDO Centro Intercultural de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos

Catch up with the conversation here 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdHss2CHqQo

In this third and final session in the Season on Springs, we heard ...

26/06/2026

Fish Out of Water: A Story of Hope, Humour, and a Very Determined Fish

Have you ever heard a good story that's almost too outrageous to be believed?

A tiny fish from Madagascar was declared extinct in the wild. Then, thanks to one conservationist, a Wild West-style wanted poster, and a remarkable local community, it was found again.

Now filmmaker Asher Flatt wants to tell that story.

Fish Out of Water is about hope, persistence, and why freshwater conservation deserves far more attention than it gets. If Asher captures on film even half the charm and determination behind this story, it'll be well worth watching.

Learn more about this fantastic story as Asher's guest post on the SHOAL blog – stories like this have the power to bring entirely new audiences into conservation.



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The story of one extraordinary fish, a wonderfully stubborn conservationist, and a community fighting for their river.

24/06/2026

TOMORROW!

Join the third and final free webinar ::

💻 CONSERVATION AND POLICY FOR SPRINGS
🗓️ Thursday 25 June, 3-5pm BST

We'll be joined by four expert voices from the world of freshwater to shine a spotlight on springs, which may be small in size, but are among the most extraordinary and irreplaceable freshwater ecosystems on Earth💧

👉 Sanot Adhikari
CEO, Alliance for Environment, Chairperson, the Youth Alliance For Environment (YAE) Environment, Nepal

👉 John Simaika
Senior Researcher, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

👉 Joseph Holway
Assistant Director, Spring Stewardship Institute

👉 Nelida Barajas
Executive Director, CEDO Centro Intercultural de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos

Register here 👇
https://us06web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_gSg4cVS4Sw-243l5SwhLWQ

24/06/2026

The 24-hour hotline helping save the world’s biggest freshwater fish 📱 🐟

The ‘megafish’ living in southeast Asia’s Mekong River once faced extinction. A new rapid response system is helping reverse their dire outlook.

The ‘megafish’ living in southeast Asia’s Mekong River once faced extinction. A new rapid response system is helping reverse their dire outlook.