Authors: Nielsen, Rikke Oegelund; Juergens, Jacqueline ;Conde, Dalia;

This study investigates species from the five fish classes (Actinopterygii, Elasmobranchii, Holocephali, Myxini, Sarcopterygii) recorded in the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) which provides information on ex-situ populations from over 1,300 zoos and aquariums (Z&A) worldwide. Data from the IUCN Red List, representation in the international trade and general type of use for each species were analysed.
Z&A hold 955,645 individuals of 3177 fish species across 533 member institutions. Of these species, 10.6% are threatened and seven extinct in the wild. Moreover, 139 species are data deficient, and several hundred species have not yet been assessed by the IUCN Red List. Breeding success has been reported for 3.3 % of those species within the last year.
Species360 institutions hold many heavily traded and species not assessed by IUCN such as the Green Chromis and the Ocellaris Clownfish, with thousands of imports into the EU and US every year. While A. ocellaris had 492 births recorded in 2021, no breeding success was reported for C. viridis despite a population of over 10 000 individuals held by 104 institutions. By highlighting such discrepancies our study can highlight species in need of ex-situ management and support collection planning.