Is the Chinese Paddlefish Officially Extinct?

Chinese paddlefish

The year 2020 has begun with a very devastating news that the Chinese paddlefish has reportedly become extinct, according to a study in the journal Science of The Total Environment. Researchers who carried out a year-long survey of China's Yangtze River, in which they spotted more than 330 species of fish, did not identify a single paddlefish. The study also indicated that they could not find any of 140 fish species usually found in the river, and most are considered highly endangered. The last live Chinese paddlefish specimen was recorded in 2003. Since then, it has not been seen. Based on the surveys carried out in early 1990s and 2000s, the IUCN Red List lists the Chinese paddlefish as "critically endangered" and estimated its population as less than fifty individuals in 2009. The Red List further added that despite its first-class state protected status, the fish was historically overfished for food and as a result its populations dwindled drastically during the late 1970s. In addition, it was also tremendously affected by habitat fragmentation which was seen in 1970 with the construction of the Gezhouba Dam in the middle of the Yangtze River. The dam cut China's paddlefish population in two - one half on each side - and blocked off the fish's migration route which prevented the adult individuals from swimming to the upper reaches of the river to spawn. In addition, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in the early 1990s further decimated the paddlefish's habitat.

Gezhouba Dam

Although I find this news to be very devastating to the world environment, as well as the animal world, I'm at the same time doubtful of the overall conservation status of the Chinese paddlefish. I saw several reports on various major news websites, including this one (USA Today), and they all cited this recent study that the Chinese paddlefish has become extinct. This probably means that the global public is under the impression that this fish has officially vanished into history. I, on the other hand, am unsure about this. Also, some researchers have reported that the said survey was carried out in a very quick manner covering a very large research area in a comparatively short time. I tend to think (and quite hopeful) that perhaps there are some individuals of this fish still in the Yangtze River which were missed by the researchers.

Aerial view of the Three Gorges Dam

I recently emailed the IUCN to confirm regarding the Chinese paddlefish's conservation status and was told that the organization updates the Red List twice each year by assessing and reassessing the conservation status of various species. The upcoming dates for 2020 regarding the assessment and reassessment of species can be found in this link. It states that the official date of update is June 2020. I would strongly advise the public to check out this link or at least wait until the given date, instead of blindly believing what the news reports say. Only when the IUCN gives its declaration will we know officially whether the Chinese paddlefish is extinct or not.

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