1. Freshwater

Freshwater Stories

A gray sturgeon sits on the sandy bottom of one of the Great Lakes

Heavily poached sturgeon slip toward extinction

Sturgeon and paddlefish—freshwater fish that have existed for hundreds of millions of years—now face extinction due mainly to the illegal trade in wild-caught caviar and meat. The world’s first comprehensive assessment of the species in over 13 years, released today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), confirmed that all 26 remaining species are now threatened with extinction.

  • 4 Species Impacted by Dams

    August 14, 2014

    Many freshwater species depend on free-flowing rivers to complete their life cycles, and in some systems, those species make up critical parts of people’s diets. Here’s a look at five important species impacted by dams.

    egret flying

  • Discovering Lake Niassa

    June 09, 2014

    A WWF team, in collaboration with scientists from the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, is using underwater cameras as part of a pilot study to establish a baseline of the fish diversity of the Lake Niassa Partial Reserve.

    lake niassa sunset

  • Irrawaddy Dolphins: The Smiling Faces of the Mekong

    April 17, 2014

    Irrawaddy dolphins are an unusual species with small populations found in Southeast Asia. WWF works with local communities to develop fishery management zones to help sustain the fish population and conserve the species.

    dolphin jumping

  • Agua Dulce

    WWF Magazine: Spring 2014
    Renewing freshwater resources and strengthening livelihoods around the Mesoamerican Reef
    A Landscape in Honduras

  • 3 ways you can help protect the Amazon

    It is humbling to think how little attention we give to the Amazon, despite its importance to the stability of the Earth's climate and the incredible array of life that resides there.

    Amazon from above