Recent IUCN Red List assessments of two species of icefish (Channichthyidae) reveal concerns about the Red List process and opportunities for improvement

Two species of Southern Ocean icefish (Channichthyidae) were recently assessed using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species criteria, with the South Georgia icefish (Pseudochaenichthys georgianus) categorised as Endangered and the Scotia Sea (black fin) icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus) categorised as Vulnerable. Both species are distributed in the Area 48 in the Southern Ocean, notably around South Georgia (Subarea 48.1), the South Orkney Islands (Subarea 48.2) and the northern Antarctic Peninsula region (Subarea 48.1). These fish were subject to exploitation (mostly as bycatch) in the 1970s and early 1980s and continue to be taken as bycatch in relatively small quantities in the Antarctic krill fishery. The primary basis for the Red List designations was that stocks remain depleted from historic over-exploitation. However, the assessments did not take account of a contemporary 36-year time series of data from regular scientific trawl surveys in South Georgia waters and sporadic surveys around the South Orkney Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. A review of data available from the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and other sources, suggests that the assessments lack sufficient empirical support and warrant re-examination. Our evaluation, using the available data and considering the Red List criteria, indicates that a downlisting to Least Concern would be appropriate for both species. Furthermore, we draw insights from the icefish species assessments to evaluate the IUCN Red List process and make recommendations for improvement. These include the need for a coordinated approach, including prioritisation of species for assessment, consultation with appropriate expert groups (including, in the case of fished species, relevant fishery management bodies), enhanced rigour in the delivery of the process (including peer-review), and greater capacity building.