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 criteria, with the South Georgia icefish (Pseudochaenichthys georgianus) categorised as Endangered and the Scotia Sea icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus) categorised as Vulnerable. Both species are distributed in the Area 48 in the Southern Ocean, notably around South Georgia, the South Orkney Islands and the northern Antarctic Peninsula. These fish were subject to exploitation (mostly as bycatch) in the 1970s and early 1980s and continue to be taken as bycatch in 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 Orkneys and Antarctic Peninsula. A review of data available from the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and other sources, suggests that the assessments may not be sufficiently supported and warrant re-examination. Our evaluation, using the available data and considering the Red List criteria, suggests that a categorisation of Least Concern may 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, consultation with appropriate expert groups, enhanced rigour in the delivery of the process, and greater capacity building.