Closing Conservation Gaps for Chinese Freshwater Fish in Protected Areas

ABSTRACT Protected areas (PAs) are critical for halting biodiversity loss, yet their representativeness in conserving freshwater fish, one of the most threatened vertebrate groups, remains under‐assessed. In this study, we evaluated the representativeness of China's PA network for freshwater fish using a novel conservation indicator, the final conservation score in situ (FCSin), which integrates species occurrence within PAs, the proportion of species' distribution under protection, and ecological zone coverage. Our results revealed pronounced spatial and taxonomic disparities in conservation representativeness. Nationally, freshwater fish were underrepresented in the current PA system, with most species ( n = 910–1080) assigned medium conservation priority (25 ≤ FCSin < 50). Approximately one‐quarter species (294–425) demonstrated high conservation priority (FCSin < 25), predominantly located in southwestern China and the lower Zangbo River, regions known for high endemism and data deficiency. Species of the endemic genus Sinocyclocheilus were identified as facing the most urgent conservation needs. In contrast, well‐protected species (FCSin ≥ 75) were primarily distributed in the upper Yangtze River and Pearl River basins, where recent national policies, including the decade‐long fishing ban, have contributed to improved freshwater protection. These findings highlight critical gaps in freshwater fish protection within specific regions of China's PA system and propose a spatially explicit, indicator‐based framework for improving conservation prioritisation. Our approach supports targeted ecological management and provides transferable methodology for freshwater biodiversity conservation, particularly in underrepresented and biologically diverse regions worldwide.