The CARES (Conservation, Awareness, Recognition and Responsibility, Encouragement and Education, and Support and Sharing) Preservation Program is a globally recognized, volunteer-driven conservation initiative that harnesses the collective power of the aquarium hobby to protect threatened and endangered freshwater fish species.
The program was founded in 2004 by Claudia Dickinson and was critically supported by the late eminent ichthyologist and cichlid champion Dr. Paul V. Loiselle (who passed away on April 15th, 2025).
CARES continues its mission to establish ex-situ (captive) populations of at-risk fish to serve as a genetic resource bank. The program is implemented primarily through local aquarium societies and national organizations worldwide, encouraging hobbyists to devote tank space to breeding species on the CARES Conservation Priority List and sharing the offspring.
For more information, including the comprehensive species list and ways to get involved, the official website is www.caresforfish.org.
How to get started with CARES
- Take a few Photos
- You will need to take some photos for identification (no more than 2mb)
- Name the photos per directions of CARES: "SpeciesName_YourName_CARESclub_SubmissionDate"
- You must register your fish online. You may register as many as you want but only one per registration.
- Fill out your name, email and subject and in the message box include:
- species name
- where or from whom obtained
- collection location, if available
- when obtained (approximate date is one)
- whether or not the colony has produced fry
- your CARES affiliate organization, which is BCAS
CARES will then send notification to you when your registration is received and another when it is approved (or not).
The CARES Conservation Risk Classifications
| Category Name | CARES Classification | IUCN Equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extinct in the Wild | CEW | EW | Species is known only to survive in **captivity** or as a naturalized population well outside its past range. These are the highest priority for the program. |
| Critically Endangered | CCR | CR | Species is facing an **extremely high risk of extinction in the wild** in the immediate future. |
| Endangered | CEN | EN | Species is facing a **very high risk of extinction in the wild** in the near future. |
| Vulnerable | CVU | VU | Species is facing a **high risk of extinction in the wild** in the medium-term future. |
| Near Threatened | CNT | NT | Species does not currently qualify for a threatened category but is **close to qualifying** for Vulnerable. |
For more information, visit the CARES website at caresforfish.org.
