CR

Madagascar Fish-eagle

Haliaeetus vociferoides

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Madagascar Fish Eagle faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction along Madagascar's freshwater systems, where wetland conversion for rice cultivation and human settlement has eliminated critical nesting and foraging areas. Competition with introduced fish species and overfishing by local communities has drastically reduced prey availability, while the species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Madagascar Fish Eagle inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers, and coastal wetlands throughout Madagascar, preferring areas with large trees for nesting near productive fishing waters. The species requires undisturbed shoreline vegetation and abundant fish populations, making it highly dependent on intact aquatic ecosystems.

Forest - Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation· majorMarine intertidal· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Madagascar Fish-eagle classified as Critically Endangered?
Madagascar Fish-eagle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Madagascar Fish Eagle faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction along Madagascar's freshwater systems, where wetland conversion for rice cultivation and human settlement has eliminated critical nesting and foraging areas. Competition with introduced fish species and overfishing by local communities has drastically reduced prey availability, while the species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Where does Madagascar Fish-eagle live?
Madagascar Fish-eagle occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Madagascar Fish-eagle?
The main threats to Madagascar Fish-eagle are 5.1, 5.1.1, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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