pt. I. Introduction
ch. 1. Fish biodiversity and why it should matter
pt. II. Imperiled fishes : taxonomy, geography, and vulnerability
ch. 2. Roll call I : a taxonomic perspective
ch. 3. Roll call II : a geopolitical perspective
ch. 4. Characteristics of vulnerable species and correlates of imperilment
pt. III. Indirect causes of decline : habitat, water, and introductions
ch. 5. Habitat modification and loss
ch. 6. Dams, impoundments, and other hydrological alterations
ch. 7. Degraded water quality
ch. 8. Alien species I : case histories, mechanisms, and levels of impact
ch. 9. Alien species II : understanding the process, minimizing the impact
pt. IV. Direct causes of decline : fishes as commodities
ch. 10. Fishes versus fisheries I : overfishing
ch. 11. Fishes versus fisheries II : behavior, life history evolution, and ecosystems
ch. 12. Coral reefs, fishes, and fisheries : exploitation in fragile ecosystems
ch. 13. The trade in live fishes
ch. 14. The promise of aquaculture and hatcheries
pt. V. Asking hard questions, sorting out answers
ch. 15. The ethics of exploitation and intervention : do we have the right?
ch. 16. Future perspectives : beyond gloom and doom?
Appendix. Probable fish extinctions.