The study highlights the significant impact of dams on migratory fish populations in the Yangtze River, leading to exponential population declines. The Yangtze River is home to the highest freshwater fish biodiversity and the largest number of migratory fish species in China, with over 400 species, 22 of which are nationally protected. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the Jinsha River, are primary spawning grounds for endemic migratory fish. Balancing hydropower development with fish conservation has been a major challenge, prompting the implementation of 12 Fish Rescue Programs (FRPs) for the 12 major dams along the Yangtze River. These programs aimed to identify target fish species, implement conservation measures, and mitigate the negative impacts of dams on fish populations. The first FRP, for the Gezhouba Dam, focused on the Chinese sturgeon, leading to the establishment of a fish rescue program. However, despite efforts, the FRPs have failed to achieve their goals, with several fish species going extinct or facing severe population declines. The Chinese paddlefish and Baiji are already extinct, while the Chinese sturgeon, Yangtze sturgeon, and Chinese sucker have stopped reproducing naturally. The core spawning grounds of Coreius guichenoti, a fish endemic to the Yangtze River, are also threatened by dams. The study also discusses the classification of fish migration patterns, including diadromy, potamodromy, and oceanodromy. These classifications are crucial for understanding the impact of dams on fish populations. The study emphasizes the importance of accurate migration pattern understanding to develop effective conservation strategies. The FRPs, based on flawed assessments of fish migration patterns, have led to severe underestimates of the impacts of dams on migratory fish populations and a lack of targeted mitigation measures. The study concludes that the failure of the FRPs has not been acknowledged, and instead, they have been praised as successful examples of ichthyologists supporting dam-building decisions. This has led to a lack of accountability and a failure to address the root causes of fish population declines. The study calls for a reevaluation of the FRPs and the implementation of more effective conservation measures to protect the Yangtze River's biodiversity.The study highlights the significant impact of dams on migratory fish populations in the Yangtze River, leading to exponential population declines. The Yangtze River is home to the highest freshwater fish biodiversity and the largest number of migratory fish species in China, with over 400 species, 22 of which are nationally protected. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the Jinsha River, are primary spawning grounds for endemic migratory fish. Balancing hydropower development with fish conservation has been a major challenge, prompting the implementation of 12 Fish Rescue Programs (FRPs) for the 12 major dams along the Yangtze River. These programs aimed to identify target fish species, implement conservation measures, and mitigate the negative impacts of dams on fish populations. The first FRP, for the Gezhouba Dam, focused on the Chinese sturgeon, leading to the establishment of a fish rescue program. However, despite efforts, the FRPs have failed to achieve their goals, with several fish species going extinct or facing severe population declines. The Chinese paddlefish and Baiji are already extinct, while the Chinese sturgeon, Yangtze sturgeon, and Chinese sucker have stopped reproducing naturally. The core spawning grounds of Coreius guichenoti, a fish endemic to the Yangtze River, are also threatened by dams. The study also discusses the classification of fish migration patterns, including diadromy, potamodromy, and oceanodromy. These classifications are crucial for understanding the impact of dams on fish populations. The study emphasizes the importance of accurate migration pattern understanding to develop effective conservation strategies. The FRPs, based on flawed assessments of fish migration patterns, have led to severe underestimates of the impacts of dams on migratory fish populations and a lack of targeted mitigation measures. The study concludes that the failure of the FRPs has not been acknowledged, and instead, they have been praised as successful examples of ichthyologists supporting dam-building decisions. This has led to a lack of accountability and a failure to address the root causes of fish population declines. The study calls for a reevaluation of the FRPs and the implementation of more effective conservation measures to protect the Yangtze River's biodiversity.