Fishy culture in a changing world

Animal cultures have been recognized by researchers since the mid-twentieth century, with research interest growing over the past few decades. Recently, we have realized that animal cultures have important ecological consequences, shaping mating preferences, adaptation to urban environments and the persistence of migration routes. The study of culture therefore transcends traditional, curiosity-driven research; it has real-world conservation relevance. This review centres on culture in fishes and its intersection with conservation. Culture depends upon social learning, and a large literature establishes that fishes exhibit social learning in a diverse range of contexts. Moreover, laboratory experiments demonstrate a capacity for culture in fishes, while studies of wild populations provide evidence of natural cultures, specifically the maintenance of traditional migration routes in some reef fishes. Here, we argue that such cultures are likely more widespread but overlooked and should be the target of wider research interest and conservation effort. We also argue that there is greater scope to leverage findings from laboratory studies of fish cultural transmission to better equip reintroduced fish stocks with behaviours that might enhance post-release survival. Fish cultures warrant investigation in their own right and have the potential to inform how we understand and conserve animal cultures more widely.This article is part of the theme issue 'Animal culture: conservation in a changing world'.