Conservation Physiology of fishes for tomorrow: Successful conservation in a changing world and priority actions for the field

Marine and freshwater fishes are currently facing complex and extensive challenges, from warming waters and habitat degradation to direct human-wildlife interactions. Within this context, Conservation Physiology has made some important contributions to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to these problems, as well as in offering practical solutions. However, there remains much space for the field to grow and significantly expand its impact on real-world conservation of fish biodiversity. As the planet continues to change, so do the problems that fish encounter, and so must the field. Importantly, systemic changes must occur to better represent the diversity of peoples and knowledges who have been historically systemically excluded in this field (and others). In this chapter, we discuss some of the remaining key challenges that conservation physiologists need to overcome to protect and effectively manage fish species around the globe in the coming decades, including those related to diversity, equity, inclusivity and justice. We make suggestions for overcoming these challenges, highlighting examples of how physiological knowledge has been used to conserve fishes and other taxa and providing key resources for understanding and addressing inequities in the field, which may serve as guidance for scientists and practitioners seeking to advance these goals. We finish with a list of priority actions needed to ensure that the field of Conservation Physiology remains relevant and successful in its quest to promote long-term sustainable and equitable conservation solutions.