In June 2026, on the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, local fisherwoman Helen Asu caught two small fish that scientists had not seen for almost forty years.
The freshwater pipefish Microphis spinachioides is a slender greenish-brown fish up to 15 centimeters long, a close relative of seahorses. It hides among water lilies near the banks of the country's longest river, feeding on small prey with its long snout.
The last confirmed scientific specimen dates to 1985, and the only museum specimen perished during World War II. The species was considered "lost" and was on the list of the ten most wanted freshwater fish.
The expedition was led by researcher Jerrica Agebigo from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. For two weeks the team traveled along the river, asking residents and showing them photographs. Hope was already fading.
On 18 June, Helen Asu brought in a catch made with a traditional umben net while shrimp fishing. The fish turned out to be exactly what they were looking for. They were photographed and sent to specialist Gerald Allen for confirmation.
Local people knew the fish by different names: karuweng, inap, karuvenai, or lon nus. Women who regularly catch shrimp along overgrown banks noticed it more often than men. They said that pipefish are found near river shallows and tributaries, but rarely in lakes and swamps.
Residents also noted changes: increasing turbidity from sediment and the appearance of alien fish species. These observations point to threats to the fragile Sepik ecosystem.
The discovery showed how valuable the everyday knowledge of people living near a species is. Without it, scientific searches could have continued for decades.
Now researchers plan to combine fieldwork, traditional knowledge, and methods such as environmental DNA analysis to understand where else the pipefish lives and how to protect its habitat.
The combination of scientific approach and local experience opens the way to conserving not only this species but also other "lost" freshwater fish.
