Abstract:Six Schizothoracinae fishes, which are important economic indigenous fishes, form the dominant group in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River of Tibet. During the course of evolution, Schizothoracinae fishes have developed unique characteristics, including a slow growth rate, long life cycle, late sexual maturity, and low reproductive capacity. Their germplasm resources are fragile and sensitive to human interference. Once destroyed, population resources will be difficult to recover. In recent years, there has been a serious decline in Schizothoracinae fish resources due to the impact of human activities and environmental changes; their distribution has been reduced, and their population resources have been destroyed. There is an urgent need to protect the Schizothoracinae fish resources. Therefore, it is necessary to quantitatively assess the priority conservation of Schizothoracinae fishes in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River. Based on fishery resources survey data collected during the spring (April-May) of 2015 and 2017 in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, combined with relevant literature and field survey data and information accessed for recent years, we used five evaluation indexes of value and rareness, species value, and human interference. Then, we evaluated the resource status and endangered status of six Schizothoracinae fishes and obtained the priority conservation grade of these fish according to the scoring criterion and the comprehensive evaluation value was the first priority conservation fish; was listed as the second priority conservation fish; were the joint third priority conservation fish; and were the joint fourth priority conservation fish. These evaluation and classification results are consistent with the real-life situation, which reflects the priority conservation order of six Schizothoracinae fishes. This study provides suggestions and reference for the scientific protection and management of Schizothoracinae fish resources in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River.