The species is assessed as Least Concern as it is very widespread as well as being abundant through much of its range, however it appears to be declining throughout much of its European range with some local extinction.

This is an Eurasiatic (palaeotemperate) species, essentially occurring in central and eastern Europe and in Asia, from the Caucasus to China, northern parts of India and into southeast Asia, and Japan. In Europe, it is scattered from the Rhine valley (Germany) to Russia, and southwards, from northern Italy, to the Danube basin towards the Black Sea, and to northern Greece.

Although typically a species which shows naturally massive population fluctuations and so may appear to decline but reappear after a few years, it seems likely that it is showing an overall decline throughout its range.

The species is a free-floating fern, growing in large populations at the surface of still waters or in weak currents: ditches, canals, ponds, oxbows. It is often associated with Lemnaceae and other floating plants.

The species appears to be declining throughout much of its European range with some local extinction, however the cause of the decline is not known.

The species is used as ornamental plant in basins but is found in trade less frequently than other Salvinia species.

This species is listed on Annex II of the European Habitats Directive.

The species is classed as Extinct in the Netherlands and Switzerland, Critically Endangered in Germany, Endangered in Czech Republic, and Near Threatened in Croatia and Belarus; it is protected but not classed as threatened in Hungary and protected throughout France and in Greece. It is included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and included in some protected areas. In Russia it is categorized as Near Threatened (I. Illarionova pers. comm. 2010).