Publication: Fish of African Inland Waters – Diversity, Ecology, and Human Use

Fish represent both a legacy of evolution that is particularly threatened by human activities and a set of biological resources that must be preserved for the long term. The adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity marks a renewed focus on the conservation of species and natural habitats. Although it does not always receive the media attention it deserves, the state of inland waters is often cause for concern. The conservation of aquatic biodiversity therefore requires urgent action across the globe. Long spared, the African continent is now, in turn, threatened by human activities. The proper management of inland waters is a major economic challenge for African countries. This book, a synthesis of numerous research activities on aquatic environments, addresses this major concern by compiling existing information on African fish, which offer a wide variety of biological models. It is organized around six main themes: habitat diversity, origin and evolution, biology and ecology, the richness and structure of fish populations, and the impacts of human activities on fish species and populations. Finally, given the particular importance of this natural resource in Africa, a study on fishing and fish farming rounds out the book.