Fish Research & Monitoring

They may not be as captivating as gorillas or as majestic as lions – but fish are wildlife too. And, in the massive Zambezi River system, fish are not only vital to the ecosystem, but also a staple in the diet of millions of people. Yet, little is known about the species, their movements and the stocks. In hopes of ensuring that these fish stocks will continue to be around for many years to come, AWF has embarked on extensive research and monitoring efforts in the Zambezi River, its tributaries and related reservoirs.

In 2003, with funding from USAID, the Ford Foundation, Southern Africa Trust and the government of the Netherlands, AWF conducted several massive surveys of the lower reaches of the Zambezi river, identifying the 17 most prevalent species, monitoring water quality and starting a process that is already leading to better fisheries management.

While tracking the fish of the Zambezi River system, AWF learned of a sport-fishing tournament taking place on the river. AWF decided to join the tournament - not to catch the biggest fish – but, to take advantage of the catches to collect more data. All the tournament catches were carefully monitored and recorded, providing invaluable data on the health and size of key trophy specimens like the tigerfish and the great Vundu catfish.

AWF also conducted a biodiversity survey using experimental gillnets, and electro-fishing. The nets caught eleven species, while electro-fishing yielded sixteen—including several juvenile specimens of the exotic Nile tilapia, which is irrefutable evidence that this exotic species introduced to southern Africa through aquaculture further upstream is breeding viably in nature.

For the first time in history, real data is now available on the effect of the human population on the Zambezi River network, on the use of incompatible fishing methods (like small-mesh nets which capture juvenile fish before they’ve had a chance to mature and create offspring), incompatible land uses (like deforestation, which leads to erosion and massive deposits of silt in the river), and the over-fishing that springs from Africa’s growing appetite for protein. All this research will help AWF and its partners to help guide fisheries’ policy and legislation—and help local communities create fishing strategies that are not just profitable, but truly sustainable.

It has been said that teaching a man to fish is important. AWF believes that teaching humankind to conserve fish stocks for the future is even more important. And, gaining a greater understanding of this species is the first step in doing so. For the first time in history, we are beginning to help governments and communities work together to improve water quality and create sustainable community-based fisheries.