Welcome
FishBase (www.fishbase.org) is a global, open access information system and the largest online platform on the fishes of the world. Every month some 400.000 unique users visit the website with scientifically validated information (on species distribution, diagnostic characters, reproduction, physiology, feeding ecology, etc.) and numerous tools (such as trophic pyramids, invasive species data, fisheries catch analysis, or estimation of species life history parameters). FishBase is in the top 1% of all cited items published in this and the previous century. The project is coordinated by the international FishBase Consortium.
The Ichthyology Unit of the RMCA has a more than a century long tradition in biodiversity studies on African fresh- and brackish water fishes. It curates by far the largest collection of African fresh- and brackish water fish species and also holds a unique library focused on the ichthyodiversity of Africa. The RMCA is a founding member of the FishBase Consortium and has developed a comprehensive FishBase for Africa programme including:
- the provision of high quality data on African fishes to scientists and decision makers in Africa by adding and verifying information on the more than 3600 African fresh- and brackish water fishes;
- the organization of training sessions on the use of FishBase, the taxonomy of African fishes and the analysis of fisheries data, both in-house and in Africa.
In addition, numerous side projects are being set up, such as the assessment of the conservation status of African fish species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, in close collaboration with IUCN, or the development of the AfriBasins tool to analyse African freshwater fish distributions.
The development of these activities within the museum is a major instrument to directly assist in a better conservation of the African ichthyodiversity and in sustainable management of fisheries.
An estimated 10.000 users from Africa consult FishBase every month:
Currently the activities of the FishBase-for-Africa programme have been suspended and alternatives are being explored.
