SAVING FRESHWATER FISHES AND HABITATSiucnffsg.org/.../2013/05/FFSG-Newsletter-June-20131.pdf23...

SAVING FRESHWATER FISHES AND HABITATSNewsletter of the IUCN SSC/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group

Issue 2 • June 2013

IN THIS ISSUE:• Engagingthepublicinfreshwaterfishconservation

• IntroducingFFSGRegions:SouthernAfrica

• Fijifreshwaterfishgracesnew10-dollarbill

• Acaseforaglobalworkinggroupformigratoryfishspecies

• Andmore......

Editor-in-chiefGordonMcGregorReid

EditorSuzanneTurnock

DesignSuzanneTurnockand

KatalinCsatadi

Front cover photographLocalfishermaninthePeriyarTigerReserve,

India.©RajeevRaghaven

2 FFSG UPDATE 3

CONTENTSFFSG UPDATE 3 MessagefromtheFFSGGlobalChair4 Savethedate:FFSGAnnualMeeting20144 WANTED:HighqualityimagesforFFSGwebsite5 Bridgingthegap:Engagingthepublicinfreshwaterfishconservation

by Suzanne Turnock and Michele Thieme7 IntroducingFFSGRegions:SouthernAfrica

by Paul Skelton

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD10 Fijifreshwaterfishgracesnew10-dollarbill:Bringing

freshwaterfishintothepopularconsciousness by Aaron P. Jenkins

12 ActivitiesoftheSouthAsiaOfficeoftheFreshwaterFishSpecialistGroup(September2012toApril2013)by Rajeev Raghaven

14 Towardsan‘ExoticFish’FreePeriyarTigerReserve by Kaimal Krishnakumar and Rajeev Raghavan

16 Newfishspeciesdescribedin2012-2013fromSouthAsia by Waikhom Vishwanath

21 FirstcomprehensiveRedListworkshopforallfreshwaterfishesoftheMiddleEastby Jörg Freyhof

23 KinabatanganRiverSpiritInitiative,Malaysia by Tun-Min Poh and Suzanne Turnock

OPINION25 Thecaseforestablishingaglobalworkinggroupforthe

conservationoffreshwatermigratoryfishspeciesby Claudio Baigún, Zeb Hogan and Taej Mundkur

Freshwater fishes sustained in their natural environments

Peeringintothefuture,AlbertEinsteinisquotedassaying“Ifearthedaythattechnologywillsurpassourhumaninteraction.Theworldwillhaveagenerationofidiots.”Wellperhapsthatdayhasactuallyarrived?Wearenowintheageoftheinternetwithsuper-highspeedcommunicationsonallsortsofissues.Doesthismakeusbetter-informed,wiserandmoreeffective?OnbalanceIthinkso,atleastintheareaoffreshwaterfishconservation.Thereisnowawealthofelectronicmaterialincirculation,availableonadailybasisviatheFFSG,WetlandsInternationalandmanyothersources.Thismaterialisdesignedtoprovoke,tostimulate,toinform;andtodiscussandtakeactionon.Surelythathastobeagoodthing?Toassistthisglobalprocess,thereisagreatneedforhighqualityimagesfortheFFSGwebsite,sodopleaserespondtoourappealinthisnewsletter,ifyoucanassist.Suchimageshelpmakeforbettercommunicationswiththepublic,asproposedherebySuzanneTurnockandMicheleThieme.

ManyFFSGMembersarescientists,butinordertobringabouteffectiveconservationweneedtointeractwelloutsidethescientificcommunity.AaronJenkinshighlightsthepopularisationoffisheswiththepublicviaanimageonanewbanknoteinFiji.Thereisnoendtothemeansbywhichwecangetourconservationmessageout!

Theglobalzooandaquariumcommunityrepresentsaverylargetargetaudience,numberingmanymillions.WAZAiscurrentlyselectingspeciestopublicizewidelyforitscelebrationofaDecadeofBiodiversity.Theyareseekingexamplesofthreatenedfreshwaterfishspeciesforinclusion,withbriefindicationsofwhatisrequiredtosupporttheirconservation.Ifyoucanhelp,pleasecontactWAZADirectorGeraldDick([email protected]).Manythankstoallourauthorsfortheirexcellentcontributionstoournewsletter.Pleasekeepthemcoming!

GordonMcGregorReid

YoucansignuponlineheretobecomeamemberoftheIUCNSSC/WIFreshwaterFishSpecialistGroup!

ClickheretojoinusonFacebookfornewsonfreshwaterfishconservation!

Message from the FFSG Global Chair

Professor Gordon McGregor Reid

2 FFSG UPDATE 3

http://ffsg.wufoo.com/forms/freshwater-fish-specialist-group-registration-form/https://www.facebook.com/FreshwaterFishSpecialistGroup?ref=tn_tnmn

4 FFSG UPDATE FFSG UPDATE 5

WANTED: High quality images for FFSG website

WearecurrentlydevelopingtheFFSGwebsiteanddesperatelyneedhighqualityimagesforuseonthewebsite.Thetypesofimageswearelookingforare:

-Freshwaterfishesintheirnaturalenvironments-Naturalhabitats-Researchprojects(e.g.datacollection,surveys)-Communityinvolvement-Workshop/conferencesrelatingtofreshwaterfishconservation-ExamplesofmajorthreatstofreshwaterfishesIfyouhaveanyphotograph(s)youwouldbehappyforustouseonthewebsitepleaseemailthem,withcaptions,tos.turnock@chesterzoo.org.PleaseclearlystateintheemailthatyougivepermissionforFFSGtouseyourphotographs.

Allphotographswillbefullycreditedonthewebsite.


Bridging the gap: Engaging the public in freshwater fish conservation

Suzanne Turnock1 and Michele Thieme21FFSGProgrammeOfficer;2SeniorFreshwaterConservationBiologist,ConservationScienceProgram,WorldWildlifeFund-US.

FollowinginthefootstepsofotherIUCNSSCSpecialistGroups,theFreshwaterFishSpecialistGroupisinthedevelopmentstagesofestablishinganewGlobalFreshwaterFishBioBlitzinpartnershipwithiNaturalist.org.‘What is a BioBlitz?’wehearyoucry!Well,theBioBlitzwillinvitemembersofthegeneralpublictocontributetheirphotographsoffishestheyhaveobservedintheirnaturalenvironmentfromaroundtheworld.Thephotographs,alongwithdetailsincludinglocationoffishobservation,observationdateanddescriptionofspecimenandhabitat,areuploadedandrecordedonanonlinenetwork.Oftenreferredtoas‘citizenscience’;theBioBlitzisanefforttoconnectmembersofthepublic,whoareenthusiasticnaturalists,withthescientificcommunity.TheGlobalFreshwaterFishBioBlitzaimstohelpusbetterunderstandthedistributionandoccurrenceofspeciesaswellaseducatingandengagingthepublicinfreshwaterfishconservation.

TheBioBlitzwillgivepeopletheopportunitytobedirectlyinvolvedinwildlifemonitoring,acrucialstepinconservationaction.Withca.16,000freshwaterfishspecies(andwithnumberscontinuallygrowing!),themorepeople‘ontheground’carryingoutobservationsandrecordingwhattheyhaveseen,thebetter.Thisinformationcanassistthescientificcommunity,withnotonlymonitoringspeciesdistributionsbutalsodescribingnewspecies.ItisimportanttonotethattheBioBlitzwillbeacrowd-sourcingsocialnetworkandnotadataarchive–i.e.individualsarepartofthisnetworkandshareinformationonspeciesobservations,whichthenetworkthenverifiesorhelpstoidentify.iNaturalistisfullyintegratedwithandcanharnessphotographsfromFacebookandFlickrmakingiteasytoturnphotographspostedtothesesitesintoiNaturalistobservations.Onceobservationsareverifiedasresearch-grade,iNaturalistpassesthemontodataarchives,suchastheGlobalBiodiversityInformationFacilityandEncyclopediaofLife.FurthermoreiNaturalistiswellintegratedwiththeIUCNRedList.ItincorporatesRedListtaxonomy,rangemapsandconservationstatuses;makingitaneffectiveconservationtool.Itistheonlycitizen-scienceeffortdisplayedontheofficialRedListmaps(http://www.iucnredlist.org).

WearecurrentlyatthedevelopmentstageandareveryexcitedtoseehowtheBioBlitzwillcometo

fruitionoverthecomingmonths.Discussionsareunderwaytosecuretheendorsementofconservationorganisationsthatsupportthisinitiativeandcanhelpwithpublicity.Pleaseletusknowiftherearepotentialpartnerorganizationsthatyouwouldrecommendcontacting.

AnadditionalkeystepindevelopingtheBioBlitzisrecruitingvolunteerstoactasCuratorstoverifyspeciessubmittedbymembersofthepublic.That’swhereyoucomein!Weneedproactiveandenthusiasticvolunteerstomakethisprojectasuccess.

Are you interested in the new Global Freshwater Fish BioBlitz and is it something you would like to be involved in?

Do you have expertise in fish taxonomy?

Do you have expert knowledge of a taxonomic group or fishes found in a particular geographic region?

Are you willing to commit time to verify species identifications?

Ifso,wewouldlovetohearfromyou!Withtheamphibianandreptilebioblitzes,manyspecialistshavebenefitedfromengagingwithpostingsofobservationsintheirareaofinterest.Forexample,aFFSGmembercouldsubscribetoreceiveanemailsummaryofallreportsofthreatenedcichlidsfromBolivia.Thesehighlightscanleadtoimportantresearchcollaborations.Forexample,oneCuratorfortheAmphibianBioBlitzfirstspottedwhathelaterconfirmedtobeanewspecies(theAndeanpoisonfrog,Andinobates cassidyhornae)fromaphotographsharedbyanamateurthroughtheBioBlitz.Itisalsoimportanttonotethatobservationscanbeidentifiedtocoarsertaxonomiclevelssuchasgenusorfamily,whichisoftenthecaseforobservationsofcrypticspeciesorpoorqualityphotographs.

IfyouwouldliketovolunteerasaCuratororifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasegetintouch([email protected]).Thisnewinitiativeisabigteameffort,supportedbyinternationalconservationorganisations,andtodrivetheprojectforwardweneedyourhelpandexpertise.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/http://www.iucnredlist.org/

TogiveyouafeelforwhattheGlobalFreshwaterFishBioBlitzwilllooklikeandhowitwillwork,pleasetakealookattheGlobalAmphibianBioBlitzpresentedbytheAmphibianSpecialistGrouphere.SincetheAmphibianBioBlitzstartedtwoyearsago,1,459taxahavebeen

recordedontheirnetwork(20%ofamphibianspecies);animpressivestart!Wehopetomimicthissuccessandbridgethegapbetweenconservationscientistsandthegeneralpublicinoureffortstoconservefreshwaterfishes.


The Global Amphibian BioBlitz presented by the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group available online here

http://www.amphibians.org/citizen-science/http://www.amphibians.org/citizen-science/


Introducing FFSG Regions: Southern Africa

Paul SkeltonFFSGChairforSouthernAfricaRegion

Africa,thesecondlargestcontinent,straddlestheequatorandprojectsasagiantpeninsulaintothesouthernAtlanticandwesternIndianOceans.Traditionally,forfreshwaterfishes,thesouthernAfricanregionisboundedinthenorthbythewatershedoftheCunene,OkavangoandZambeziRiversystemsandbytheAfricancoastfortherest.MorerecentlyfortheIUCNPan-AfricanassessmenttheregionextendedonthewestcoasttoincludetheQuanzaRiverbasinandthecoastalriverssouthtotheCunene.CountriesincludedinthisregionareinpartAngola,Zambia,MalawiandMocambique,andfullyNamibia,Botswana,Zimbabwe,SouthAfrica,LesothoandSwaziland.

Extendingaroundthecoastalperimeterthereisalow-lyingcoastalband,broadestinMocambique,butnarrowinthesouth-eastandsouth.Theperimetalstripisboundedontheinteriorbyanescarpmentthatvariesinnaturefromabruptandsteepmountainstobrokenrangesandhills.TheinteriorofsouthernAfricaformsanextensiveelevatedplateauofaround1500-2000m,butreachingabove3000minthehighDrakenberg-MalotimountainsofLesotho.Theplateauisbreachedbythelargerriversoftheregion–theZambezi,Limpopo,IncomatiandPhongoloflowingeasttotheIndianOcean,andtheOrange,CuneneandQuanzaflowingwesttotheAtlantic.UniquelytheOkavangoflowingsouthfromtheEasternAngolanhighlandsendsasthespectacularOkavangoDeltaintheKalahariofBotswana.InthepasttheDeltaformedalargelake,nowremnantastheMagadigadipans.Betweentheselargersystemstheotherriversaregenerallycoastalandrelativelysmall.AlthoughLakeMalawiisexcludedfromtheregionitdoesdischargethroughtheShiretributaryofthelowerZambezi.Apartfromafewsmallcoastallakestherearenomajorlakesintheregion.Severalmajorman-madelakesoccuronthelargeriversystemsincludingLakeKariba,LakeCahorraBassaontheZambezi,andLakeGariepandLakeVanderkloofontheOrange.Mostriversarehighlyregulatedbydamsandarecentestimateindicatesthatonly4%oftheriverreachesinSouthAfricaare‘free-flowing’.

Climatevariesconsiderablywiththenorthernsectorsembracingawarmtropicalor,overthesouthernplateaureaches,awarmtemperatesummerrainfallsystemandintheextremesouth-westandsouthernextremitiesatemperatewinterrainfallbelt.Rainfallvariesfromashighas1400mma-1intheextreme

north-westandsouthwest,tounder250mma-1inthewesternNamibandKalaharibasins.Consequently,thewesternhalfofsouthernAfricaispredominantlydryandincludestheNamibDesertalongthecoast,theKalahari,andtheKaroosemi-desertenvironments.

BiodiversityWithawidevarietyofhabitatsandecoregions,southernAfricaisremarkablyrichinplant,invertebrateandvertebratebiodiversity.TheCapeFloralKingdomisadistinctiveandspectacularcomponentofthecoastandmountainsofthesouthernandsouth-westareas.AfromontaneforestsoccurinpatchesalongtheeasternmontanearchipelagofromMalawitotheCape.Grassandshrublandsdominatethemoresoutherlyandhigh-altitudeinlandplateauswithsavannahbushandwoodlandsfoundaroundtheeasterncoastalandtropicalinlandbelts.Recentestimatesoffreshwaterdependentinvertebratesincludefewmolluscs(45)andcrustaceans(27)andaround200insectsfromsouthernAfrica.Theaquaticdependentvertebratefaunaoftheregionincludes197frogs,7reptiles,around428waterbirdsand15mammals,allrelativelywelldescribedinfieldguidesandotherspecializedbooks.

Freshwater fish speciesThecurrentestimateoffreshwaterfishesfromtheregion(excludingLakeMalawi/Nyassa)isaround350,includingthosetolerantofbrackishwater.ThetropicalfaunaextendingsouthtotheOrangeRiverandtocoastalKwaZulu-NatalinSouthAfricaisrichestandoverlapsarestrictedtemperatefaunainthefarsouth.ThemaintropicalfishesincludethefamiliesProtopteridae,Mormyridae,Kneriidae,Cyprinidae,Alestidae,variouscatfish(siluriform)families,Poeciliidae,Nothobranchiidae,Cichlidae,AnabantidaeandMastacembelidae.ThetemperatefaunaincludesuniquerelictgroupswithahighendemicityandrestrictedrangesandincludesthefamiliesCyprinidae,Austroglanididae,AnabantidaeandGalaxiidae.ThetemperatefishesaredistinctinanAfricancontext,forexamplethetemperatecyprinidsare80%polyploidspeciesincludinghexaploidsandtetraploids.RecentstudieshaveshownthattherearemanycrypticspeciesthatneeddescriptionwithinthegenusPseudobarbus.Inaddition,theAfricangalaxiid(currentlyasinglespecies)isknowntoembraceaclusterofspeciesyettobetaxonomicallydefined.Muchofthisdiversityishighlyrestrictedindistributionandmanyspeciesarethreatened.

ThephylogeneticrelationshipsofthecatfishfamilyAustroglanididae,foundonlyintheOrangeandwest-coastOlifantsriversystemsareprovinghardtodefine.LikewisethesouthernanabantidgenusSandeliaisnowknowntobemorediversethanthetwospeciesrecognizedformanyyears.

Conservation of freshwater fishesTheIUCNassessmentofsouthernAfrica,completedin2009indicatedthat40(11%)speciesoutof355assessedaregloballythreatened(i.e.eitherCriticallyEndangered,EndangeredorVulnerable).235(66%)areofLeastConcernand71(19.6%)areDataDeficient.Themainthreatstofreshwaterfishesareintroducedalienfishes,andhabitatdegradationfromdammingandwaterabstractionforagriculture,industryandurbanconsumption,aswellasimpactsfrompollutionandtheerosionofgeneticintegrity.Thepressuresonwaterresourcesfromarapidlyincreasingurbanpopulationinthevariouscountriesoftheregionisaggravatingaquaticenvironmentaldegradationinmanyplaces.Miningandthelong-termimpactsofminingonwaterqualityisagreatconcerninSouthAfrica.Arecentlypublishedatlasoffreshwaterecosystempriorityareassummarisesgraphicallythestateofriversinthecountry.Theatlasprovidesmapstosupportsustainabledevelopmentofwaterresourcesandisanimportantsteptowardsthelong-termconservationoffreshwater

ecosystemsinSouthAfrica.

ConservationactivitieshavetakenplaceinSouthAfricaandtoalimitedextentinothercountriesoftheregion.StudiesonthreatenedfishesincertainspecificsitessuchasAigamascaveandtheLakeGuinassinkholeinNamibiaaswellasresearchandfaunalsurveyshavealsooccurredinothercountriesintheregion.IntheCapeconservationeffortsfocusedonthethreatfromalienfisheshaveincludedarecentpilateefforttorehabilitateastreamthroughalienfisheradicationhasbeenwellpublicised.NationalenvironmentalconservationplanningforriversisadvancedinSouthAfrica.Inaddition,theSouthAfricanWaterAct(1998)wascompletelyrevisedtoincludeprovisionsforwaterforecosystemservicesandriverfunctioningforthefirsttime.InSouthAfricaeffortstomitigatetheimpactofdamsandweirsaswellasalienfisheshavealsobeenmadebybothgovernmentdepartmentsandtheprivatesector.Anoteworthyefforttoprovidealternativefishingofindigenousspeciesinplaceofalientroutandbasshasincludedresearchonthebiologyandecologyofpotentialindigenousanglingspeciesandthreatenedspecies.Aresearchprogrammeonfishpasswayshasimprovedunderstandingofthemovementofindigenousfishesandtheroleanddesignoffishpasswaysasconservationtools.


Olifants River, Kruger National Park © Paul Skelton


IUCN engagementAlthoughaformalcommitteeofmembershasnotbeenestablishedintheregionthereisanactivenetworkofindividualsengagedinfishresearchandconservation,includinggovernmentagents,membersofNGOsandavarietyofresearchinstitutionsthatcollectivelycontributetofishconservationinSouthernAfrica.ManyoftheseindividualscontributeddirectlytotherecentIUCNAssessmentof‘TheStatusandDistribution

ofFreshwaterBiodiversityinSouthernAfrica’(Darwallet al.,2009).

ReferenceDarwall,W.R.T.,Smith,K.G.,Tweddle,T.,andSkelton,P.(eds)(2009).The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Southern Africa. Gland,Switzerland:IUCNandGrahamstown,SouthAfrica:SAIAB.viii+120pp.

Witte River in the Western Cape© Paul Skelton

Professor Paul Skelton FFSG Chair for Southern Africa RegionPaulrecentlyretiredasManagingDirectorofSouthAfricanInstituteforAquaticBiodiversityafter16yearsinthatposition.Priortothat(1984-1995)heservedasCuratorofFreshwaterFishesattheJLBSmithInstituteofIchthyology(beforeitbecameSAIAB),andalsoasCuratorofFishesattheAlbanyMuseumfrom1972-1983.HisresearchcareermostlyconcernedthetaxonomyofsouthernAfricanfreshwaterfishesandtheirconservation.HeevaluatedthethreatenedspeciesandwrotetheSouthAfricanRedDataBookforfishesin1977and1987.HehasconductedfieldworkandprojectsthroughoutsouthernAfrica,andhastravelledextensivelytothemajorinternationalmuseumswithAfricanfreshwaterfishholdings.HehasbeenamemberoftheIUCNSSC/WIFreshwaterFishSpecialistGroupsinceitsbeginningsandwastheprojectleaderfortherecentsouthernAfricanassessmentaspartofthePan-Africanassessmentcompletedin2011.

10 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD 11

Fiji freshwater fish graces new 10-dollar bill: Bringing freshwater fish into the popular consciousness

Aaron P. JenkinsFFSGRepresentative,Oceania

OnthesecondofJanuarythisyearanewsetofbanknotesandcoinswentintocirculationinFijifeaturingimageryofuniquefloraandfauna.Itwasmyabsoluteprivilegetobepartoftheprocessofdesigningthenewcurrency.Fiji’sendemicfloraandfaunadesignsnowreplacetheportraitofHerMajestyQueenElizabethIIacrossalldenominations.Theprocesscommencedin2010whentheUnitedNationsdeclaredInternationalYearofBiodiversityandIwasaskedaroundmid-2011topresentavarietyofoptionstotheReserveBankBoardforanendemicfreshwaterfishtogracethenew10-dollarnote.IpresentedseveraloptionsincludingthelargestendemicfreshwaterfishinthePacific,theorangespottedtherapon(Mesopristis kneri),anewfreshwaterpipefish(Hippichthys albomaculatus)thatIhaddiscoveredin2009,andLever’sgoby(Redigobius leveri).AftermuchdebateLever’sgobywaschosenforitsuniquehistoryandbecauseitisoneofonlytwofishesknowntobecompletelyconfinedtofreshwaterinthecountry.Thisfishreachesamaximumsizeof4.4cm,whichisquitelargeforthisgenusandismostcommonlyfoundin

clear,rapidflow,mid-reachanduppercatchmentareasoverboulderswithinhighlyvegetatedareas.Theirpresenceinanyriverisanindicatorofgoodhabitatqualityandminimalcatchmentdisturbance.

Mr.R.LeverwasaNewZealanderwhowasworkingasagovernmententomologistinFijitryingtokeepthepestsofftheburgeoningsugarcaneindustry.Intheearly1940’shesentavarietyoffishspecimenstothefamousichthyologist,HenryFowlerwhowastheCuratorofFishesoftheAcademyofSciencesofPhiladelphiaanddescribedLeverasa“valuedcorrespondent”.FowlerdescribedthespeciesasnewandnamedthefishafterLeverin1943.

In2003,IwasteachingacourseonfreshwaterfishtaxonomyatUniversityofSouthPacificandaspartofafieldtripwecaughtanumberofspecimensandIphotographedone,whichwaslaterusedonastampandbeganare-recognitionofthisendemicspeciesinFiji.

Original photo of Redigobius leveri taken at a field course at USP in 2003 © Aaron Jenkins


Itisimportantthatthisuniquespeciesisnowrecognizedandthatithelpscreatespublicawarenessofthethreatstobiodiversity.WhatbetterwaytodothisthanonthecurrencythatisusedbyallFijiancitizens?ThiscurrencychangeisalsosignificantbecausemembersoftheBritishRoyalFamilyhavebeenonFijicurrencyoverthepast78years.

IntheprocessofdesigningthebillIprovidedphotosandcritiquedtheengravingsthatweredonebeforetheywerefinalized.Theimageistaxonomicallyaccuratedowntothefinrayandscalecount,muchtothedismayoftheengraverwholatersaidtomethathehadneverhadanimagecomebacksomanytimesforchanges.I’mhappywiththeresultandproudtoseeafreshwaterfishonFiji’scurrency.

Aaron Jenkins at the unveiling of the new 10 dollar note in Suva, Fiji (January 2013)

Activities of the South Asia Office of the Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (September 2012 to April 2013)

Rajeev RaghavanFFSGCo-ChairforSouthAsiaRegion

ThenewlyformedSouthAsiaofficeoftheFFSGhasbeenactivelyinvolvedinresearch,advocacyandpolicymakingonfreshwaterfishconservationrelatedissuesintheSouthAsiaregion.Someoftheimportantactivities,thattheofficehasbeeninvolved,aresummarisedbelow.

1. Co-organizedaWORKSHOPONCHALLENGESFORFRESHWATERFISHCONSERVATIONheldatthePeriyarTigerReserve,Thekkady,Indiaon27thand28thSeptember2012.Theworkshopwasorganizedwithanaimtodevisesuitableactionplansandmechanismstocreateawareness,aswellasdevelopandimplementconservation,managementandpolicyactionsforfreshwaterbiodiversityconservationintheWesternGhatsHotspot.AspecialsessionwasalsodevotedtotheconservationofendemicfishesofPeriyarTigerReserve.

2. ProvidedtechnicaladviceforbringingoutanEDUCATIONALPOSTERONTHEENDEMICANDTHREATENEDFISHESOFPERIYARTIGERRESERVE(seepage13).ForhighresolutionposterspleasecontactRajeevRaghavan-rajeevraq@hotmail.com

3. TheSouthAsiaofficeisanofficialpartneronthe‘LostfishesofWesternGhats’projectfundedbytheMohammedBinZayedSpeciesConservationFundandChesterZoo,UK.

4.InitiatedtheFRESHWATERFISHCONSERVATIONNETWORKOFSOUTHASIA(FFCNSA)toidentifyandcoordinateanetworkofichthyologistswhowillworktogethertoraisetheprofileforfreshwaterfishconservationinthisregion.Todate,around50ichthyologistsworkingintheSouthAsiaregionhaveenrolledasmembersofthenetwork.Formoreinformationandanapplicationformpleasevisithttp://www.zooreach.org/Networks/Fish/Fish.htm

5. ProvidedscientificadviceandinputfortheSAHYADRIFRESHWATERBIODIVERSITYCONSERVATIONEDUCATIONTRAININGWORKSHOPheldatCoimbatore,Indiafrom25thto27thFebruary2013.TheaimoftheworkshopwastotransfertheresultsoftherecentlycompletedIUCNFreshwaterBiodiversityAssessmentsintheWesternGhatstoawiderangeofstakeholdersincludinglocalpeople,schoolandcollegestudentsandjournalistslivinginpeninsularIndia.Aspartoftheprojectateachingmanualandavarietyofeducationmaterialsweredeveloped.Formoreinformationpleasevisithttp://www.zooreach.org/ZOO_WILD_Activities/2013/27Feb2013_FWB.htm

6. Co-organizedthe‘EXOTICFISH’FREEPERIYARTIGERRESERVECAMPAIGN(seedetailednewsonpage14)

12 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Sanjay Molur (ZOO Outreach Organization, Coimbatore, India) and Sanjayan Kumar (Deputy Director, Periyar Tiger Reserve) releasing the poster on Alliance for Zero Extinction Species

during the Workshop on Challenges for Freshwater Fish Conservation. © Sanjay Molur

http://www.zooreach.org/Networks/Fish/Fish.htmhttp://www.zooreach.org/Networks/Fish/Fish.htmhttp://www.zooreach.org/ZOO_WILD_Activities/2013/27Feb2013_FWB.htmhttp://www.zooreach.org/ZOO_WILD_Activities/2013/27Feb2013_FWB.htm

12 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Towards an ‘Exotic Fish’ Free Periyar Tiger Reserve

Kaimal Krishnakumar1 and Rajeev Raghavan21Researcher,ConservationResearchGroup(CRG),Kochi,India;2FFSGCo-ChairforSouthAsiaRegion

ThewatersofthePeriyarTigerReserve(PTR)intheWesternGhatsHotspot,Indiaharbouruniqueassemblagesofevolutionarilydistinctandgloballyendangeredfishspecies.Onegenus(Lepidopygopsis)andeightspeciesarecurrentlyknowntobeendemictothePTR.TheseincludetwospecieseachwithintheGenusGarra(G. mlapparaensis andG. periyarensis)andNemacheilus(N. menoniandN. periyarensis),andspeciesofHomaloptera(H. silasi),Hypselobarbus(H. periyarensis),Crossocheilus(C. periyarensis)andLepidopygopsis(L. typus).ThePTRisthereforeoneofthemostcriticalfreshwaterfishhabitatsinsouthernAsia,andanecosysteminneedofurgentconservationattention.

Biologicalinvasionisoneofthemajorthreatsintheregionwithpopulationsoffouralienspecies,Clarias

gariepinus,Cyprinus carpio,Oreochromis mossambicusandPoecilia reticulata increasinglikeneverbefore.Twoalienspecies,C. carpio andO. mossambicus nowdominatethefisheryandcompeteforfoodwithendemicspeciessuchasH. periyarensis,andL. typus.


Local fisherman in the Periyar Tiger Reserve © Rajeev Raghaven

African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) caught in Periyar Lake © Rajeev Raghaven


Atwo-stepstrategyhasbeendevisedtomanagealienfishspeciesinthislandscape.Thisincludeseradicationofexistingalienfishpopulations,anddevelopingandimplementingeducationandawarenesscampaignstostopfutureintroductionsandescapes.WithanaimtoeliminatethemostimportantalienfishthathasinvadedthePeriyarTigerReserve,theAfricancatfish,Clarias gariepinus,aonedaycampaignwasorganizedon30thMay2013bytheKeralaStateDepartmentofForestandWildlife,andtheConservationResearchGroup(CRG),St.Albert’sCollege,Kochi,IndiaincollaborationwithmanynationalandinternationalpartnersincludingtheIUCNSSC/WIFreshwaterFishSpecialistGroup(FFSG).

Theonedaycampaignattendedby45volunteers,15officialsoftheStateForestandWildlifeDepartment,and20membersoftheindigenoustribalcommunitiesresultedinthecaptureof92individualsofC. gariepinus ranginginsizefrom190mmto425mm.FishcaughtweresubsequentlyeuthanizedandremovedfromtheParkboundary.ThesuccessofthisinitiativehasresultedintheStateDepartmentofForestandWildlifeshowwillingnesstocontinuetheactivityonamonthlybasisbydeployingtheirstafftocatchandremoveasmanyC. gariepinus aspossiblefromtheecosystem.PlansarealsobeingdevelopedtoprovideincentivestoindigenousfishersinthePeriyarTigerReservetocatchalienfishspeciesfromthelake.

Poster advertising the event

Some of the participants at the Alien Fish Removal Campaign © Rajeev Raghaven


New fish species described in 2012-2013 from South Asia

Waikhom VishwanathFFSGCo-ChairforSouthAsiaRegion

TheSouthAsiaregionisrichinfreshwaterfishfauna.Therichdiversityisattributedtothetectonicframeworkoftheregionandthedifferentdrainagesystems,viz.theIndusinthewest,theGanga-BrahmaputraandtheMeghana-Surmainthenorth,theChindwin-IrrawaddyandtheKaladanintheeastandtheriversofthePeninsularIndia,viz.theNarmada,Tapi,Godavari,KrishnaandCauveryandmanystreamsandriversinSriLankainthesouth.Severalichthyologistscontributedtothediscoveryanddescriptionoffishessincetheearly19thcentury.However,manyareashaveneverbeenvisitedbyichthyologistsduetoinaccessibility.Evaluationofmanymorenewformsareexpected.Thereisneedforextensivesurveyofthefaunaandevaluatetheirstatus.Inthepastfewyears,fishfaunalsurveygainedmomentumandover25fishspecieshavebeendescribednewtoscienceduring2012and2013.Thespeciesarelistedbelow:

1. Aborichthys waikhomi Kosygin,2012.Bulbuliastream,atributaryofNoaDehingRiver,Namdapha,ArunachalPradesh,India.Rec. Zool. Survey India.,112(1):49-55

©L.Kosygin2. Barilius profundus Dishma&Vishwanath,2012.KaladanR.,Mizoram.J. Threatened Taxa,4(2):2363–2369

©W.Vishwanath3. Balitora jalpalli Raghavan,Tharian,Ali,Jadhav&Dahanukar,2013.WesternGhats,Kerala,India.J. Threatened Taxa,5(5):3921–3934.

©NeeleshDhanukar

4. Balitora laticauda Bhoite,Jadhav&Dahanukar.KrishnaRiver,WesternGhats,Maharashtra,India.J. Threatened Taxa,4(11):3038–3049

©NeeleshDhanukar5. Danio flagransKullander,2012.HeadwatersofMali-HkaR.,Irrawad-dydrainage,Myanmar.Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters,23(3):245-262

©RalfBritz


6. Dario urops Britz,Ali&Philip,2012.TributaryofValapattanamR.,insouthernKarnatakaandfromWayanadDis-trict,Kerala,India.Zootaxa 3348:63

©RalfBritz7. Garra namyaensis Shangningam&Vishwanath,2012.NamyaR.,Manipur,India.ISRNZoology,doi:10.5402/2012/325064andvalidationinIchthyol. Explor. Freshwa-ters,23(1):10

©W.Vishwanath8. Glyptothorax churamanii Rameshori&Vishwanath,2012.KaladanR.,Mizo-ram.India.Zootaxa,3538:79–87

©W.Vishwanath

9. Glyptothorax elankadensis Plamootil&Abraham.2012.Biosystematica,6(2):17-25

Imageunavailableattimeofpublication

10. Glyptothorax jayarami Rameshori&Vishwanath,2012.KaladanR.,Mizo-ram,India.Zootaxa3304:54–62

©W.Vishwanath11. Glyptothorax maceriatusNg&Lalramliana,2012.Meghna-Surmariversys-teminMizoram,India.Zootaxa,3416:44–52

©W.Vishwanath12. Glyptothorax scrobiculus Ng&Lalramliana,2012.TibutariesofTuivaiR.,Mizoram,India.Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters,23,(2):97-104

©Lalramliana13. Glyptothorax verrucosus Rameshori&Vishwanath,2012.KaladanR.,Mi-zoram,India.Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters,23(2):147-154.

©W.Vishwanath


14. Parambassis bistigmata Geetakumari,2012.Brahmaputrabasin,NotheastIndia.Zootaxa3317:59–64

©W.Vishwanath15. Parambassis waikhomi Geetakumari&Basudha,2012.LoktakLake,Manipur,India(Chindwinbasin).J. Threatened Taxa,4(14):3327–3332

©W.Vishwanath

16. Physoschistura chindwinensis Lokeshwor&Vishwanath,2012.LokchaoRiveratMoreh,Manipur,India(Chindwinbasin).Ichthyol. Res.59:230–234

©W.Vishwanath17. Physoschistura dikrongensisLokeshwar&Vishwanath,2012.DikarongR.atDoimukh,ArunachalPradesh,India(Brahmaputraba-sin).Zootaxa,3586:249–254

©W.Vishwanath18. Physoschistura tigrinaLokeshwar&Vishwanath,2012.ChangaR.,Ukhruldistrict,Manipur,India(Chindwindrainage).Zootaxa,3586:95–102

©W.Vishwanath19. Physoschistura tuivaiensis Lokeshwor&Vishwanath,2012.TuivaiR.atLikhailok,Churachandpurdistrict,Manipur,India(Brahmaputrabasin).Taprobanica,4(1):52-58.

©W.Vishwanath20. Schistura aizawlensisLalramliana,2012.MuthiR.Barakbasin,Mizoram,In-dia. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, 23,(2): 97-104

©Lalramliana


21. Schistura koladynensis Lokeshwor&Vishwanath,2012.KoladyneR.,Mizoram,India.Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters,23(2):139-145.

©W.Vishwanath

22. Schistura obliquofascia Lokeshwor,Barat,Sati,Darshan,Vishwanath&Mahan-ta,2012.KalsaR.atChanfi,Uttarakhand,Gangabasin.Zootaxa,3586:255–263

©W.Vishwanath

23. Pseudolaguvia viriosaNg&Tamang.2012.Brahmaputradrainage,ArunachalPradesh,India.Zootaxa,3522:81–88

©LakpaTamang24. Pangio ammophila Britz,Ali&Raghavan,2012,KumaradharaRiver,Karna-taka,India.Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters,23(1):45-50.

©RalfBritz

25. Pseudolaguvia lapillicola Britz,Ali&Raghavan.2012.KumaradharaRiver,Karna-taka.Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters,23(4):289-295

©RalfBritz

26. Schistura porocephala Lokeshwor&Vishwanath,2013.KaladanRiver,Mizo-ram.Ichthyol. Res,60(2):159-164

©W.Vishwanath

27. Glyptothorax pantherinus Anganthoibi&Vishwanath,2013.NoaDehingR.,ArunachalPradesh(Brahmaputrabasin).Ichthyol. Res,60(2):172-177

©W.Vishwanath

Activities in Northeast IndiaProf.D.N.DasoftheDepartmentofZoology,RajivGandhiUniversity,ArunachalPradeshreportsthatUniversityGrantsCommission,GovernmentofIndiarecognizedthedepartmentastheCentreforPotentialExcellenceinBiodiversity.ThecentreisengagedinmoleculardiscriminationofcertainpolymorphicfishspeciesandDNAbarcodingofendemicfishspeciesoftheeasternHimalayanregion;studyofbiologyandthelifehistorystrategiesofselectedfoodfishesoftheeasternHimalayanregionandreproductivephysiologyofcertainthreatenedornamentalandfoodfishes.Recently,theteamvisitedMenchukhavalleyataheightof6,254feetabovesealevelwheretheYargyapchuRiverflows.Interestingspecimenswerecollectedandareintheprocessofbeingidentifed.

CollegeofFisheries,Agartala,undertheleadershipofProf.J.R.Dhanze,Deanofthecollege,organizedFishTaxonomyTrainingworkshopasapartoftheexplorationandmolecularcharacterizationoffishesofnortheastIndiaunderaDepartmentofBiotechnology,GovernmentofIndiaproject.

DepartmentofLifeSciences,ManipurUniversityisactivelyengagedinthecharacterizationofendemicfishesofnortheastIndia.Asmanyas13newspecieshavebeendescribedbytheteamfromtheregionintheyears2012-2013.Wherevertheteamvisits,villageauthoritiesandgovernmentdepartmentsarewellinformedandinvolvedinthesampling.Meetingsareheldtodiscussandunderstandtheobjectivesofsuchstudies.Endemicfoodandornamentalfishesarecollectedliveandattemptshavebeenmadetobreedtheminthelaboratory.Banganadevdevi,animportantfoodfish,oncereportedtobewidelydistributed,butnowinthevergeofextinctionfromthewaterbodiesofManipurhavebeensuccessfullybredintheaquarium,recently.

However,LakpaTamang,anichthyologistisconcernedaboutthehazardousmethodsoffishingintheSenkhistreaminArunachalPradesh.Peopleadopteddestructivemethodsoffishing,e.g.electrocution,useofbleachingpowder,liminganddynamiting;thus,posingathreattothefishpopulation,whichotherwisewouldhavebeensustainablehadtheyusedtraditionalgears.

StatedepartmentofforestlooksafterthewelfareofthefreshwaterfaunainmostofthestatesinNortheastIndia.ResearchersneedtoobtainpermissionfromForestDepartmentauthoritiesforsamplingfishesforresearchpurposes.Despitethefactthatvillageauthoritiesandcivilorganizationsareconcernedabouttheneedforconservationofspecies,unauthorizedillegalfishingispracticedwidelyintheinteriorareas.GovernmentdepartmentsarestockingTilapiasandotherexoticfishesinthenaturalwaterbodiesinanattempttoincreasefoodfishproductionandareunawareoftheimpactsofsuchfishestothenativespeciesandtheaquaticecosystem.Massiveawarenessprogrammesandeducationofallconcernedisrequiredtoconservetheaquaticecosystemandthenativespecies.


Unidentified Glyptosternine fish from Yagyapchu River © Waikhom Vishwanath

Destructive methods of fishing in the hill streams of northeast India: Application of plant poisons [left] and electrofishing [right] © Waikhom Vishwanath


First comprehensive Red List workshop for all freshwater fishes of the Middle East

Jörg FreyhofFFSGChairfortheEuropeanRegion

TheMiddleEastisoneofthemostimportanthotspotsforfreshwaterbiodiversityintheEuropeanRegion.Thereareactually373freshwaterfishspecieswhichhavenotyetbeenassessedagainsttheIUCNRedListcriteria,orforwhichtheassessmentsareoutdated.Asthereareverymanyspecieswithanextremelypoorconservationstatus,myteamworkedhardtofindfundingforacomprehensiveRedListassessment;andalsoforacomplete“KeyBiodiversityArea”assessmentforthiscriticalregion.

InJuly2012,a$248,332grantwasawardedtotheIUCN(GlobalSpeciesProgramme;FreshwaterBiodiversityUnit).Thegrant(FreshwaterBiodiversityAssessmentandConservationPrioritiesfortheMediterraneanBasinHotspot)fundstheresearchandmappingofecologicaldataforkeyfreshwaterspeciesgroupsintheeasternMediterranean.ThesedataareusedtoidentifyKeyBiodiversityAreas(KBAs)andassesshumanuse.Haveacloselookathttp://www.birdlife.org/community/2013/06/freshwater-biodiversity-workshops-pave-the-way-for-further-research-in-the-mediterranean-basin/Aswellasfish,freshwaterplantsandmollusksarecoveredwithinthisproject.Whilethe

Mediterraneanisthecentralagenda,MiddleEasternfreshwaterfishes,arealsotakenintoaccount.

AkeyoutputofthegrantisorganisingstakeholderworkshopsthroughouttheMediterraneanBiodiversityHotspot.TheworkshopswillfocusontheidentificationofKBAs,sustainablemanagementtechniques,optimalconservationstrategies,andtheidentificationoforganizationstotaketheleadonconservationactionsateachsite.ThefreshwaterKBAswillbeenteredintotheWorldBirdDatabase(WBDB)enablingthemtobepubliclyrecognisedalongsideotherindicators(e.g.IBAs,AZEs,andterrestrialKBAs).Thisrepresentsanimportantstepforwardsintheprotectionoffreshwaterbiodiversityinthefaceofdevelopment.

WehavecarriedoutoneverysuccessfulKBAworkshoptovalidateandcreateawarenessofproposedsitesinDecember2012inBosniaandHerzegovina.IUCNworkshoponFreshwaterKeyBiodiversityAreasinBosniaandHerzegovina.AdditionalKBAworkshopswillbeperformedthroughtheprojectBioFresh(www.freshwaterbiodiversity.eu)in2013and2014.

The Azraq Red List Team © Jörg Freyhof

http://www.birdlife.org/community/2013/06/freshwater-biodiversity-workshops-pave-the-way-for-further-research-in-the-mediterranean-basin/http://www.birdlife.org/community/2013/06/freshwater-biodiversity-workshops-pave-the-way-for-further-research-in-the-mediterranean-basin/http://www.birdlife.org/community/2013/06/freshwater-biodiversity-workshops-pave-the-way-for-further-research-in-the-mediterranean-basin/http://www.birdlife.org/community/2013/06/freshwater-biodiversity-workshops-pave-the-way-for-further-research-in-the-mediterranean-basin/http://www.freshwaterbiodiversity.eu/http://www.freshwaterbiodiversity.eu/

ThesecondworkshopwastheIUCNRedListreviewworkshoponfreshwaterbiodiversityoftheeasternMediterranean,hostedinJordan.TheworkshopwaskindlyhostedbyRoyalSocietyforConservationofNature,JordanattheirAzraqWetlandReserveandfacilitatedbyIUCNGlobalSpeciesProgrammeandMediterraneanOffice.

TheeasternpartoftheMediterraneanBasinistheonlyregionwithinthisHotspotwheretheconservationstatusoffreshwaterbiodiversityisunknown.DraftRedListassessmentsanddistributionmapsforalmost500speciesoffreshwaterfishes,mollusksandplantswerereviewedbybiodiversityexpertsfromacrosstheregionandEurope.ThereviewworkshopwasheldinthefamousAzraqoasis.DespitegeneroushospitalitybytheJordanianRoyalSocietyfortheConservationofNature,nicesunshine,finebirdmigrationandmanyinspiringdiscussionswithallcolleagues,theworkshopwashardwork!Whencompleted,thesedatawillbeusedtoidentifylocalfreshwaterKBAsbyrunningsimilarworkshopasalreadyundertakeninBosniaandHerzegovina.

TheworkshopwasalsoagreatopportunitytovisitAzraqoasis,whichisthehomeofthefamous,endemicAphanius sirhani,theAzraqkillifish(aspecieswhoseconservationunderDrNashatHamidanoftheJRSCN,hasbeensupportedbyChesterZoo).Despiteexemplary

awarenessraising,theAzraqkillifishisnowcompletelyconservationdependentinitsnaturalhabitat.Thewatertabledroppeddownintheoasis(duetoexcessiveabstraction),andthespringsdriedoutintheearly1990s.Sincethen,waterispumpedintothewetland.However,alieninvasivecichlidshavenotbeeneradicated.Whilelargepondswith A.sirhani onlyexistinthewetland,somearestillinfectedwiththealiens.ThisconservationprojectisfundedbytheCriticalEcosystemPartnershipFund(CEPF),MAVAFoundationpourlaNature(MAVA),theMinisteriodeAsuntosExterioresydeCooperation(AECID)andtheBioFreshProject.


The fish team: Jörg Freyhof, Güler Ekmekci, Kevin Smith,and Atheer Ali © Jörg Freyhof

An Aphanius pond in Azraq oasis infected with alien cichlids © Jörg Freyhof

Aphanius sirhani, the Azraq killifish© Nashat A. Hamidan


Kinabatangan River Spirit Initiative, Malaysia

Tun-Min Poh1 and Suzanne Turnock2 1KinabatanganRiverSpiritInitiative;2FFSGProgrammeOfficer

AswellasbeingthemaindonorfortheFFSG,ChesterZoohasonceagainshownitssupportforfreshwaterfishconservation,byawardingaConservationandResearchGranttotheKinabatanganRiverSpiritInitiative,Malaysia.FoundwithinthemostisolatedofBorneo’swatersheds,theKinabatanganRiverhasthehighestlevelsoffreshwaterspeciesendemismontheisland.However,theriver’scatchmenthasexperienceddrasticlandscapechangesand,today,morethan50%oftheriverbasincontinuestobeactivelylogged;whileatleast25%isutilizedasagriculturalland.HabitatdegradationistheleadingthreattofreshwaterfishesinMalaysia(Chonget al.,2010).ThehighendemismoffishspeciesintheKinabatangancatchment,pairedwiththecurrentlackofinformationaboutthestatusofthesefishes(Chonget al.,2010),makethepotentialforloss,andtheneedforaction,evenmorepressing.ThecontinueddeclineoftheKinabatangancatchmentjeopardizesfoodsecurity,livelihoods,thetourismindustryandenvironmentalservicesprovidedbytheriver.Althoughhumanriverinecommunitiesrecognizethechangesintheriver,thereisnohardevidenceforthelossinnativefishdiversityandabundance,andmoreimportantly,thefewriverstudiesconductedherehaveofferedno

realremedyfordecliningriverhealth.Positivechangehasyettobeexperiencedlocally,andcommunitieshavebeenlefttoadapttotheseeminglyinevitabledeteriorationoftheenvironment.

Theproject,endorsedbytheFFSG,wasconceivedonthebasisthatcommunityparticipationinresearchandmanagementiscriticalforachievingahealthyriver.TheprojecthasbeendevelopedbasedontheneedsidentifiedbythelocalKinabatangancommunity.Theprojectaimsaretoenhanceknowledgeandknowledge-sharingoftheriver’scondition;andtoempowerlocalcommunitiestotakeaction.

Local fisherman checking his gill nets on the Kinabatangan River © Tun-Min Poh (KRSI)

Envisionedasalong-termproject,thefirstphasewillbefor2-years.Itwillproducebaselinedataonfishdiversityandecologicalassemblages;alistofthestatusofthreatenedfreshwaterfishspeciesfortheLowerKinabatangan;theidentificationofpracticalconservationactionsthatcanbeimplementedbythelocalcommunities;astrongargumentforsustainabledevelopmentpracticesintheKinabatangancatchment;andalong-termmonitoringmethodologyforriverhealth.Theprojecttakesamulti-speciesapproachandusesfishasanindicatorforriverhealth;focusingontheCriticallyEndangeredgreat-toothsawfish(Pristis microdon),Endangeredgiantfreshwaterwhipray(Himantura polylepis)andBorneorivershark(Glyphis fowlerae;currentlyNotEvaluated).Theproject,whichstartedinFebruary2013,isnowwellunderway.Initialfishandriverworkshops,pilotinterviewsurveys,andconsultationswithlocalcommunitieshavecommenced.

ThevisionisofahealthyKinabatanganRiver,whichsupportsrobustfreshwaterbiodiversityandthepersistenceofathrivinglocalculture,withsustainable

development.ChesterZoohasprovidedinvaluablesupport,whichenablesustostrivetorealizeourvisionandtogether‘weactforwildlife’!

IfyouwouldliketofindoutmoreaboutChesterZoo’sConservationandResearchGrants,pleasevisittheConservationpagesonthezoo’swebsitehereandyoucanalsofindoutabouttheActforWildlifecampaignledbyChesterZoohere.

ReferenceChong,V.C.,Lee,P.K.Y.andLau,C.M.(2010)Diversity,extinctionriskandconservationofMalaysianfishes.Journal of Fish Biology.76:9,2009-2066

Fish and river workshops, and consultations with local communities © HUTAN-KOCP [left] © Tun-Min Poh (KRSI) [right]

24 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD OPINION 25

http://www.chesterzoo.org/conservation-and-research/field-conservation/field-projectshttp://www.actforwildlife.org.uk/

24 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD OPINION 25

The case for establishing a global working group for the conservation of freshwater migratory fish species

Claudio Baigún1,, Zeb Hogan2 and Taej Mundkur31FishProgrammeCoordinator,WetlandsInternationalArgentina;2CMSScientificCouncilorforFish,ConventiononMigratorySpecies;3ProgrammeManager,WetlandsInternationalHeadquarters.

Anincreasingnumberoffreshwaterfishspeciesaroundtheworld,particularlymigratoryspecies,arebeingaffectedbyman-madechangestoriverineecosystemsthathaveimpactswithinandbeyondnationalboundaries.Migratoryfishareexposedtothreatssuchasoverfishing,damming,habitatdegradation,industrial,agriculturalandurbanwaterpollution,mininganddredging(LucasandBaras,2001).Climatechangeisalsopromotingchangesinfishabundanceanddistributions,althoughmostofwhatweknowisstillrelatedtosalmonids(UNEP-CMS,2006).Riverfragmentationisperhapsthemostpervasiveimpactonmigratoryspecies(atdifferentspatialandtemporalscales)byblockingmigratorymovementsoflarvae,juvenilesandadults,andmodifyingorremovingcriticalhabitats.Damsarebeingbuiltoneverycontinent,withoutthedevelopersgatheringadequateinformationaboutpotentialimpactsofdamconstructiononlesser-knownmigratoryspecies.Obstructionoffreemovementalongmainchannels,orbetweenthechannelsandfloodplainareas,couldstronglyaffecttheirlifecycles-sincemigratoryspeciesexhibitstrongadaptationstocopewithhydrologicalandenvironmentalvariabilitythroughtheirfeeding,spawning,refugeandthermalregulatorymovements.

Freshwaterfishescomprisesaround15,000speciesrepresenting40-45%ofglobalfishdiversity,withthehighestspeciesrichness(32%)foundinSouthAmerica(Levequeet al.,2008).Some10%ofthemcouldbeconsideredasmigratoryataglobalscale.Freshwaterfishesrepresent41%ofworld’sichthyofauna,whichisnoteworthy,consideringthatfreshwaterrepresentsonly2.5%oftotalworldwater(Helfman,2007).Migratoryspecieshaveawidespectrumoflifehistoriesencompassingpotadromous,anadromous,catadromousandamphidromousmigratorystrategies.Thismayrequirespeciestomovethroughdifferentfreshwaterhabitats,crossnationalboundaries,andvisitcoastalandmarineenvironments.Variabilityamongmigratoryspeciesstronglydiffersbetweencontinentsandtaxonomicorders.MostmigratoryspeciesinhabitSouthAmericanbasins,whereasEuropehaslowfishdiversitycomparedwithothercontinentsbutahighdegreeofendemism(Hogan,2011).

Ofapproximately15,000speciesoffreshwaterfishes

worldwide,3,146havebeenassessedbyIUCNand1,116(7.4%)areconsideredthreatened(Hogan,2011).Recentreviewssuggestthat40%ofNorthAmericanand38%ofEuropeanfreshwaterfishesarethreatened(KottelatandFreyhof,2007)butlackofknowledgeisstillanissue.Inaddition,theAppendicesIandIIoftheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals(CMS)currentlyincludeonly21speciesoffreshwaterfishes,predominatelysturgeonspecies(Acipenseriformes),with90%ofthesespecieslistedonAppendixI.However,thesedatadonotreflecttherealstatusofmostspecies.Thereisalackofappropriateecologicalinformation,particularlyfromAfrica,Asia,andSouthAmericanbasins.

Are there ‘invisible’ species?Itisclearthatmigratoryfreshwaterspeciesincludeawidespectrumofbionomiccharacteristicsbeingtheirlifecyclesofmanyspeciesstillpoorlyknown.Mostofthesespeciesarenotencompassedbyongoinginitiatives,groupsorforums,whicharemainlydirectedatassessingandimprovingstocksofhighlyvisibleandcommerciallyharvestedspeciessuchassturgeons,eelsandsalmonids(mostofwhichoccurinthenorthernhemisphere).Whilethedevelopmentofspecificexpertgroupsiseffectiveforthemoreemblematicspecies,theyarenotsuitableforcoveringthemajorityofthelesserknownmigratoryspeciesinhabitinglargenumberofbasins;orforotherlargebutlesswellknownmigratoryspeciessuchasthegiantAmazoncatfishesthatarebecomingvulnerabletooverfishingandpotentialriverdamming(Baigún,2012).Thus,thereisanincreasingneedtodevelopbroaderconservationstrategies,encompassingspeciesthathavelowvisibilityandlimitedcommercialrelevance.Ultimately,thesecontributetonaturalfishspeciesdiversityandecosystemfunctioning;and/orrequiresoundprotectivemeasuresfromtheirsocio-economicrelevancetolocalcommunities.

Objectives of global working group Theissuesoutlinedabovecallforeffectiveactionsandeffortstoimprovetheconservationofmigratoryfishandtheirhabitats.Thecreation,undertheFFSGandCMSumbrella,ofaGlobalWorkingGrouponFreshwaterMigratoryFishSpeciesrepresentsasoundstrategytowardsinitiatingstepstoimprovingtheirconservation.

Thenewgroupwouldaimtocomplementandworkcloselywithotheractivenetworks/workinggroupsfocusedonspecificfamilies(Anguillidae,Acipenseridae,etc.)withnointentiontoundermineorreplacethem.DataandrecommendationsprovidedbytheGWGFMFS‘worldgroup’wouldbenefitconventionsandinternationalorganizationsconcernedwiththeconservationandmanagementoffishspeciesandtheirhabitats,suchas:ConventiononMigratorySpecies(CMS),theConventionofInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora(CITES),ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD),FoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO),InternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN),INFOFISH.

Specifically, the overall objectives of the group (being currently developed through consultation) could be to:

a)Collatenewbaselineinformationaboutlesserknownmigratoryfishspeciesthatmaybethreateneddespitenoformalorstandardassessmentbeingcarriedout.

b)Provideacommonplatformtoimproveandsharescientificandtraditionalknowledgeandtohighlightbestconservationpracticesformigratoryfishspecies.

c)Promoteandprioritizeresearchonconservationissuesandidentificationofappropriatemitigationmeasuresbasedoncurrentandfuturethreatsoftargetandnottargetspecies,particularlyconsideringclimatechangescenarios,deterioratingwaterquality,overfishing,riverfragmentation,criticalhabitatreduction,etc.

d)Provideawarenessofspeciesthathavenotbeenconsideredimportantastargetspecies,but

whichcouldbeadverselyaffectedbyanthropogenicimpacts,includingdeterioratingwaterquality,riverfragmentation,criticalhabitatreduction;thusdecreasingriverinebiodiversity.

e)Interactsynergisticallywithexistingnetworks/workinggroups(Salmonidae,Acipenseriidae,etc.)todevelopcommonstrategiesdirectedtoincreasepublicawarenessoftherelevanceofmigratoryspeciesandtheirpotentialvulnerabilitytodegradation,andproposecommonguidelinesandcriteriatoavoidpopulationreductions.

f)Stimulatetechnicalmeetings,workshopsandcommonscientificresearchfocusedonconservationproblemsandguidelinesrelatedtomigratoryspeciesacrosscontinents.

g)Generatetechnicalguidelinesandcommunicationsmaterialsthathelpbiologists,fisherymanagers,NGOs,etc.toconductmigratoryspeciesassessmentsandunderstandtheecologicalrelevanceofdevelopmentsandthepotentialthreats.

h)Provideliaisonwith/supportforIUCNFreshwaterBiodiversityUnitandIUCNpolicyandstrategydocumentsandWetlandsInternationalprogrammes.

i)Developtechnicalandscientificdocumentsthatcontributetodecision-makingprocessesandmanagementmeasures.

j)Developtransboundarymonitoringandmanagementprogrammestogenerateinformationonlifecycles,migratorypatternsandpopulationtrendsonmigratoryfreshwaterfishspecies.

Gilded catfish (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) is an iconic species that develops reproductive migratory movements across the Amazon and Orinoco basins covering more than 3,000 km © Carlos Hoyos

26 OPINION OPINION 27

26 OPINION OPINION 27

Final RemarksConservationofmigratoryspecies,particularlythoseinhabitingtransboundaryrivers,representsacomplexchallenge.Manysuchspeciesrepresentthebasisofwell-developedartisanalandrecreationalfisheriesandare,therefore,evaluatedtosomedegree.However,fortherestofthemigratoryspeciesthereisstillalackofsoundbiologicalandecologicalinformation.Thegrowinganthropogenicimpactsfrommanydifferentsourcesisincreasingtheriskofpopulationsdepletionandevenspeciesextinction.Thisviewisevidencedbycriticalhabitatreduction,principallyinthelargerivers.

Theformationofagroupofworldexpertsworkingonmigratoryspecieshasthepotentialtoincrease‘migratoryspeciesvisibility’;andhelptoconservethosespeciesthatareignoredorwhichfalloutsideofregularconservationstatusassessments.Species-specificgroupsarevalidandvaluablestrategiesinthisconnection;butclearlyabroadercross-cuttingperspectiveisneededtosolveormitigatethegeneralproblems-particularlyinthosemanyregionswhereriverineecologicalintegrityisunderthreat.

StepstobediscussedatthenextCMSmeetingshouldbefocusedondetermininghowtheglobalworkinggroupcanbecomefunctional.Bycountryorcontinent,itneedstobeorganizedtooptimizemaintenanceoffishdiversity,humaneconomicresourcesandpositiveinteractionwithotherconservationorganizationsorentities.

Literature citedBaigún,C.2012.ManagementimplicationsforDourada(Brachyplatystomarousseauxii).In:From sea to sources (P.Gough,ed.).TheRegionalWaterAuthorityHunzeenAa´s,TheNetherlands:146-147.

Helfman,G.S.2007.Fish conservation. A guide to understand and restoring global aquatic biodiversity and fishery resources.IslandPress,Washington.

Hogan,Z.2011. Review of freshwater fish. Convention of Migratory Species.UNEP/CMS/Inf.10.33

Kottelat,M.andFreyhof,J.2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes.Kottelat,Cornol,SwitzerlandandFreyhof,Berlin,Germany.646p.

Leveque,C.,Oberdorff,T.,Paugy,D.,Stiassny,M.L.J.,andTedesco,P.A.2008.Globaldiversityoffish(Pisces)infreshwater.Hydrobiologia595:545–567.

Lucas,M.C.andBaras,E.2001.Migration of freshwater fishes.BlackwellScience,Ltd.,Oxford,420p.

UNEP-CMS.2006.Migratory Species and Climate Change: Impacts of a Changing Environment on Wild AnimalsUNEP/CMSSecretariat,Bonn,Germany.

A chain of large dams have blocked migratory fish movements in basins such as the Parana, affecting fish biodiversity patterns and fisheries sustainability © Claudio Baigún

AspecialissuededicatedtotheconservationoffreshwaterfisheswithGuestEditor,ProfessorGordonMcGregorReid.Nowavailableonlinehere

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/izy.2013.47.issue-1/issuetoc

NEXT ISSUE OF ‘SAVING FRESHWATER FISHES AND HABITATS’

Doyouwanttosharenewsfromyourfreshwaterfishconservationprojectwithaglobalaudience?Areyoudoingfascinatingresearchororganisinganexcitingevent?Well,theFFSGNewslettercouldbetheperfectwaytotellyourstory!

ThedeadlineforsubmittingmaterialforthenextissueisFriday9thAugust.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorifyouwanttosubmitmaterial,pleaseemailSuzanneTurnock(FFSGProgrammeOfficer)[email protected]

LocalfishermaninthePeriyarTigerReserve,India.©RajeevRaghaven

The IUCN SSC/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group is generously supported by Chester Zoo, UK (www.chesterzoo.org)
http://www.chesterzoo.org/

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