Need for proper management of lakes, rivers stressed

Inland fisheries – the network of lakes, rivers and streams that provide fish and freshwater to millions across the world need to be better managed in order to safeguard their contribution to healthy diets and economies, particularly in developing countries.

These are among the key recommendations of international experts at the Global Conference on Inland Fisheries that concluded in Rome, last   week. During the event, leading researchers in the field of fisheries and water management, along with indigenous peoples groups, warned that a dearth of data and sound policies means development decisions fail to take into account, adverse impacts on inland fisheries.

Lakes and rivers are an essential source of protein, micronutrients, vitamins and fats for diets, particularly in developing countries, where more than 60 million people rely on them for their livelihood. Some 71 low-income countries currently produce nearly 7 million tons a year, or 80 percent of global inland captures.

But these waters are often impacted by other human needs, including energy creation, tourism and competition for freshwater.
Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (FAO) Assistant Director-General in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Árni M. Mathiesen said “Inland fisheries provide a valuable but often overlooked source of nutrition and employment around the world,” said, “But to date, the international effort to effectively integrate inland fisheries into the broader development agenda has fallen short of what is needed.”