What is InFish?

InFish is a voluntary professional network with over 120 members from over 50 organizations in over 20 countries that seeks to address challenges facing inland fish through novel approaches and international collaborations. InFish fosters opportunities to share knowledge, pursue proposals, publications, and conference‐related events focused on inland fisheries. InFish has become a source of inland fisheries expertise, working collectively towards global conservation and sustainable use of inland fish through informing scientifically sound management practices. Check other sections of this website to learn more about who we are.


What is the purpose of InFish?

To raise the global profile of inland fish to inform policy, advance conservation, and promote sustainable fisheries. 

To learn more, see Lynch et al. 2020.


What we do?

  • Work collectively towards global conservation and sustainable use of inland fish through informing scientifically sound management practices.

    • Exchange and advance  understanding of inland fish

    • Help inform policy relevant to inland fish and fishers

    • Raise awareness of importance of inland fish and fisheries to food security, nutrition, and livelihoods and address relevant issues

    • Build capacity and foster professional development within the global inland fisheries community

To know more about our ongoing projects check here


What are inland fisheries?

Inland fisheries refers to the harvesting of aquatic organisms from inland waters – lakes, rivers, streams, canals, reservoirs, and other land-locked waters (FAO, 2014). The vast majority of global inland fisheries production is from small-scale, commercial or subsistence-oriented operations, obtained by harvesting wild, self-recruiting aquatic organisms and does not involve use of production-enhancing measures (i.e., pure 'capture fisheries').


Why should I care about inland fisheries?

Inland fisheries provide a reliable source of employment and food and nutritional security to communities and are an important cultural and recreational resource.


How important is Inland Fisheries compared to marine fisheries?

Inland fisheries and aquaculture contributed 59 million tonnes (35%) to reported global fisheries production in 2014 (FAO, 2016). Over 60 million people are involved in small-scale inland fisheries value chains and many more obtain a significant part of their diet from inland fish (World Bank, 2012). While visible and impactful marine initiatives (e.g., the Global Ocean Commission, U.S. Presidential Task Force on IUU Fishing, Our Ocean, Sea Around Us) have increased awareness, political will, and funding for marine issues, there is a noted lack of similar initiatives for inland systems despite their economic, social, and cultural importance.


How can I join InFish?

InFish is always interested in fostering new collaborations and partnerships! InFish has monthly update calls and meets, on average, once a year in-person to develop new project ideas and discuss ongoing initiatives. Please get in touch with us to learn more and become a member of our team.


If you want to get familiar with definitions, terminologies and classifications frequently used in fisheries science then FAO developed an excellent glossary page which has lot of these details. Check it from here.