Projects proposed but not funded at the 1999 Technical Conference for implementation of IABIN:

Status and Availability of Information on Freshwater Fish in the Amazon Basin

The Amazon basin is the largest watershed in the world, covering parts of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname. This vast region is considered one of the most biologically and culturally diverse in the world, and is of strategic importance globally. The Amazon River and its tributaries are home to a vast diversity of freshwater fish, estimated at over 3,500 species. Many of these species are an important food source for local and indigenous communities and are also an important source of income from trade in the region. Despite this importance, comparatively little information is available on their taxonomy, distribution, natural history and management. Much of the information available is scattered and difficult to access. An effort to integrate and provide access to information on freshwater fish would strengthen the region's capacity to promote sustainability of this biological resource.

This project is designed to evaluate the status of existing information on freshwater fish from the Amazon Basin and present this information in accessible formats. The work will include:

1. A survey of existing information on freshwater fish in the Amazon region.
2. A workshop of specialists on freshwater fish to evaluate existing information.
3. An action plan to harmonize existing data on freshwater fish of the Amazon and disseminate information through electronic databases containing bibliographic and expert information.