The Future of Inland Fisheries

Inland fisheries and the fish they provide are key source of protein, essential micronutrients and food security in developing countries (FAO).  Inland fisheries may provide a sustainable source of food in areas with few alternative sources of nutrition.  However, provision of fisheries from inland water systems is often at odds with other uses of inland systems, such as water for traditional irrigated agriculture, hydroelectric power or drinking water.  Recent work on providing fish for the future suggest there will be increased demand for inland fisheries for food security, especially in regards to potential increased aquaculture production.  Unfortunately there is a dearth of information about the current sustainability of inland fisheries, let alone future scenarios, that include land use and climate change projections for inland fish production.  Future decisions about management of inland aquatic systems often do not recognize the importance of inland fisheries in providing food security, the inability to find sustainable substitutes for this key source of nutrition and the importance of inland fisheries in meeting key Millennium Development Goals such as reducing poverty and hunger and promoting environmental sustainability.  With the lack of understanding about future scenarios, meeting the growing demands for inland fisheries may not be possible.