AFRICA’S FORGOTTEN FISHES

Africa's freshwater ecosystems host at least 3,281 fish species, most of which are endemic, supporting millions of people through fisheries and providing critical ecosystem services. However, approximately 26% of these species are threatened with extinction due to damming, pollution, over-abstraction of water, invasive species, and climate change. The report highlights the critical role of the African Great Lakes and major river basins, the economic potential of the aquarium and recreational angling trades, and the urgent need for integrated management through initiatives like the Freshwater Challenge and the use of eDNA monitoring.

• Africa's freshwater systems contain at least 3,281 fish species, a number likely underestimated as 28 new species were discovered in 2024 alone. The vast majority of these fishes, including most genera and about half of the families, are endemic to the continent.
• Freshwater fisheries are vital for food security and livelihoods in Africa, with the continent accounting for nearly 30% of the global reported freshwater fish catch. Africa has the highest per capita consumption of freshwater fish of any continent at 2.56kg annually and employs over 3 million people in inland fisheries.
• An estimated 26% of Africa's freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction, including 170 classified as Critically Endangered, 243 as Endangered, and 299 as Vulnerable. This estimate may be higher because 536 species are listed as 'Data Deficient'.
• The introduction of non-native species has caused severe biodiversity loss, most notably in Lake Victoria, where the introduction of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus) in 1954 is linked to the potential extinction of up to 200 endemic cichlid species.
• Freshwater fish populations are threatened by a combination of habitat loss from damming, deforestation, and sand mining, as well as water pollution from agriculture, mining, and urban waste. Over-abstraction of water for irrigation is also a critical pressure, particularly in northern and southern Africa.
• The aquarium trade and recreational angling offer potential economic benefits and alternative livelihoods. At least 1,500 African fish species have been kept in aquaria, and in northeast Namibia, up to 70% of tourist lodge revenue is estimated to come from anglers targeting the African tigerfish.
• Climate change exacerbates existing threats through surface water warming and altered hydrological cycles. It is projected that by the 2050s, over 80% of Africa's freshwater fish species may face hydrological conditions substantially different from current ones.
• The report advocates for the adoption of the Emergency Recovery Plan for Freshwater Biodiversity, which consists of six pillars: letting rivers flow naturally, improving water quality, protecting critical habitats, ending unsustainable resource management, controlling invasive species, and protecting free-flowing rivers.
• Innovative monitoring tools like environmental DNA (eDNA) are being piloted in Lake Kyoga and the Congo, Mara, and Limpopo rivers to address the lack of biodiversity data and guide government policies.

APA

Hughes, K., Fulanda, B., & Lee, R. (2025). AFRICA’S FORGOTTEN FISHES. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/695/5bgjf8vbiy_WWF_Africas_Forgotten_Fishes.pdf

Chicago

Hughes, Kathy, Bernerd Fulanda, and Richard Lee. AFRICA’S FORGOTTEN FISHES. WWF International, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/695/5bgjf8vbiy_WWF_Africas_Forgotten_Fishes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hughes |first1=Kathy |last2=Fulanda |first2=Bernerd |last3=Lee |first3=Richard |title=AFRICA’S FORGOTTEN FISHES |publisher=WWF International |date=July 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/695/5bgjf8vbiy_WWF_Africas_Forgotten_Fishes.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hughes2025africas, author = {Hughes, Kathy and Fulanda, Bernerd and Lee, Richard}, title = {{AFRICA’S FORGOTTEN FISHES}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/695/5bgjf8vbiy_WWF_Africas_Forgotten_Fishes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }