Our vision: Freshwater fishes sustained in their natural environments.
In August 2004 a new IUCN SSC/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group was initiated to be managed jointly by IUCN/SSC and Wetlands International. Prof. Gordon Reid, Executive Director of Chester Zoo, UK was appointed as the Specialist Group Chair. The group's inaugural meeting was held in 2005 in Chester, UK. Amongst the participants were experts from various organisations and regions including South America, North America, Central America, Africa, South Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Southeast Asia. During this meeting, the group drew up its Mission as follows:
Mission
To achieve conservation and sustainable use of freshwater fishes and their habitats through:
- generating and disseminating sound scientific knowledge;
- creating widespread awareness of their values; and
- influencing decision-making processes at all levels.
At this early stage the management structure of the group and its priorities are still being finalised and membership has been limited to a small core group. Links and modes of interaction with the two other freshwater fish Specialist Groups (Salmon and Sturgeons) are to be discussed shortly.
The Chair is Gordon Mc Gregor Reid.
Programme Officer is Claudine Gibson