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Africa's forgotten fishes

And the emergency recovery plan to save them

Africa: home to over 3200 fish species

Freshwater fishes are essential to life across Africa. They feed tens of millions, provide livelihoods for countless communities, support diverse cultures, and are central to the health of rivers, lakes, wetlands and the ecosystems they sustain. With over 3200 species, Africa is a global hotspot for freshwater fish diversity, more than a quarter of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Explore the full report and discover how we can ensure Africa's freshwater fishes and the ecosystems and communities they support not only survive but thrive.

 

    
 
 

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Freshwater fishes are vital to Africa’s ecosystems, cultures and economies, yet they remain largely overlooked in major conservation and development decisions. An estimated 26 percent of assessed species are threatened with extinction, but the true figure may be higher due to significant data gaps and under-researched species.

The fascinating fishes

The total area of freshwater ecosystems in Africa spans 1.3 million km², ranging from the Congo River’s deep, dark rapids to ephemeral desert streams, and from highland lakes to extensive floodplains. These waters are home to multiple astonishing species.

Clanwilliam sawfin (Pseudobarbus serra)

Clanwilliam sandfish (Labeo seeberi)

Cape kurper (Sandelia capensis)

Orange River mudfish (Labeo capensis)

Breede River redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli)

Giant redfin (Pseudobarbus skeltoni) -

Longfin eel (Anguilla mossambicus)

Lake Malawi Cichlids

Astatotilapia desfontainesi male

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Threats

These remarkable species face growing threats: unsustainable fishing, invasive species, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. In some areas, harmful practices such as poisoning rivers to catch fish are still in use. Meanwhile, infrastructure developments continue to fragment and degrade critical freshwater habitats.

The Emergency Recovery Plan for Freshwater Biodiversity

Momentum for action is growing. African countries are leading the way through commitments such as the Freshwater Challenge and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as innovative local initiatives that combine conservation with community benefits. In the DRC’s Salonga National Park, in Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika, in South Africa’s sandfish rescue efforts, and in countless riverine communities across the continent, people are working to secure a better future for freshwater biodiversity.
To support these efforts, the Emergency Recovery Plan for Freshwater Biodiversity provides a practical, science-based roadmap for reversing the decline in freshwater biodiversity. Its six pillars are:

  • Letting rivers flow more naturally
  • Improving water quality
  • Protecting and restoring critical habitats and species
  • Ending unsustainable resource use
  • Preventing and controlling invasive species
  • Safeguarding free-flowing rivers and removing obsolete barriers

Africa’s freshwater fishes are not forgotten by the people who live alongside them. It’s time they were remembered by policymakers and planners, too.

Why should you care?

Africa’s freshwater fishes are in crisis. At least 714 species are threatened with extinction, and the real number could be far higher. These findings highlight what’s at stake across the continent. From the Nile to the Zambezi, Africa’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands are lifelines for people and the planet. Protecting them means securing biodiversity, food, jobs, and resilience for generations to come.

WE ARE THE FIRST GENERATION THAT HAS A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE VALUE OF NATURE AND THE ENORMOUS IMPACT WE HAVE ON IT.WE MAY ALSO BE THE LAST THAT CAN ACT TO REVERSE THIS TREND.