Freshwater Fisheries

Freshwater Fisheries. Be it conservation concerns associated with overfishing, food production of large fisheries, or the economic potential of a nation’s fisheries, marine fisheries dominate the political and scientific discussion. However, freshwater fisheries are the most important for food security and employment in areas around tropical river and lake systems. It is estimated that the potential yield from freshwater fisheries is comparable to marine fisheries, but data on catch are poor. What we do know is that in many tropical countries, freshwater fisheries are very important but, generally, they are poorly regulated and studied. Major threats to freshwater fisheries include dam construction, pollution, and introduction of exotic species.