Shoal
The conservation of freshwater fish species, including tropical fish, has been identified as an issue in need of more attention and action. OATA is very pleased to be part of Shoal, an exciting initiative aimed at engaging a wide range of organisations to grow and develop interest in freshwater species conservation, particularly fish. Effective conservation of freshwater fish can maintain and improve the functioning of whole freshwater ecosystems – reaping benefits for other species, habitats and people. From an industry perspective it can ensure that supplies of peoples’ favourite ornamental fish are sustainably maintained over the long-term.
A key difference between this project and many others is the eagerness to fully engage all interested parties from the outset, bringing together interests from the trade, hobby, public aquariums, the conservation and academic worlds, under a single common aim.
To date a number of notable institutional partners have already signed up as founding partners, including amongst them: OATA; WWF International; the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group; ASAP (the Asian Species Action Partnership); Tropical Fish Keeping UK (representing UK hobbyists); and others.
A key aim of the initiative is to establish a funding platform to support scalable freshwater fish conservation projects around the world. It has launched its first Save our Shoal SOS campaign called Save Denise’s Friend, which aims to help save wild populations of the popular Red line torpedo barb, also known as the Denison’s barb.
Find out more by visiting the SOS campaign website.
If you are interested in being a part of this exciting initiative you can contact OATA.
IUCN Home Aquarium Fish Sub-Group
OATA is also part of the Home Aquarium Fish Sub-Group, part of the IUCN’s Freshwater Fish Specialist Group. It aims to:
- To identify, validate, and promote the conservation and wise management of wild populations of tropical fishes that are part of the home aquarium trade, as well as the ecosystems where they are found.
- To support sustainable, socioeconomic, and environmental benefits for home aquarium fishing communities, especially living in regions of biological importance.
- To develop and implement solutions that result in the most robust market for home aquarium fish that result in environmental protectionism, poverty alleviation, and climate stability.
You can read the article we wrote for the IUCN’s newsletter examining the livelihood and conservation benefits of wild caught ornamental fish below.
From River to Aquarium
Our Chief Executive Dominic was lucky to be invited to take part in one of Project Piaba‘s annual trips to Barcelos in Brazil to see its work at first hand with the fishing community who catch wild tropical fish like cardinal tetras and discus for the aquarium industry. After his visit Dominic wrote up his thoughts on what he had seen at first hand.
