Small pelagic fishes and fisheries in African inland waters / Espéces de petits pélagiques el leurs pecheries dans les eaux intérieures de l'Afrique

Abstract

This is a brief review of small pelagic fishes and fisheries of Africa's large lakes and reservoirs. Small pelagic fishes have an important role to play in increasing Africa's inland water fish supply because the available potential generally has been underutilized. Pelagic communities in African inland waters usually consist of small zooplanktivorous species and a group of predators which feed upon them. In addition to being small these prey fishes usually have a short life-cycle and high produ ctive potential. There are four major families which include pelagic species with actual or potential fishery importance in Africa. The general biological characteristics of these species are discussed and the major pelagic fisheries in Africa are described.