Africa is a continent of immense natural heritage, including the great lakes and iconic rivers that fostered the earliest civilizations and continue to be integral to the continent’s socio-economic development. However, these inland waters are threatened by several activities, including nutrient and organic matter loading, over-exploitation of natural resources (including overfishing), land use change, and the introduction of exotic species. Other challenges include weak governance structures, ineffective implementation of existing policies on management and conservation, and inadequate human capacity among trained scientists and practitioners. In addition, fisheries play important social and nutritional roles in Africa through the contribution of the Great Lakes and local rivers. However, the sustainability of fisheries resources is under continuous threat from anthropogenic influences and climate change effects.

Management of the aquatic resources and their environments based on decision-making is limited, and the ecological condition of freshwater ecosystems continues to decline jeopardizing the ecological services and goods they provide. To contribute to the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in Africa, there is an urgent need for knowledge and resource sharing among experts and managers in the continent.

The African Society for Fisheries & Freshwater Science (ASFAS) is an international organization whose members study inland waters in the African continent. Research topics include fisheries, aquaculture, biodiversity, physical and chemical processes influencing ecosystem structure and function, aquatic-terrestrial ecosystems connectivity, habitat and water quality assessment, biomonitoring, conservation, and management. While a significant body of knowledge and data on Africa’s aquatic ecosystems exists, this is often disjointed and inaccessible. Ongoing research is also uncoordinated, and there are limited platforms for scientists and other stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences on how to sustainably manage and conserve these resources.

The ASFAS aims to bridge existing gaps by providing a platform for fisheries and aquatic science experts, resource managers, policymakers, educators, students, and the public to share knowledge, collaborate and contribute to the sustainable management of aquatic resources in the African Continent.