1. International Workshop on Enhancing Freshwater Fish Biodiversity Research in Africa 17-21 November 2008 Rhodes University South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity Grahamstown, South Africa

2. Purpose Assess current state of freshwater fish biodiversity research in different parts of Africa (frontiers, challenges, knowledge gaps). Assess current state of freshwater fish biodiversity research in different parts of Africa (frontiers, challenges, knowledge gaps). Needs for training fish biodiversity researchers. Needs for training fish biodiversity researchers. Building biodiversity research resources (collections, computer and information resources). Building biodiversity research resources (collections, computer and information resources). Building new research collaborations. Building new research collaborations. Increasing funding for biodiversity research. Increasing funding for biodiversity research.

3. Participation (23) Countries represented: Countries represented: –Bénin –Democratic Republic of Congo –Kenya –Nigeria –South Africa –Tanzania –India –United States

4. Agenda Day 1, Monday, November 17th Day 1, Monday, November 17th –Welcome and Overview –Fish Biodiversity Research Needs and Challenges in Africa (presentations and panel discussion) –Field Collecting in Africa (presentations and panel discussion) –Poster and networking session

5. Agenda cont’d Day 2, Tuesday, November 18th Day 2, Tuesday, November 18th –Expanding Biodiversity Research Resources in African Countries (presentations and panel discussion) –Biodiversity Research Methods (presentations and panel discussion) –Workshop Dinner/Social (Bella Vista)

6. Agenda cont’d Day 3, Wednesday, November 19th Day 3, Wednesday, November 19th –Training African Fish Taxonomists (panel discussion). –Building Successful Biodiversity Research Networks (presentations and panel discussion). –Sightseeing/Dinner (Maxwell’s)

7. Agenda cont’d Day 4 Day 4 –Funding Fish Biodiversity Research in Africa (presentations and panel discussion) –Native fish conservation in Addo Elephant National Park –Tour of SAIAB

8. Agenda cont’d Day 5 Day 5 –Excursion to Addo Elephant National Park

9. Workshop Outcomes Concrete ideas/actions for addressing all workshop goals and objectives: Concrete ideas/actions for addressing all workshop goals and objectives: –Plans to build biodiversity research capacity. –Plans for research collaborations. –Ideas for research proposals. –Plans for future workshops in other countries. –Agencies/organizations/foundations to request funding from.

10. Detailed Program

11. Fish Biodiversity Research Needs and Challenges in Africa Presenters/Panelists: Rashid Tamatamah, Justin Mbimbi, Dorothy Nyingi, Philippe Laleye, Ernst Swartz Presenters/Panelists: Rashid Tamatamah, Justin Mbimbi, Dorothy Nyingi, Philippe Laleye, Ernst Swartz

12. Fish Biodiversity Research Needs and Challenges in Africa Presentations and panel discussion by scientists from African countries will discuss status of fish biodiversity research in their respective countries. Presentations and panel discussion by scientists from African countries will discuss status of fish biodiversity research in their respective countries. What is working and where are improvements needed? What is working and where are improvements needed? What resources are available for fish biodiversity research (fish collections, research laboratories, libraries/literature)? What resources are available for fish biodiversity research (fish collections, research laboratories, libraries/literature)? Can fruitful partnerships be established with neighboring countries to leverage/ expand resources? Can fruitful partnerships be established with neighboring countries to leverage/ expand resources?

13. Field collecting in Africa Topics to be discussed include permitting, biodiversity hotspots, field collecting and archiving, and coordination across projects/taxonomic study interests. Topics to be discussed include permitting, biodiversity hotspots, field collecting and archiving, and coordination across projects/taxonomic study interests. Presenters: Rashid Tamatamah, Justin Mbimbi (Congo Project), John Friel (All Catfishes Species Inventory), Paul Skelton (SAIAB, presented in FBRNC session) Presenters: Rashid Tamatamah, Justin Mbimbi (Congo Project), John Friel (All Catfishes Species Inventory), Paul Skelton (SAIAB, presented in FBRNC session)

14. Day 2 Establishing Biodiversity Research Resources in African Countries (fish collections, networks for accessing collection data in other countries) Biodiversity Research Methods

15. Establishing Biodiversity Research Resources in African Countries Strategic collection building. Repatriating specimens from European and North American museums. Opportunities afforded by Central African Natural History Museum Initiative (http://canhmi.org/), Collections at the Royal Museum of Central Africa (RMCA), American Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian.http://canhmi.org/ Databasing and georeferencing collection data (Nelson Rios). Gavin Gous (SAIAB Biomaterial Bank)

16. Biodiversity Research Methods New computer and information tools for taxonomic data collection and analysis. Research in a distributed (Internet) environment Morphological databases and ontology DNA bar coding

17. Presentations Dorothy Nyingi (Species Discovery Methods) Paula Mabee (Morphological Image Databases and Ontologies). Brian Sidlauskas (Morphometric and Osteological study methods). Ernst Swartz and Monica Mwale (FISHBOL)