Africa's age of aquarium: farming ornamental fish in the rainforest of West Africa to improve livelihoods of the poor

Abstract

The ornamental fish trade has great scope for development. At present it is dominated by a small number of middle-men with little focus on sustainability or careful management of fish. This “Lessons Learned” document outlines how commercially sound and environmentally sustainable trade in non-timber forest products is a viable means of conserving rainforest ecosystems and sustaining traditional livelihoods.