Key Biodiversity Areas: Rapid assessment of fish fauna in southern Iraq

By

Abed, Ibrahim
Rubec, Clayton
Coad, Brian W.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2009

Original Publication

BioRisk : biodiversity & ecosystem risk assessment

Volume

3

Pages

161-171

Subjects

Key biodiversity areas, inland water fish, Iraq

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.3.15

 

Abstract

Surveys of fish in the southern marshes of Iraq are an integral component of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Project that was initiated in 2005 by Nature Iraq. This included sampling in the January to February and June periods of 2005, 2006 and 2007. Fish species occurrence, relative abundance, and weight and length were recorded. Species of importance for local consumption were noted. An initial project report included details and photographs of the species observed in 2005. Records based on interviews with local residents are noted. Sixteen “Species of Special Concern” are proposed, considering both economic and ecological factors that may be relevant to a future national fish management strategy in Iraq.