Bolivia occupies the eleventh place in the world for freshwater fish species diversity (approximately 6% of the total registered so far). Studies on this group have gained real importance in the last decade due to their relevance for food security. The 1st Bolivian Congress of Ichthyology, held between October 26th and 28th, in Cochabamba city, brought together Bolivian ichthyologists to share information on the state of knowledge of fish, threatened species, invasive species presence, and fishing.
Guido Miranda, from the Wildlife Conservation Society, was one of the specialists leading the scientific committee and presented research on fish diversity surveys in different aquatic systems from the Madre de Dios and Beni basins. Data obtained in the IDMadidi scientific expedition, between 2015 and 2017, was highlighted. Sampling in 13 study sites, within Madidi National Park, increased the number of species from 225 to more than 380 (51% more species reported than before the expedition). Of these species, 20 are new records for Bolivia and more than 10 are probably new for science.
The Ist Bolivian Congress of Ichthyology was organized by Faunagua, Fishes for Life, World Fisheries Trust, Alcide D'orbigny Natural History Museum, Limnology and the Aquatic Resources Unit of the San Simon University. It was supported by WCS, the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), Museum of Natural History (UAGRM), National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF) and the Aquatic Resources Research Center (CIRA-Beni Autonomous University).