Got questions about Gadus morhua? Atlantic cod? Cod?
environmentoceanmarine researchatlantic codfishbase
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Cod (c) I. Oelrichs
FishBase, the world's largest information database, has the answers More than half a million visitors are registered on the world's largest
information portal about fish species every month. Researchers, as well
as the interested layperson, have been using the portal since 1998,
which covers more than 33,000 species, with more than 300,000 names and
almost 60,000 images. The initiative, which is supported by an
international team, was launched by Kiel marine researchers 28 years
ago.
Do you want to know where Gadus morhua can be found? Fret not, if the
name is unfamiliar, as it is the scientific name for Atlantic cod.
Whether you are doing a search using the scientific or common name, the
results you get will give you comprehensive information about the
species. All this information – on as many as more than 33,000 species
– are stored in the world's largest database for fish species. The
foundation for this internet encyclopaedia was laid 28 years ago at the
Kiel Institute for Oceanography, now known as GEOMAR Helmholtz Center
for Ocean Research Kiel.
The nucleus of FishBase was a scientific project, " explained marine
biologist Dr Rainer Froese in German. Hailing from GEOMAR, he is one of
the founding fathers of the project. The origins of FishBase date back
to the 1980s, with the first CD version produced in 1995, and the first
edition of the FishBase database going online in 1998. We started with
15,000 species at the time and had about 2,000 visitors per month,
mainly from the scientific fields, " Froese continued.
The portal was constantly being expanded by the addition of new
species, and new information and images based on the latest scientific
knowledge. Today, the main users of the portal are not just scientists.
Be it aquarists, anglers, divers, pupils, students, journalists or
fish enthusiasts; FishBase is used by everyone, " said Dr Froese. Since
2000, FishBase is being managed by an international consortium, which
includes GEOMAR. The data is entered by a team of specialists based in
the Philippines, with the support of scientists worldwide. There are
now more than 20 language versions – evidence of the platform's global
use.
What is the future of FishBase? Every year, several hundred new fish
species are discovered, and numerous studies are published, so there is
no lack of work. It would be desirable to have a new user interface for
mobile devices, " said Dr Froese. This, however, is not possible due to
the resources available, as FishBase is funded mainly by research
projects and donations.
In terms of its reputation among the scientific community, FishBase has
nothing to worry about. In early 2017, it ranks fourth in a list of
specialist references in the field of fish and fishery that were most
often cited.
See here for more information
