1. Biotelemetry - remote measurement of biological variables - is a vital tool in order to quickly obtain information on the biology of fish in the natural environment, as shown by the growing number of studies which being undertaken using this technique in Europe and North America. It has been applied much less to tropical freshwater fish species, mainly because its potential is poorly known and there is a lack of specialized training in this field. The idea of diffusing information on biotelemetry to ichthyologists and fisheries managers in tropical areas arose as soon as discussions between Vincent Bénech (IRD) and Gerd Marmulla (FAO) began in 1997. This idea was presented to the European biotelemetrist community in a paper given at the third Fish Telemetry Conference in Norwich in June 1999, which was followed by a mini-workshop attended by E. Baras (ULg, Belgium), V. Bénech (IRD, France), M. Gerlier (Rhine Salmon Association, France), T.G. Heggberget (NINA - Trondheim), G. Marmulla (FAO) and V. Thorsteinsson (HAFRO, Iceland). This mini-workshop identified the need to disseminate information on biotelemetry in a more detailed and concrete way, linking theory to practice within a more structured training framework.
2. In this way, the idea of this pilot workshop on aquatic biotelemetry applied to fisheries management in tropical areas was born. The importance of inland fisheries in Western Africa, together with IRD experience in tropical ichthyology and fish radio-tracking in this region, provided the fishery interest and the logistics which were essential for the organization of this pilot workshop. The River Niger basin, and especially the Malian part of the basin, was an ideal host. The idea was given further shape when, through IRD-ODRS-IER contacts, the site of Sélingué was proposed as a venue for the workshop. Sélingué is one of the main reservoir lakes and fishery sites in Mali and the choice appeared all the more judicious in that it offered all the facilities required for conference organization, experimentation on cultured fish as well as the hosting of participants.
3. Following these contacts and during the visit of G. Marmulla to Mali in March 2000, the structure of the workshop became clearer. It was finalized in scientific, logistic and financial terms during a meeting between E. Baras, V. Bénech and G. Marmulla held on 19 April 2000 at IRD headquarters in Paris. During the following months, potential participants were contacted informally whilst each organizer carried out the tasks that they had been given. The final coordination meeting took place in the Aquaculture Station of Liège University in Tihange in November 2000. It was then that it was thought necessary for the participants to be able to access the information given during the workshop in a more structured and especially a more permanent way. A first draft of a handbook of aquatic biotelemetry followed, written in French for this first workshop. The three years of planning and ten months of intensive preparation necessary for this pilot workshop resonate throughout this report.
