Local knowledge guides rediscovery of spinach pipefish, not seen in four decades

Researchers led by Jerrica Agebido spent nearly two weeks searching Papua New Guinea's Sepik River for the spinach pipefish, unseen by scientists since 1985 and listed among the world's most-wanted 'lost' freshwater fish.

After the expedition nearly ended in failure, local fisherwoman Helen Asu caught two specimens using a traditional hand net while fishing for prawns, and ichthyologist Gerald Allen confirmed the identification.

Local communities, particularly women who regularly fish the vegetated riverbanks, turned out to hold detailed ecological knowledge about the pipefish's habitat that had eluded formal science for forty years.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.