Wiki Loves Fish: Bringing Coastal Biodiversity to the World Through Open Knowledge

Every morning, as fishing boats return to the Mangaluru coast, the harbour comes alive with activity. Hundreds of baskets filled with freshly landed marine fish are sorted, auctioned, and transported to markets across the region. Behind this vibrant scene lies an extraordinary diversity of edible fish species that supports the livelihoods of thousands of fishing families and forms an integral part of the coastal culture of Karnataka.

Surprisingly, many of these commonly consumed fish species had little or no visual representation on Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. Although they are familiar to local communities, they remained largely invisible in one of the world’s largest free knowledge repositories. This realization inspired the creation of Wiki Loves Fish: A Wikimedia microproject that combines scientific documentation, community participation, and open knowledge to preserve and share the rich marine biodiversity of Mangaluru with the world.

The Team Behind the Initiative

Wiki Loves Fish was conceptualized and led by Dr. Hariprasad Shetty, with Mr. Santhosh Notagar serving as the project co-lead. The scientific identification and validation of every documented fish species were carried out by Ichthyologist Mr. Glavin Thomas Rodrigues, ensuring that all information uploaded to Wikimedia platforms was taxonomically accurate and scientifically reliable.

Taking Learning Beyond the Classroom

Rather than limiting learning to lectures and laboratory sessions, the project transformed the Mangaluru Fishing Harbour into a living classroom.

In collaboration with the Hydrobiology Unit, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, a two-day field documentation programme was organized on 17–18 February 2026. A total of 82 undergraduate students participated in the programme, with 42 students on the first day and 40 students on the second.

Photo walk – Wiki Loves Fish

As students walked through the busy harbour, they observed the incredible diversity of marine fishes being landed by fishing boats. More importantly, they interacted directly with fisherwomen, fish vendors, and local fishing communities, learning the traditional names of fishes, their local uses, market value, and cultural importance. These conversations bridged scientific knowledge with generations of traditional ecological wisdom, making the learning experience both meaningful and memorable.

Guided by the project team, students carefully selected and purchased fish specimens from the harbour for photographic documentation. While larger fishes were photographed at the fishing harbour itself, most of the smaller species were brought to the laboratory, where they were examined closely and photographed from multiple angles under controlled conditions. Particular attention was given to distinctive morphological characters essential for accurate scientific identification. What initially appeared to be a simple photography exercise gradually evolved into an engaging learning experience in fish taxonomy, biodiversity documentation, and scientific observation.

For many students, it was their first experience of contributing to a real-world scientific documentation project while simultaneously creating resources that would benefit millions of Wikimedia users worldwide.

From Fishing Harbour to Wikimedia

Back in the laboratory, the majority of the smaller fish specimens were purchased from the harbour and brought to the laboratory for detailed examination and high-quality photographic documentation. Species were identified using standard taxonomic references, validated by the project’s ichthyologist, and assigned the correct scientific names before being prepared for upload.

Participants then attended hands-on Wikimedia training sessions where they learned how to upload photographs to Wikimedia Commons, add accurate descriptions, include taxonomic metadata, categorize images appropriately, and apply free licenses. They also learned how to improve Wikipedia articles by incorporating the newly documented images and reliable scientific information.

This workflow transformed a single field photograph into a valuable educational resource that can now be freely used by students, teachers, researchers, conservationists, and the general public around the world.

Celebrating Community Contributions

To recognize the enthusiasm and dedication of the participants, a prize distribution ceremony was organized on 30 April 2026 at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru.

Outstanding contributors were honoured with certificates and prizes for their exceptional photographic documentation and Wikimedia contributions. Beyond celebrating achievements, the event encouraged students to continue participating in citizen science initiatives and contributing to open knowledge platforms.

What We Achieved

Although conducted as a microproject, Wiki Loves Fish generated significant outcomes within a short period.

• 33 edible marine fish species from the Mangaluru coast were scientifically identified and documented.
• High-quality scientific photographs of all 33 species were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under free licenses.
• 33 English Wikipedia articles were enhanced with scientifically accurate images.
• 13 Kannada Wikipedia articles were created or substantially improved.
• 13 Tulu Wikipedia articles were created or expanded, making biodiversity knowledge available in regional languages.
• 22 high-quality taxonomic photographs were uploaded to Wikispecies, strengthening freely accessible species documentation.

More Than a Documentation Project

Wiki Loves Fish demonstrated that documenting biodiversity is not only about taking photographs; it is about preserving knowledge, connecting people, and making science accessible.

The project brought together university students, scientists, Wikimedia volunteers, and members of the local fishing community in a shared effort to document coastal biodiversity. Students gained practical experience in taxonomy, field biology, photography, scientific documentation, and Wikimedia editing, while local ecological knowledge was respectfully recorded and shared with a global audience.

Most importantly, the project showed how even a small community initiative can make a lasting contribution to open knowledge. Every photograph uploaded, every Wikipedia article improved, and every species accurately documented helps preserve the biological heritage of India’s coastline for future generations.

Wiki Loves Fish stands as a model for how universities, scientific experts, local communities, and the Wikimedia movement can work together to transform field-based learning into freely accessible knowledge, ensuring that the rich marine biodiversity of Mangaluru reaches not only local markets but also the screens of learners, researchers, and readers across the world.

Read more

• Wiki Loves Fish on Meta-Wiki