Join this deep dive into the incredible underwater world of freshwater ecology following the amazing scientist, fish geek and conservationist Joe Cutler. This font of fishy knowledge is an ichthyologist and conservation biologist who studies fish throughout the world, particularly in Africa. His work with The Wilderness Project documents freshwater biodiversity, assesses ecosystem health, advises governments and leads major river expeditions across the remotest parts of Africa.

So get your lines in the water, ready your holding tanks and be fascinated by this rare glimpse into the murky realm of fast-moving story telling on this watery exploration of all things fascinatingly fishy with National Geographic writers Jeffrey Barbee and Laurel Neme on The Wildlife Podcast.

Get involved:

The Wilderness Project (Africa)

Support the freshwater science behind the episode. The team surveyed Africa's Okavango, Zambezi, Nile and Congo basins, the river systems that supply freshwater to nearly half a billion people, to build the ecological baselines needed to protect them. Site: https://www.thewildernessproject.org/

Give: https://www.thewildernessproject.org/?form=giving

American Rivers (US)

Help protect and restore rivers across the country. The organisation has been directly involved in over 200 dam removals and works to reconnect floodplains and safeguard clean water for people and wildlife. Give: https://www.americanrivers.org/donate

World Fish Migration Foundation (Europe)

Fund the fight for migratory fish and free-flowing rivers. Based in the Netherlands, the foundation works worldwide to restore river connections so migrating fish can reach feeding and breeding grounds. Their get-involved page also lists volunteering and citizen-science options. Get involved: https://worldfishmigrationfoundation.com/get-involved/

The Rivers Trust (Europe)

Support river recovery across the UK and Ireland. The Rivers Trust is an umbrella body for around 60 member trusts working to protect and enhance freshwater ecosystems for people and wildlife. Give: https://support.theriverstrust.org/donate/donate

The Wildlife Podcast is directed and edited by Jeffrey Barbee and produced by Laurel Neme and Jeffrey Barbee.

Find out more on our websites: www.laurelneme.com and www.jeffreybarbee.com

The podcast is supported by the US-based nonprofit www.allianceearth.org

Our theme music was produced just for our show by the amazing Joey Morra, please check out his website at: www.joeymorra.com