The librarian Victor Clarke explained that the collection is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere with 2,500 journal titles in its holdings of which 400 are current. In addition to paid subscriptions this library has worked hard over the years to build up an exchange programme through which it receives in excess of 240 titles and NISC donates almost 100 titles every year. This year Victor Clarke has already handled the requests of about 100 outsiders worldwide. The Institute and DIFS are playing a growing role in research in African Ichthyology, fisheries and aquaculture. Africa is rich in fishery resources both freshwater and marine.
Fish offer a high protein food source for the food deficit countries of Africa.
This library is ideally placed to offer the much needed information service to the Continent to promote fisheries development.