Globally, freshwater ecosystems provide varied fishing opportunities (herein termed inland fisheries) represented by three sectors: recreational, commercial and subsistence fisheries. From the depths of the Laurentian Great Lakes to the shallow floodplains of the Ganges River, and from under-ice fisheries in Scandinavia to the rice fields of Southeast Asia, fish and other aquatic life are omnipresent components of fluvial and lacustrine systems. Freshwater fishes generate many ecosystem services that extend beyond their use in fisheries (Holmlund & Hammer, 1999; Cowx & Portocarrereo, 2011). Given the diversity of freshwater fish assemblages, levels of fisheries productivity, cultural norms, density of human population and socioeconomic conditions, it is not surprising that there is immense variation in how, why and the extent to which freshwater fishes and other aquatic animals are exploited. Whether it be sustaining livelihoods through the provision of essential nutrients, generating income, or enabling leisure time with family, inland fisheries are important. Although there are accepted definitions for the three fishing sectors (i.e. UN FAO – see below), ambiguities and exceptions remain that complicate appraisal and management.