The trans-Himalayan region encompasses a number of countries situated in the midland and highland areas of the Himalayas, Karakoram and, in a broad sense also, in Hindu Kush and Pamir. The mountains are characterized by a very low level of human development, with full exploitation or overexploitation of the natural resources. Fisheries play an important role in providing food and income to the mountain people. This volume contains contributions presented at a Symposium on Cold Water Fishes of the Trans-Himalayan Region, held in July 2001 in Nepal. The Symposium reviewed information, experiences, ideas and findings related to fish and fisheries in the region. Special attention was given to fish species distribution, fishing intensity, socio-economic conditions and livelihoods of fisher communities, as well as to the impacts of environment degradation, conservation measures and aquaculture technologies on indigenous and exotic cold water fish. The Symposium highlighted the role of fisheries in providing food and income to people within the trans-Himalayas and Karakoram. Recognizing the need to increase the role of aquatic resources in poverty alleviation, the Symposium urged national governments to give greater attention to fisheries development in mountain areas