Two years of record breaking drought have dealt a major blow to what is perhaps the Amazon’s most successful sustainable economy: the managed fishery for the giant pirarucu.
In the Brazilian state of Amazonas, nearly 6,000 river residents who are allowed to fish have reported a sharp decline in production and rising costs. They are demanding help from the federal government and discussing how to adapt climate change.
Last year’s catch totaled 70% of the government-approved quota of 100,443 fish. This year could see an even steeper decline as many communities have still not been able to fish. The season runs from June 1 to November 30.
Jorge Saenz / AP
Pirarucu’s managed fishery started 25 years ago in the Amazon in the Mamiraua region and has expanded since then. It helped the Amazon’s largest fish species escape the risk of extinction and is now an important source of income for local people in ten sustainable conservation units and eight indigenous areas, where deforestation is close to zero.
Unlike other Amazonian aquatic species such as river dolphins, the pirarucu – also known as arapaima – has historically proven resilient to drought and climate change. But low water levels make it extremely difficult for fishermen to transport their catch from remote lakes to major rivers and into cities.
It’s a Herculean task. The pirarucu, which can weigh up to 200 kilograms, lives in large lakes that are often connected to large rivers during the high season. Fishing usually occurs when the water level begins to drop, making it easier to catch the fish and transport them in small boats or canoes. However, in several areas the water level dropped so quickly that this connection was severed before fishing could take place.
In the São Raimundo community in the Medio Jurua region, fishing will start on Saturday, with a two-month delay – a common situation this season. As a result, Coletivo Pirarucu, an umbrella organization representing 2,500 riverine and indigenous families, has asked the federal government to extend the fishing season until the end of January.
Even in large rivers, navigation has become problematic, increasing costs and uncertainty among fishermen. Transporting fish from the municipality of Carauari – a major pirarucu producer – to Manaus, the Amazon’s largest city, typically takes three to four days. During the height of the drought, the journey was extended to ten days and the freight price doubled.
As strong as pirarucu are, they are not immune to climate change, said researcher Adalberto Luis Val of the National Institute for Amazonian Research. He says rising temperatures and severe droughts are exacerbating the ‘death trio’ for all fish: warmer water, more CO2 and less oxygen.
The pirarucu evolved to breathe air, but is far from invincible.
“No fish can regulate body temperature,” Val said. “Then there is the water scarcity. As the level drops, you get a large amount of suspended material, which leads to the build-up of silt. It sticks to the gill area and blocks the processes that take place there.”
Fearing worsening conditions in the coming decades, Coletivo Pirarucu argues that fishermen should be entitled to compensation for losses caused by climate change. “This crisis is not only testing the resilience of communities, but also highlighting the urgent need for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies,” the nonprofit said in an open letter last week.
In an emailed response, James Bessa, a federal official who oversees pirarucu management, said Ibama, Brazil’s environmental agency, is working with other government agencies and local fishing associations to reduce the impact of extreme events such as droughts and floods. He said there are plans to initiate scientific studies and closer monitoring to provide insight into ways to support riverine and indigenous communities in sustaining their fishing activities.
Adevaldo Dias — a river leader who heads the Chico Mendes Memorial, a nonprofit that supports traditional non-indigenous communities — argues that adopting additional government policies to help fishermen is a matter of climate justice.
“The indigenous and riverine peoples have minimal impact on the environment,” Dias said. “We know that conserving the forest benefits both us and those outside of it. And when extreme climate events occur, they are the most vulnerable.”
