Two years of records drought have dealt a major blow to what is arguably the Amazon’s most successful sustainable economy: the managed fishing of the giant pirarucu.
In the Brazilian state of Amazonas, nearly 6,000 local residents authorized to fish reported a sharp drop in production and rising costs. They are calling for help from the federal government and debating how to adapt to the situation. climate change.
Last year’s catch totaled 70% of the government’s authorized quota of 100,443 fish. This year, the decline could be even greater, as many communities have still been unable to fish. The season runs from June 1 to November 30.
Jorge Sáenz / AP
Pirarucu-managed fishing began in the Amazon 25 years ago in the Mamiraua region and has since expanded. It helped the Amazon’s largest fish escape the risk of extinction and is now an important source of income for people in 10 sustainable conservation units and eight indigenous territories, where deforestation is close to zero.
Unlike other aquatic species in the Amazon, such as river dolphins, the pirarucu – also known as the 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 to cities.
It’s a mammoth task. The pirarucu, which can weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds), lives in large lakes which, during flood season, are often connected to large rivers. Fishing usually takes place when water levels begin to drop, making it easier to catch fish and transport them in small boats or canoes. However, in several areas, water levels dropped so quickly that this connection was cut off before fishing could begin.
In the community of São Raimundo, in the Medio Jurua region, fishing is expected to begin on Saturday, two months late – a common situation this season. As a result, Coletivo Pirarucu, an umbrella organization that represents 2,500 riverine and indigenous families, 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. It usually takes three to four days to transport the fish from the municipality of Carauari – a major producer of pirarucu – to Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon. At the height of the drought, journey times increased to 10 days and freight prices doubled.
As resilient as they are, pirarucu are not immune to climate change, according to researcher Adalberto Luis Val of the National Institute of Amazonian Research. He says rising temperatures and severe droughts are exacerbating the “deadly trifecta” 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 shortage. As its level drops, you start to get a large amount of suspended solids, leading to a buildup of sludge. It adheres to the gill area, blocking the processes occurring there.
Fearing a deterioration of conditions in the following decades, Coletivo Pirarucu believes that fishermen should be entitled to compensation for losses caused by climate change. “This crisis not only tests the resilience of communities, but also highlights the urgent need for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies,” the nonprofit said in an open letter last week.
In an email response, James Bessa, a federal official overseeing pirarucu management, said Ibama, Brazil’s environmental agency, was working with other public agencies and local fishing associations to reduce the impact of the events. extremes such as droughts and floods. He said there were plans to launch scientific studies and closer monitoring to provide information on ways to help riverine and indigenous communities maintain their fishing activities.
Adevaldo Dias – a riverside leader who chairs the Chico Mendes Memorial, a nonprofit that supports traditional, non-Indigenous communities – argues that adopting additional public policies to help fishermen is a matter of climate justice.
“Indigenous and riverine peoples have minimal impact on the environment,” Dias said. “We know that conserving the forest benefits both us and those who do not make a living from it. And when extreme weather events occur, they are the most vulnerable. »