The Project and the Fishing Value Chain

The value chain of fishing in the Amazon dates back to centuries of use of fishing resources by native peoples, as well as by the colonization ventures in the region. Currently, the growth of urban centers puts pressure on the production and commercialization of fishing resources, which are suffering from unrestrained exploitation. However, within conservation units, the sustainable extraction of fish stocks in rivers and lakes in the region stands out, where traditional knowledge and community organization are decisive factors.

In this context, the productive chain of fishing in the Middle Juruá region stands out through the management of arapaima (Arapaima gigas). This has enabled those involved in this activity to increase their earnings and purchasing power, while protecting fish stocks. Pirarucu fishing takes place during the ebb tide of the Juruá river. Its operation and logistics involve complex planning with many steps, it requires a continuous surveillance process, high cost and many people.

Hundreds of kilometers separate the Middle Juruá region from the city of Manaus, however, these challenges are faced and overcome through the action of community organizations in the region, such as the Association of Rural Producers of Carauari (ASPROC), the Association of Residents Extractivists from the Uacari Reserve (AMARU), among others.

The existing fishing value chain in conservation units closer to Manaus, as is the case in the RDS region of Rio Negro, has other characteristics. The recognized traditional standby fishing for jaraqui (Semaprochilodus) and matrinxã (Brycon) involves the commitment of a large group of residents of the communities involved in the activity, who organize themselves during the flooding of the Rio Negro to carry out this activity. In addition, it is important to highlight associated cultural aspects, such as the formation of the so-called “lanços”, which are spaces where fishing takes place and which, in some places, are more than 50 years old, according to residents of the region.