The most important fishery resource in the Amazon, the migratory catfish Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), is composed by an unique and genetically diverse population in the Solimões-Amazonas River System

Migratory species are the most important commercial fishes in the Amazon. They are also now the most threatened directly by some combination of overfishing, floodplain deforestation, and dam construction. Limited governmental monitoring and implemented regulations impede adequate management of the fisheries at adequate scale. We summarize the current stock status of the three most heavily exploited long-distance migratory species, which are two goliath catfishes (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii and B. vaillantii) and the characiform Colossoma macropomum. In addition, we analyze impacts beyond overfishing on these species. Our results indicate: (i) the overfishing trends for these important species are either ominous or indicate the verge of collapse of the commercial fisheries based on them, and (ii) a dangerous synergy between overfishing, hydroelectric dams, and floodplain deforestation further challenge fisheries management of migratory species in the Amazon. We propose eight direct governmental actions as a proactive approach that addresses the main impacts on the fisheries. We consider that the most practical way to assess and manage overfishing of migratory species in the short run in an area as large as the main commercial fishing area in the Amazon is at market sites where enforced regulations can control fish catch. The management of the three species considered here has implications beyond just their sustainability. Their management would represent a paradigm shift where the governments assume their legal responsibilities in fishery management. These responsibilities include regulation enforcement, data collecting, inter-jurisdictional cooperation to protect migratory species at realistic life history scales, mitigation of the Madeira dams to assure goliath catfish passage to the largest western headwater region, and recognition of monitoring and managing wetland deforestation for the protection of fish and other aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.

show abstract

“…To date, a single stock of B . vaillantii has been identified in the Amazon Basin [ 11 ]. Genetic studies of B .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proactively averting the collapse of Amazon fisheries based on three migratory flagship species

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Harnessing population genetics has also disentangled the spatial scale at which migrations occur. Highly migratory species are associated with poor genetic structure, although some research has identified discrete populations among some of the longest migrants, such as Dourada ( Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii , Pimelodidae) (Carvajal‐Vallejos et al., 2014) and Piramutaba ( Brachyplatystoma vaillantii , Pimelodidae) (Formiga et al., 2021).…”

Section: Challenges and Opportunities For Advancing The Study Of Fish...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A synthesis of the diversity of freshwater fish migrations in the Amazon basin

Herrera‐R,

Heilpern,

Couto

et al. 2023

Fish and Fisheries

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the Amazon, the world's largest river basin, migrations within freshwater habitats are one of the predominant life history strategies for fishes. The flood pulse and the extensive river network provide aquatic organisms with temporal and spatial accessibility to a mosaic of freshwater habitats. Although migratory fish species are central to freshwater ecosystems and fisheries, the knowledge of species and migratory patterns has traditionally relied on anecdotal and scattered information, lacking a unifying methodological and conceptual framework. We quantitatively synthesize the evidence about this biological phenomenom in the Amazon basin through a systematic literature review. We constructed a reference database of migratory events in the Amazon basin, including species, life stages, purposes, direction, habitats and subbasins. We found that 223 species were documented in 90 references as performing migrations distributed across eight orders and 31 families. Migration is a conserved trait in the evolutionary history of Amazonian fish fauna, suggesting that ~41% of migratory species are likely unreported. We noted a geographical bias in the report of migratory events towards 13 of the 27 major subbasins of the Amazon. We found a significant association between the hydrological timing at the beginning and end of migrations across species, including reproduction as the most commonly reported purpose. However, most species lack the application of robust methods (e.g. telemetry, otolith microchemistry) to classify them as migratory, relying upon secondary sources of information (i.e. reviews or species checklists). Further, we discuss future opportunities and challenges to continue the study of fish migrations in the Amazon basin.

show abstract

“…Te ecological function of the Siluriform order, more specifcally from the Pimelodidae family, and their inter-or intraspecifc interactions are fundamental for environmental balance [7][8][9]. Also known as "catfsh," they are responsible for dispersing seeds throughout the basin through zoochory, evidencing the important ecological role played by aquatic biota when using the fooded forests as habitat and source of food [10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Migratory Catfish Production from Artisanal Fishing in the Middle Madeira Sub-Basin Using New Monitoring Methods, Southwestern Amazon

Lourenço,

Pelegrini,

Nahum

et al. 2024

Journal of Applied Ichthyology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Studies on the production of Pimelodidae catfish in the Amazon are generally carried out in large fishing centers. However, the data referring to small-scale fisheries have gaps that can represent a risk to the activity. This study evaluated the volume produced and the revenue obtained from migratory catfish of the Pimelodidae family of commercial interest landed in Humaitá, Amazonas, Brazil, from May 2018 to April 2019. Daily monitoring was carried out with the Z-31 Fishermen’s Colony through questionnaires to fishermen for each vessel docked. The total production was 6013.93 kg, with 1,689 fish counted and 13 species. A total of 186 landings by 122 fishermen in 24 fishing sites characterized as rivers, lakes, and “igarapés” were evaluated. The average selling price was R$5.57/kg, and the highest volumes were obtained from July to September, mainly with gillnets, where the “Surubim” Pseudoplatystoma punticfer had the highest volume and revenue. Low productivity was verified in most localities, characterizing the fishing as artisanal. The lack of adequate conditions for storing and transporting fish, the local hydrological variations, and the presence of hydroelectric plants on the Madeira River are major factors limiting the fishing expansion in southern Amazonas.

show abstract

The most important fishery resource in the Amazon, the migratory catfish Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), is composed by an unique and genetically diverse population in the Solimões-Amazonas River System

Cited by 6 publications

References 44 publications

Proactively averting the collapse of Amazon fisheries based on three migratory flagship species

Proactively averting the collapse of Amazon fisheries based on three migratory flagship species

A synthesis of the diversity of freshwater fish migrations in the Amazon basin

Analysis of Migratory Catfish Production from Artisanal Fishing in the Middle Madeira Sub-Basin Using New Monitoring Methods, Southwestern Amazon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About