The consumption of fish by the riverine population of the lower Solimões River, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

The riverine population of the Amazon Basin are among the largest consumers of fish in the world, but the consumption patterns could be regionally distinct. Moreover, their total fish catches are not fully known. The objective of this work was to estimate the per capita fish consumption of the riverine people that inhabit the Paciência Island (Iranduba, Amazonas), where there is a fishing agreement in force. A total of 273 questionnaires were applied during the first two weeks of each month between April 2021 and March 2022. The sample unit was the residences. The questionnaire contained questions about the species captured and their quantities. Consumption was calculated by dividing the average monthly capture with the average number of residents per household interviewed, which was multiplied by the number of questionnaires applied. Thirty groups of consumed fish species belonging to 17 families and 5 orders were recorded. The total catch was 3,388.35 kg and the highest monthly catch was 602.60 kg during the falling-water season in October. Daily per capita fish consumption averaged 66.13 ± 29.21 g/day, with a peak of 116.45 g/day during the falling-water season in August. The high fish consumption rate highlighted the importance of fisheries management to food security and the maintenance of the community’s lifestyle.

FishDNAIDs: DNA barcoding as a tool in the development and validation in silico and in vitro of detection systems to four species of Characiformes of commercial importance in the Brazilian Amazon

“…In this sense, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) has regulated molecular biology methods as part of the industrial and sanitary inspection techniques of animal products, in order to be used in the compliance analysis of labels of processed foods in Brazil, through Decree 9.013 of 2017 and, thus, better detect frauds or substitution of species in commercial operations [10]. It is in this scenario that the DNA barcoding becomes an alternative among the molecular tools for the analysis of conformity of fish products [10][11][12], in addition to complementing other methodologies, such as the development of specific molecular detection system (SMDS) for qPCR assays with hydrolysis probe.…”

“…In addition, these species have commercial importance and are also important for local human populations. These four species represent around 40% of the total catch of 30 groups of fish reported for consumption by residents of the riverine communities of Paciência Island, with P. nigricans being the most caught [12]. Data from fisheries statistics corresponding to the year 2004 indicate that, of the total of 33,043 tons of fish landed, the four species represented around 17% of the total catch in the state of Amazonas [13].…”