Title : Conservation through sustainable breeding of ornamental fishes
Abstract:
The Amazon Basin is one of the world’s most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems, harboring more than 3,000 fish species and supporting a significant international ornamental fish trade. In the Peruvian Amazon, the capture and export of native ornamental fishes provide an important source of income for local communities. However, increasing exploitation of wild stocks, habitat degradation, invasive species, prolonged droughts, and overharvesting threaten both aquatic biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on these resources. Sustainable aquaculture may provide an alternative source of ornamental fishes while reducing pressure on wild populations.
This study evaluated the feasibility of community-based breeding of Apistogramma sp. ‘Alto Tapiche’ (Cichlidae), a commercially valuable ornamental fish native to the Peruvian Amazon. As a proof-of-concept, breeding pairs were stocked in 2 × 2 × 1 m earthen ponds and maintained under semi-natural conditions without supplemental feeding for six months. Reproductive success and survival were assessed at the end of the rearing period.
Approximately 200 individuals per pond, ranging from juveniles to adults, were recovered after six months, demonstrating successful reproduction and survival under low-input aquaculture conditions. These results indicate that Apistogramma sp. ‘Alto Tapiche’ can be successfully bred in small-scale earthen ponds with minimal management inputs.
Community-based ornamental fish aquaculture represents a promising strategy for reducing dependence on wild-caught stocks while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. Expanding such breeding programs could contribute to the conservation of native fish biodiversity and strengthen the socioeconomic resilience of communities participating in the ornamental fish trade in the Peruvian Amazon.
