December 23, 2010
Peru's Amazon region increases production six-fold through aquaculture
Production of fish in the Peruvian Amazon for the past five years has increased six-fold, while fish consumption increased by over 300%, according to a report by the Institute for Amazonian Research (IIAP).
The development of aquaculture was the main cause for this substantial growth in production, which increased from 2.5 million fish five years ago to a total of over 15 million fish this year.
Luis Campos, president of the IIAP, predicts that, "In the coming years, production can easily increase to 60 million fish per year due to the development of new investment in the country's Amazon region," he said.
The main species produced in the region are: Gamitada, paco, boquichico, tilapia, yaraquÃ, carp, sabalo, and paiche.
The head of IIAP also reported that per capita consumption of fish in the Peruvian Amazon rose by nine kilogrammes in the last five years, rising from an annual average of four kilogrammes to 13 kilogrammes.
Also, Campos stressed that all fish offered in the regions of San MartÃn, Ucayali, and Loreto, comes from aquaculture, so that the impact on rivers and lakes of the Amazon is reduced.
The institute is an agency of the Ministry of Environment (Minam) that currently is dedicated to the development of aquaculture and restocking of water bodies with the participation of indigenous communities, Campos said.
The influence of the IIAP covers an area of 70% of the country, and has managed to produce 17 million seeds from the Amazon and tropical fish which has solved the food problem in indigenous communities.
The funds that finance the IIAP projects come from the international cooperation of the EU and from Treasury resources.
