Pd/a Crsp Seventeenth Annual Technical Report

The Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana (IIAP) is the leading governmental organization working in aquaculture and fisheries research in the Peruvian Amazon region. In addition, IIAP produces fingerlings, offers training courses, and works with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) endeavoring to promote fish culture. This report summarizes fieldwork and survey results from rural communities in the Iquitos area of the Amazon served by NGOs assisted by IIAP. The researchers visited rural communities and interviewed fish farmers, community residents, and public and private agency officials to discover the strategies and approaches to small-scale, community-based aquaculture employed in the Peruvian Amazon. Subsequently, data were collected from a sample of 146 practicing fish farmers in the Napo, Tamishiyacu, and Tahuayo river systems areas north and south of Iquitos, as well as in the Iquitos-Nauta Road area directly south of the city. Fish farmers were identified in selected communities provided technical assistance in aquaculture by CARE/Peru and several other nongovernmental organizations. Results portray the species cultured, marketing strategies employed, and the perceived impact of fish culture on families and farming systems. The data show that fish farmers are in an advantageous situation for fish culture. They encounter few barriers to building ponds, obtaining fingerlings, feeding their fish, or marketing the product. Fruits and other forest-based fish foods are widely available to support extensive production systems. A number of NGOs are providing regular farm visits and advice on fish culture. The natural cycle of the Amazonian river systems ensures a market period of relatively high prices for farm-reared fish. Additional attention is needed on identifying and communicating production practices that will reduce risk and enhance the benefits of aquaculture. SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL TECHNICAL REPORT 140 species deserving of special attention, it is the first species about which enough is known to both manage wild stocks and develop aquaculture.