The Arapaima gigas, also known as the Amazonian arapaima or the giant fish of the Amazon, is a colossal creature with remarkable abilities that has been overfished but is now making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts.
In the realm of fish, the Arapaima, or Amazonian arapaima, possesses quite extraordinary capabilities. Residing in the Amazon River basin, it is one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world, capable of reaching lengths of up to 3 meters and weighing as much as 200 kilograms.
This species breathes air, which allows it to thrive in oxygen-poor waters and survive for a day without water. They primarily feed on fish but also consume birds, reptiles, and small mammals. The arapaima crushes its prey with its tooth-filled tongue.
Evolution has not only gifted this fish with a formidable jaw but also a tough, armor-like scale that researchers liken to a bulletproof vest. These scales protect it from attacks by piranhas.
Sturdy yet flexible and resilient, the characteristics of the arapaima have even caught the attention of the U.S. Air Force.
While the arapaima is a dominant predator in the animal kingdom, it has a fatal flaw: it is delicious. Locally known as Pirarucu, it is referred to as “the cod of the Amazon” due to its firm, low-bone meat. The fish serves as a vital food source for local communities and is highly prized among food enthusiasts in some of Brazil’s largest cities.
A fisherman loading an arapaima onto a boat in the western Amazon near Volta do Bucho in the Ituxi reserve on September 20, 2019. (Photo: CNN).
Overfishing has led to a drastic decline in arapaima populations, and protective measures, including a ban on hunting the fish, have been implemented since the 1990s. However, illegal fishing continues, causing this species to vanish entirely from some areas of the Amazon.
Fortunately, thanks to two decades of efforts from wildlife conservationists and local residents, the situation is improving, according to CNN.
Moreover, the arapaima is not disappearing from menus. In fact, the consumption of arapaima is essential, aligning with the conservation model for this species. This means that Brazilian communities can continue to enjoy this fish.
Saving the Giant “Water Monster”
Currently, fishing for arapaima is banned in Brazil, except in selected areas managed by the local community, explains João Campos-Silva, a Brazilian environmentalist. Campos-Silva works with Institutio Juruá, an organization collaborating with local residents and fishermen on sustainable fishing practices to revive the species.
During the wet season, arapaima spend all their time moving through flooded forests where they spawn, returning to lake areas when water levels drop.
A program focused on the Juruá River and surrounding lakes in northern Amazonas, Brazil, implemented by Institutio Juruá over a decade ago, investigates annual population numbers and calculates sustainable catch limits for each season in the coming years (not exceeding 30% of the adult population, as dictated by the government).
Local communities guard the entrances to the lake areas year-round to protect them from illegal poachers. Fishing is only allowed from mid-August to November, and any fish smaller than 1.55 meters must be returned to the water.
João Campos Silva on the Amazonas River, Brazil. (Photo: CNN).
Francisco das Chagas Melo de Araújo, known as Seu Preto, is a community leader from Xibauazinho, one of the first areas to implement the conservation plan.
“Before the control measures for arapaima, we had no authority to protect this lake area. Commercial fishermen came in and wiped out this species,” he explains. “Our lakes were completely depleted, and arapaima were concluded to be extinct in the lake.”
After about 11 years of management, he states that there are now over 4,000 arapaima in the lakes in the area.
Research by Campos-Silva on the lakes around the Juruá River during the same period shows that the arapaima population has increased nearly fourfold. With the growing number of individuals, arapaima have migrated to new lakes, expanding their habitat. He predicts that there are now about 330,000 individuals living in over 1,358 lakes across 35 managed conservation areas, with more than 400 local communities responsible for management.
Income from the fisheries is “helping contribute to society,” he states. Investments in building schools and infrastructure, social security, and health care have increased, along with efforts to combat gender discrimination.
Francisco das Chagas Melo de Araújo, also known as Seu Preto (left back), a community leader from Amazonas, with an arapaima caught according to the plan. (Photo: CNN).
“Helping the community become stronger”
Raimunda Pires de Araújo, Seu Preto’s daughter, mentions that she used to have no source of income. Now she is responsible for processing and cleaning the caught fish and earns income from this work. “These fortunate opportunities have arisen, giving us more confidence to fight for a better life,” she states.
“Our work is recognized nationally and internationally, making us feel proud and honored to receive recognition and respect from the community and other organizations,” her father adds. “Now we have the opportunity to help other communities become more confident and stronger.”
What about the message regarding illegal fishing? “Work more organized and improved.”
Preto advises illegal fishermen to join legal fishing programs and begin conservation hunting: “The greatest pride you will have is fishing in a way that no one else can take away from you.”
Campos-Silva hopes that the positive outcomes of the conservation program will encourage more communities to participate and help protect the wild environment of the Amazon.
“We are facing a severe decline in vertebrate populations,” he states. “We have many positive results and promise that we can achieve this.”
