Eco-Amazon Piabas of Rio NegroCreating a sustainable and fair trade ornamental fishery



The project aims to safeguard traditional ornamental fisheries in the Amazon in a sustainable way by stimulating a niche market. Through a socially and environmentally responsible fishery cooperative and traders, the initiative introduces a fair trade system for rural communities. A cooperative will supply tropical fish hobbyists with Amazon fish that carry a green label which indicates that the fish was sourced in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. It will also include a geographic origin indication. This promotes an international ‘green’ ornamental fish industry and the conservation of the Amazon. Eco-Amazon, together with the cooperative, not only explores greater varieties of target species to meet the market demand but also reduces fishing pressure on traditional species.
The project initially targets the Asian market but aims to expand to the worldwide fish market.
Partners
Project Piaba of Bio-Amazonia Conservation International and Universidade Federal do Amazonas studied the bio-ecology and socio-economic aspects of the fishery for 20 years, which is the basis of this project.
ORNAPESCA is a fish collectors’ cooperative of Rio Negroestablished to voice and act on a fair trade system.
Aquafish and Aquário Neon are two medium-sized exporters, who have worked with Project Piabato develop a market with partner distributor Auaproject-Taiwan.