Problems and prospects

Abstract

The way in which the fisheries of the Rio Madeira valley will be used or abused will depend, in large part, on decisions made within the broader framework of the economic development of the Amazon basin. Of most importance will be the degree to which the floodplains are deforested for agricultural schemes; large-scale deforestation would probably destroy the fisheries as they are presently known. Other economic decisions that will affect the fisheries will be: the need, as perceived by the Brazilian and Bolivian governments, for large dams to supply badly needed energy to a region that is booming in population and paying high thermoelectric bills; the future availability of alternative animal protein sources for the growing urban centers, and; the ability of authorities to implement a workable management program under tight budgets in a region that is characterized by a high rate of illiteracy, poverty but rising expectations, and serious malnutrition. In view of the above points, the main purpose here is to summarize what is known about the natural history of the fisheries so that these conclusions are at least available for weighing against those future programs that might affect the piscine resource in a negative way.