Amazonian Fisheries: Socio Economic Issues and Management Implications

Over the last three decades, the demand for fish in the Amazon basin has greatly increased due to population growth in the main cities of the region. While technological improvements in commercial fishing methods have made it possible to meet this growing demand, they have led to concerns about the possible extinction of certain fish species and to conflicts over the resource between commercial fishermen and rural communities. This study reviews the current state of inland fisheries in the Amazon in order to analyse policy options for fisheries management, and identifies key gaps in information on the economic, social and biological aspects of fisheries which constrain policymakers.