Cadaveric ichthyofauna of the Madeira River in the Amazon basin: the myth of man-eating piranhas

Valente-Aguiar, Murilo Sérgio; Falcão, Ana Cecília; Magalhães, Thamires Naela Cardoso; Dinis-Oliveira, Ricardo Jorge

doi:10.1007/s12024-020-00221-8

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…High mercury concentrations in the blanquillo meat, often above the WHO-limit for safe consumption (0.5 mg/kg), were recorded in Colombia (Salinas et al 2014, Nuñez-Avellaneda et al 2014, Mosquera-Guerra et al 2017) and Brazil (Beltrán-Pedreros et al 2011. Although it is generally described as an omnivorous species (Garcia et al 2016;Froese & Pauly 2019), blanquillo has distinct scavenger habits feeding on carcasses of other species (Pérez & Fabré 2009, Valente-Aguiar et al 2020, and thus might biomagnify mercury (Castro et al 2016). These findings were used as an argument to prohibit its capture or consumption in some Amazonian countries or regions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Bolivia, improved survey efforts during the last decade showed a clear trend towards increased landings of low-value mediumsized migratory species, mainly small characids and curimatids, supplying markets in the lowlands (Coca Méndez et al 2012, Argote Soliz et al 2017. Many of these species occupy lower positions in the food web than the traditional species, with an exception being Calophysus macropterus, or blanquillo, a short-lived siluriform species with omnivorous to scavenging habits (Pérez & Fabré 2009, Valente-Aguiar et al 2020. The fisheries of this small migratory species emerged in the Mamoré River basin, in the last decade, adapting fishing methods practiced in Brazil and Colombia, and was driven by the growing demand of the national market for lowpriced fish.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fisheries of the scavenger species Calophysus macropterus: a case study in the Bolivian Amazon

Damme¹

2023

NHAC

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Bolivian Amazon small-scale fisheries traditionally focus on large migratory fish species. However, in the last decade there has been a trend of increased landings of low-value medium-sized migratory species, such as blanquillo, Calophysus macropterus. This scavenger species is captured using chicken and bovine waste as bait, and occasionally carcasses from wild species. This study explores the boom of this specialized fishery in Puerto Villarroel, a small harbor on the Ichilo River, using a combination of historical landing data, fisheries statistics obtained by participatory fisheries monitoring, fish market studies and interviews with local key stakeholders. Additionally, mercury contamination of fish meat was evaluated. Blanquillo fishing started in 2008 and boomed around 2015, representing 30% of landings, after which it decreased to fluctuate around 15%. The capture and landing data suggest that this species is mainly captured by non- organized fishers. The market studies conducted between 2015 and 2018 in Cochabamba city and in lowland middle towns showed that on average more than 20% of consumption of Amazon river fish consisted of blanquillo meat. Mercury is accumulated in the muscle tissue at concentrations near the official limit established by WHO for human consumption, whereas in 15% of fish the concentrations exceeded this limit. The paper pieces together the evolution of the blanquillo fishery in Bolivia, and looks at different aspects, including the diversity of fishers involved, possible impacts on other vulnerable species and public health, and potential impacts and effectiveness of different public policy approaches. In conclusion, the present study shows there is an overall need for more consistent and inclusive fisheries regulations in the Bolivian Amazon, as a way to protect aquatic fauna, avoid environmental contamination and secure human health.

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