Tambaqui está ameaçado de extinção? Entenda classificação do peixe típico da Amazônia

Why was tambaqui classified as vulnerable? ICMBio points out that tambaqui occurs naturally in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, occurring in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil. In Brazilian territory, it is natural in the floodplains of the Amazon River, including the states of Acre, Rondônia and Amazonas. The ICMBio record shows that tambaqui shows a declining population trend. The document presents population analyzes made with Ibama data and projections for the species. One of the analyzes presented in the form projects a global population reduction of 43.4% in three generational periods. The document also informs that the generational time of tambaqui was estimated at 22 years. Among the threats recorded in the form is the use of biological resources, specifically fishing and the use of aquatic resources. The document informs that Colossoma macropomum is a species widely used in fish farming and in commercial and subsistence fishing. The tambaqui was once among the ten most exploited fish species in the Amazon region. The ICMBio file states that almost the entire supply of tambaquis in markets, markets and slaughterhouses in Manaus is made up of specimens from fish farming. Giant tambaqui attracts attention at a fair in Amazonas; expert says the fish is rare Tambaqui already had a risk classification. The agency's record records that, in the national assessment carried out in 2014, the tambaqui was classified as Near Threatened (NT). The history of the evaluation process informs that, in the previous evaluation, factors such as the presence of the species in protected areas and the abundant supply of specimens from fish farming were considered to mitigate the risk of extinction of the species in the short period. In the new assessment, however, the document states that, although these factors were considered in the analyses, there was no understanding that they could mitigate the risk of extinction, according to the information considered in the study. Tambaqui production. Raquel Maia/Amazônia Agro/Rede Amazônica ‘It’s another warning for the species’, says professor and biologist For professor and biologist Edinbergh Caldas de Oliveira, it is not yet possible to indicate specific locations where there would be a reduction in the number of tambaquis in nature. According to him, there is not enough statistical data on fishing or on the volume of tambaqui landings from rivers. The expert explains that the assessment mainly considered areas that are not protected by law, that is, that are not part of federal and state Conservation Units (UCs) or protected reserves. According to him, these areas correspond to around 40% of the Amazon territory. Therefore, Edinbergh considers the classification as another warning for the species. He states that there is still not enough data to determine a ban or a complete release of tambaqui fishing. “We don’t have population studies for the basin as a whole and, with the increasingly severe droughts in the rivers and global warming, we have to plan fishing in the basin with more detailed research and by area,” he stated. According to the professor, there is still a period of 180 days for management plans related to fishing in these areas outside the closed season to be adjusted. He also reinforced that the ordinance still needs to undergo adjustments. “The ordinance will take time to be adjusted,” he stated. What does ICMBio recommend? Among the conservation actions recorded in the form is the recommendation for a temporary five-year suspension of commercial tambaqui fishing in the Brazilian Amazon, followed by complementary management measures. The document also mentions the maintenance of measures related to minimum size and closed season.