Belo Monte and the local dependency on ornamental fish

[Baron Ätzmolch]

Belo Monte and the local dependency on ornamental fish
Rosa Diemont

Abstract:
Over the past view years there has been a lot of commotion about the construction of hydroelectric dam Belo Monte in the Xingu River in the state of Pará, Brazil. National and international opposition fear for the consequences for nature and people living in the Xingu region, when this dam starts functioning. An important extractive economic activity of the Middle Xingu region is the collection of ornamental fish species. For this research the impact of hydroelectric dam Belo Monte on the five most important ornamental fish species for local fishermen, local fishermen self, and local traders of the Middle Xingu region is examined. For this research interviews and participatory research methods were used at two study locations: the city of Altamira and indigenous village Muratu in Terra Indigena da Paquiçamba Volta Grande of the Xingu River.

The impact of the dam on the five most important fish species for local fishermen seems negative. Acari Zebra (Hypancistrus zebra) is likely to go extinct as it is endemic to the area which is most affected by the dam.Acari Boi de Botas (Panaque nigrolineatus, Panaque armbrusteri 'xingu'), Acari Picota de Ouro (Scobinancistrus aureatus), Acari Amareli (Baryancistrus xantellus), and Acari Assacú Pirarara (Pseudacanthicus sp. "vermelho") will probably decrease in abundance in the Big Bend area. It is likely that these species will disappear in the reservoir areas, because here the current disappears and the water will remain turbid of the sediment and oxygen-poor.

The local fishermen already experience a negative influence of the dam on fish and their fishing practices. Problems are related to the stronger current, more sediment, and the changed water level. Because of the environmental impact on fish, fishermen are convinced their income is about to decrease or even disappear. In Muratu catching ornamental fish was the main source of income, until recently. For fishermen in Altamira catching ornamental fish has a large share in their total income. In Muratu fishermen are planning to switch from being fishermen to becoming farmer to produce agricultural products which they can sell to gain an income. In Altamira most fishermen are planning to find another job in the city. Catching fish in other regions is not an option, as higher costs for fuel and spending an increased amount of time prevents the activity from being profitable.

Next to local fishermen, local traders who buy the fish from local fishermen are also impacted by the dam. They attribute the decrease in production of the river of ornamental fish and the increased death rates among in their aquarium to the construction of the dam. As a solution to future environmental problems the local traders will have to buy their fishes from fishermen living in other regions. Perhaps they have to invest more in navigating the river to pick up the production.

Perhaps the Belo Monte dam means the end of trade in ornamental fish in the region Middle Xingu region, or at least will cause a reduction of jobs within this sector. This means that the culture and lifestyle of the fishermen and the traders and an important economic sector in this region will disappear or to a lesser extent passed on to future generations.

In the end of the report some recommendations were given for NorteEnergia, ngo's which are involved in the region, governmental bodies which are currently occupied with the topic of compensation for fishermen (like the ministry of fisheries and aquaculture), and ACEPOAT (the associating for fishermen who collect ornamental fish in Altamira).


https://edepot.wur.nl/327098 (PDF, 5 MB)


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Go and get it - it's a very interesting read, FWIW.
Runterladen - lesen - staunen - diskutieren.

--Michael

P.S.: Wie man den Artnamen in einer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit durchgängig falsch schreiben kann, ist mir allerdings wieder einmal ein völlig unverständliches Rätsel.

[Xin-gu]

very interesting, tank you.