which contain the largest diversity of freshwater fishes in the world. Accordingly, South America offers a special opportunity to develop appropriate technologies to cultivate alternative aquaculture species native to this continent.
In the Peruvian Amazon, three important institutions are working on aquaculture: Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana (IIAP), Ministerio de Pesqueria (Peruvian government), and Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana (UNAP). In the past ten years, they have produced millions of fry and have refined numerous aquaculture techniques. Colossoma and Piaractus are considered by local aquaculturists as the best fishes for commercialization in the tropical part of Peru. However, considerable potential exist to examine other species, as the Amazon Basin is home to over 2,000 freshwater species of fish.
A Memorandum of Understanding is currently in place linking IIAP, UNAP, and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) (and collaborating US universities with SIUC under this umbrella) into the CRSP network. IIAP and UNAP facilities include 49 earthen culture ponds ranging in size from 60 m2 to nearly a hectare. Laboratory facilities exist to monitor water quality variables of ponds and conduct pertinent research on sustainable aquaculture development of important fish species native to South America. Facilities have been significantly upgraded or renovated at IIAP during the Ninth and Tenth Work Plans.
Outcomes of the Tenth Work Plan have greatly facilitated the establishment of Peru as a full-fledged host country site for PD/A CRSP activities and research.
For the Tenth Work Plan, four projects were funded: 1) Amazon Aquaculture Outreach, 2) Nutrition of Colossoma macropomum and Piaractus brachypomus, 3) Broodstock Diets and Spawning of Colossoma macropomum and/or Piaractus brachypomus, and 4) Studies on Reproduction and Larval Rearing of Amazonian Fish. These projects are extensions of research and outreach activities developed during the Ninth Work Plan. Outreach and networking activities were undertaken to facilitate regionalizing the benefits of the CRSP. Previous hatchery problems at IIAP have largely been rectified and efforts concentrated on larval rearing, broodstock nutrition, and development of grow-out diets (both prepared feeds and plant products for grow-out) for C. macropomum and/or P. brachypomus. Additionally, efforts were expanded to include two South American catfishes, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum and P. tigrinum, both of which are attracting attention in South America as potential species for aquaculture in the Amazon Basin. The Peru Project is also supporting activities in the Tenth Work Plans of collaborating institutions and projects, such as those investigating soil-water interactions and socioeconomics.
Methods and Materials
