During the Third Fishermen’s Meeting of the Beni River, held on June 28 and 29 in the town of Rurrenabaque, 13 indigenous and local fishermen associations from the Beni River basin signed the fisheries agreement “Fish and Fishing Forever”—a collective commitment to the sustainable and responsible management of fishery resources.
This agreement, the result of a participatory process, includes actions such as the development of a management plan, the zoning of fishing and reproduction areas, community monitoring, the strengthening of local capacities, the improvement of fish commercialization, and legal defense of the aquatic ecosystem.
As part of this initiative, the Fisheries Management Council was established, composed of the presidents of the signatory associations. They will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the agreed actions. This marks a milestone at the national level, as there is no precedent for an indigenous fishermen’s organization with this level of coordination and planning.
The associations forming the Beni River Fisheries Management Council are:
Eyiyoquibo Ese Ejja Fishermen Association “Jai Hui”
Tacana I Indigenous Fishermen Association “El Sábalo”
El Paiche Fishermen Association
El Mamuri Fishermen Association
El Panete Fishermen Association
Multiethnic Fishermen Association
Fishermen Association of TCO Takana III “Quetscha”
Tacana I Agricultural and Fishermen Association “S’e Epeji Aidha”
Puerto Salinas Indigenous Fishermen Association “Shemojji”
Carmen del Emero Indigenous Fishermen Association “Shahuapa”
Indigenous Fishermen Association “La Piraiba”
Retail Fish Traders Association “La Perla”
Indigenous Lecos Fishermen Association of Torewa “El Dorado”
As part of institutional strengthening, the associations formally accredited their members through the issuance of credentials and printed banners identifying each association. In addition, they acquired specialized nets for controlling paiche (Arapaima gigas), an invasive species that threatens local biodiversity by preying on smaller native fish, thereby affecting the food security of communities.
Another significant advancement was the inauguration of the Collection Center, a community space for processing and handling fish, which will be managed under a plan aligned with the goals of the agreement.
This entire process was supported technically by WCS Bolivia and the Amazon Waters Alliance, with funding from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Legacy Landscapes Fund, which support conservation initiatives led by indigenous communities.
Photos: Jhonny Nina – Diego Im / WCS Bolivia