Amazon Fishers Document 90% Fish Decline After Dam Construction
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📰 The quick summary: Amazon fishers collaborated with scientists to document how two Madeira River dams severely disrupted fish populations, causing up to 90% reduction in stocks in some locations and forcing communities to search for new fishing grounds.
📈 One key stat: Fish stocks declined by up to 90% in some locations after the construction of the Santo Antônio and Jirau dams, affecting 65 different species in the Madeira River basin.
💬 One key quote: “Fish need currents to navigate. They don’t need still water, they need moving water. And the Madeira River stopped flowing,” said fisher Raimundo Nonato dos Santos.
1️⃣ The big picture: Amazon fishers have partnered with scientists to document the extensive damage caused by two major hydroelectric dams on Brazil’s Madeira River. The research shows how the Santo Antônio and Jirau dams, built in 2008 and 2013 respectively, drastically altered the river’s natural flow and disrupted fish migration patterns. This collaborative study found that many fish species are now caught in different places and times than before, with some traditional fishing grounds becoming completely unproductive. As a result, many communities that relied on abundant fish for daily consumption and income now struggle to catch enough for basic subsistence.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The innovative TSBCAMPA method brings together local fisher knowledge and scientific research to provide detailed, location-specific evidence about ecological changes. This collaborative approach empowers local communities by validating their observations through scientific documentation. The research creates an interactive dashboard that helps manage fish stocks and supports conservation policies for the aquatic ecosystem. The collected data serves as crucial evidence in the ongoing legal battle for compensation from dam operators, potentially helping affected communities receive recognition and payment for their losses. This model of fisher-scientist collaboration could be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers are currently working to publish updated data that will allow for more accurate comparisons over time. The fishing communities continue their decade-long legal battle seeking compensation for losses caused by the dams. Some community members, like Raimundo Nonato dos Santos, hope to establish fish farming operations to combat declining wild stocks and restore their livelihoods.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Amazon fishers help scientists map dam harms to Madeira River stocks
