Management Plan of the “Paiche”

The “paiche” (Arapaima gigantes) is known for its gigantic size. It is an excellent food fish that can reach up to 3m and weigh up to 250 kilos. It combines underwater and surface breathing, and rises to the surface to aspirate, thus allowing plan participants to conduct a “floating census” in order to count specimens in a pre-determined area of the reserve.

The uncontrollable fishing of the paiche almost brought it extinction. This motivated the authorities of the Peruvian government to declare the area of the Pacaya and Samiria Rivers a Reserved area in 1940, and to later declare it a National Reserve in 1972. At that time, provisions were established that permitted local populations to create a Management Plan for the utilization of the reserve’s fish resources, which needed to be approved by the Peruvian Vice Ministry of Fishing, INRENA.

The Yacu Tayta group now carefully monitors the harvest of this fish, allowing themselves a certain quota for their own use.

Plan de manejo del Paiche (versión PDF) 1.4 megas

• The Union for Community Fishing (UPC)
• Protection and Vigilance
• Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
• Management Plan of the “Arahuana"
• Management Plan of the “Paiche”
• Management Plan of the “Taricaya”

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