Experts from eight Latin American countries agree on a roadmap for sustainable aquaculture of native Amazonian species

The Amazon basin is home to the world’s greatest diversity of freshwater fish and holds significant potential for the sustainable development of aquaculture based on native species. Recognizing this opportunity, experts from eight Latin American countries agreed on a regional roadmap to strengthen cooperation, accelerate innovation and advance native fish farming as a contributor to food security, the bioeconomy and the well-being of communities across the region.

The roadmap was developed during the Expert Workshop “Status and future prospects of the main commercial fish species farmed in the Amazon basin”, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery Products in Latin America and the Caribbean (INFOPESCA) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), from 10 to 13 August 2026 in Alter do Chão, Pará, Brazil.

The meeting brought together specialists from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela,  countries that share the Amazon basin, to exchange experiences and identify common challenges and opportunities. Experts from Argentina and Paraguay also participated, bringing valuable experience in the farming of native species of shared regional interest and broadening technical cooperation across Latin America.

During the opening session, Édipo Araújo Cruz, Brazil’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, highlighted the considerable potential of the Amazon basin for sustainable aquaculture based on native species, emphasizing that “regional cooperation and capacity building are essential to generate food and new opportunities for Amazonian communities, while preserving the natural wealth of the region.”

Over four days, specialists reviewed the status and prospects of native-species aquaculture in their respective countries, exchanged experiences and identified priority actions to address shared constraints and unlock opportunities for the sector.

A roadmap for regional action

The workshop’s main outcome was agreement on a regional roadmap to guide the sustainable development of native-species aquaculture in the Amazon basin, drawing on the FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture as a common framework for action.

Participants identified six strategic priorities: enhancing aquaculture’s contribution to food security, nutrition and well-being; conserving Amazonian biodiversity and promoting the responsible use of natural resources as foundations for a sustainable bioeconomy; strengthening governance, planning and regional cooperation; advancing science, innovation and technology transfer; developing competitive and sustainable value chains and markets; and building capacities while promoting social inclusion and recognizing local and ancestral knowledge.

Participants also identified actions needed to translate these priorities into results. FAO will continue supporting technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity development; governments will strengthen enabling policies, research, planning and institutional frameworks; and the productive sector will play a key role in innovation, value addition, traceability and access to sustainable markets.

Cooperation to turn potential into sustainable development

The workshop reaffirmed the commitment of FAO, INFOPESCA and EMBRAPA to strengthen technical cooperation, research and knowledge exchange and to support Amazonian countries in advancing more sustainable, resilient, competitive and inclusive aquaculture.

Alessandro Lovatelli, FAO Aquaculture Officer, emphasized the need to look beyond production and adopt a value-chain perspective:

“Fish farming of native species can become a sustainable source of food, employment and income for Amazonian communities. To move in that direction, it is essential to develop efficient value chains that connect production with processing, markets and consumers.”

José Aguilar-Manjarrez, FAO Aquaculture Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted the sector’s potential to contribute simultaneously to development and conservation:

“Aquaculture of native species offers an opportunity to reconcile food production, biodiversity conservation and job creation. The challenge now is to translate available knowledge and experience into responsible investments and solutions adapted to the diverse realities of the Amazon, generating lasting benefits for its communities.”

Next steps

The agreements reached at the workshop will provide the basis for the preparation of the Workshop Proceedings and an FAO Policy Brief aimed at informing public policies, cooperation programmes and responsible investments for the sustainable development of native-species aquaculture.

The regional roadmap represents a starting point for deeper technical cooperation among Amazonian countries and their regional partners. It will help guide future research, innovation, capacity development and investment initiatives, while promoting greater exchange of knowledge and experience across countries.

By connecting biodiversity, knowledge, innovation and regional cooperation, the initiative seeks to transform the Amazon’s potential for native-species aquaculture into tangible opportunities for food security, sustainable livelihoods and resilient communities, while safeguarding the natural resources on which the region depends.