The Giant Paiche Fish: A Threat to Native Amazon Species

The arrival of the giant freshwater fish, known as paiche or Arapaipma Gigas, in the Bolivian Amazon has caused concern among local fishermen and scientists. This invasive species, which can grow up to four meters in length and weigh 200kg, poses a significant threat to native fish stocks in the Amazon basin.

Guillermo Otta Parum, a fisherman who has been working in the Bolivian Amazon for over 50 years, initially thought the paiche was a water snake. However, he soon realized that it was a formidable predator that could outcompete native fish species. Federico Moreno, director of the Beni Autonomous University’s Centre for Aquatic Resources Research, explains that the paiche’s size and appetite make it a serious threat to native fish populations.

The paiche’s territorial nature allows it to take over bodies of water and scare off native species. This forces the native fish to flee to more remote and difficult-to-access areas, which can lead to their extinction. The exact year of the paiche’s arrival in Bolivia is unknown, but it is believed to have originated from a breach in a paiche fish farm in Peru. From there, the fish spread into Bolivia’s rivers.

Biologist Fernando Carvajal, who has spent years studying the paiche, describes it as a ravenous species. During the first years of its life, the paiche grows at a rate of 10kg per year, consuming a significant amount of fish. Unlike other predatory fish such as piranha, the paiche has small, not particularly sharp teeth. However, its lack of impressive teeth does not prevent it from eating piranha and a variety of other fish, as well as plants, mollusks, and birds.

The impact of the paiche on native fish populations is still unclear, but anecdotal evidence from fishermen suggests that some species are dwindling. Biologist Fernando Carvajal warns that in the next one or two decades, the paiche will likely spread to all potential areas where it can survive.

Despite the ecological concerns, the arrival of the paiche has been a boon for local fishermen. Initially, they were afraid of the fish, but they soon realized its potential as a valuable food source. Some fishermen even pretended that the paiche was a type of catfish to overcome people’s suspicions about eating such a large specimen. Now, paiche is eaten across Bolivia, and the fish has become a significant source of income for fishermen.

Edson Suzano, who runs a paiche-processing plant in Riberalta, Bolivia, sells the fish in supermarkets and markets. The plant processes around 30,000kg of paiche per month. The challenge for fishermen is finding the paiche in the vast expanse of the Amazon. The fish has a lung-like organ and must come up for air regularly to breathe, so it prefers calmer water and lives in lakes and lagoons. However, when it feels threatened, the paiche migrates to more remote areas.

The search for paiche has led to conflicts between commercial fishermen and indigenous communities. These communities have been granted land titles to many of the remote lagoons where paiche are found and have started fishing and selling the fish. As a result, commercial fishermen now need special licenses to work in these areas. However, even when they have the correct paperwork, they are often turned away by indigenous communities who believe they have a right to control the resources in their territory.

Scientists such as Federico Moreno hope that fishing will help keep paiche populations in check. By continuously hunting and fishing for the paiche, they believe that a balance can be maintained between the different species in the Amazon ecosystem.