Press Release 27 May 2004

Successful Aquarium Fish Business
Developed in the North Rupununi

North Rupununi, Guyana -- Iwokrama International Centre, in partnership with the North Rupununi District Development Board

(NRDDB ), has been working over the last year to develop a sustainable and locally owned and operated aquarium fish wholesale business in the North Rupununi of central Guyana. Unofficially known as the "El Dorado Aquarium Trader", the burgeoning enterprise recently exported 5,000 ornamental fish to retailers in the European Union via Guyana Aquarium Traders, a locally based exporter. Fish mortality for the shipments is less than 1%, demonstrating prudent management practices that enable the business to effectively compete with other such ventures around the world.

The Iwokrama/ NRDDB project focuses on the sustainable use of aquarium fisheries as a non-timber forest product to generate revenue primarily for the indigenous North Rupununi communities. Funded by the Netherlands Committee for IUCN Tropical Rainforest Program, the project will enable management protocols to ensure sustained ecological, economic and social benefits for the region.

Iwokrama hopes to influence South America 's aquarium trade by working to introduce a certified 'green equity' trade along the entirety of the South American supply chain. Currently, the South American aquarium fish trade is not regulated and there is limited monitoring to study the impact of harvesting on wild fish populations. It is hoped that future growth will lead to an additional 'green equity' supply chain to U.S. and other markets.

The fish targeted for export tend to be high in value and low in volume, mostly fish from the Loricariidae Family ("armoured" catfish) that are capable of withstanding the long, arduous journey through the supply chain. Armoured catfish are thought to reproduce at much slower rates. Therefore, continuous monitoring of fish harvests is a critical component of the project to ensure maintenance of healthy populations. This means that there is a strict limit on the number of fish that can be harvested each season. Monitoring data is being used for the development of a five year management plan for the aquarium fisheries business.

Five species abundantly found in the Rupununi River are presently targeted; these are known as Lemon Fin, Red-Tailed Pleco, Bushy Nose, Cochliodon and White-tail Pleco .

Guyana 's opportunity for trade is limited by large scale operations elsewhere in South America . This is partly because collectors in Brazil have a near monopoly on other fish such as tetras ; just one of the Brazilian ventures produces 48 million fish annually. Since tetras spawn prodigiously, their trade has enabled such economy of scale that makes it difficult for smaller operations to enter and compete successfully in the tetra market.

Another critical component of the aquarium fish project is education and outreach. Iwokrama and the NRDDB recently conducted a Financial Management Skills workshop for local entrepreneurs. The project is regularly promoted via the local radio station, Radio Paiwomak 97.1, to inform local communities on the progress of the trade. In addition, bi-monthly NRDDB meetings offer the opportunity for first-hand discussion of the project with community leaders. Recently Iwokrama developed a new web site resource with project updates and a gallery of the key species harvested. The partnership is also developing a video documentary about the harvesting process that is intended to be used as a public relations and marketing tool.

For more information on this project, visit Iwokrama's web site at http://www.iwokrama.org/business/aquariumfish.htm.