Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Bolivian Amazon (CIFSRF)

Indigenous communities involved in fisheries and aquaculture are among the most food insecure in the Bolivian Amazon. Although fish could be the main source of protein, it is often not part of the local diet. This project - supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), a joint program of IDRC and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) - will explore the potential contribution of fish to the nutritional wellbeing of vulnerable populations, particularly women and ethnic minorities. Researchers from Bolivia and Canada will investigate artisanal fishery and small-scale aquaculture value chains in two pilot areas: capture fisheries in the northern Bolivian Amazon (Paiche) and pond aquaculture of native fish in the Marmoré basin in the northeastern Amazon. The team will analyze the nutritional value of different species, identify bottlenecks in the value chain, and find ways of improving fish handling, processing and marketing. The research will make a direct contribution to the Bolivian government's new plan for strengthening fisheries in the Amazon.