COVID-19 compounds a poaching problem targeting the Amazon’s pirarucu
There’s been a reported surge in illegal fishing of pirarucu, also known as arapaima, a massive Amazonian fish, in the Brazilian city of Manaus.
The fishing season is supposed to be closed from November to March, under a policy imposed in 2005 to protect fish populations and the income of traditional fishers.
The policy has been criticized for effectively subsidizing fishers, prompting an increase in their numbers, along with frequent violations of the close season.
The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of enforcement due to lockdowns have compounded the problem, pushing more people into illegal fishing to earn money.