crowd funding campaign: Amazon Research Center for Ornamental Fishes

elp us build the "Amazon Research Center for Ornamental Fishes" in Iquitos, Peru Iquitos, Peru Environment
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THE BACKGROUND
The Amazon basin is being threatened by an ever-increasing encroachment by man. More specific, the Amazon River and its tributaries are being threatened by: loss of habitat due to development in and harvesting of the forests; slash and burn agricultural practices; clearing of land for mining purposes; introduction of exotic species for food purposes; drought; and over fishing. Not only is the physical environment being affected, but so is the aquatic life in the area.

One of the regions hardest hit by this encroachment is the Peruvian Amazon. Over 85% of the approximate 900 freshwater fish species of Peru are found within the Amazon basin, with 30% found only in Peru. Many of these fish are exported for the aquarium trade, further reducing their numbers in the region
The aquarium trade is a multimillion-dollar business for some of the poorest areas of Peru where most other business opportunities do not exist. In 2013, over 400 metric tons of live aquarium fishes were exported out of the Peruvian Amazon basin to the United States and Southeast Asia (primarily Japan) bringing in $3.4 million. Money goes directly into the local fishing communities, creating revenue that would otherwise have to be sought by cutting down the forests.
For decades it was thought that the ornamental fish trade was one of the few sustainable resources in the Amazon Basin. But scientists now believe differently as research shows fish populations are declining.

Over fishing for the aquarium trade, may be causing some species to disappear. If this happens, the entire economies of villages located near the rivers will be devastated. Furthermore, the ecosystem will suffer.

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