In Colombia’s Guainia department, Ernesto Rojas, a prominent ornamental fish trader, receives vibrant fish from indigenous fishermen, which are shipped globally. Guainia, rich in biodiversity, is home to 60% of Colombia’s ornamental fish species. Rojas cultivates the fish in ponds, ensuring their survival during transport. Exporting these unique species, like the prized scalaria, yields significant economic benefits. Authorities regulate this sustainable fishery despite concerns over animal rights, arguing it poses less environmental harm than illegal mining activities.
Every day, local indigenous fishermen in Colombia’s Guainia region bring vibrant, small fish to Ernesto Rojas’ farm. These fish are caught from the rivers of this Amazonian area and are destined to enhance aquariums globally.
Ernesto Rojas, a septuagenarian with gray hair, is a prominent figure in the ornamental fish trade based in Inirida, the capital of Guainia, located in southeastern Colombia near the Venezuelan border.
The name ‘Guainia’ translates to ‘land of many waters’ in the indigenous language. This region boasts unique natural resources that contribute to Colombia’s rich biodiversity, which is being highlighted at a major UN conference currently taking place in Cali.
To keep the fish safe from predatory birds, Rojas carefully preserves them in protected ponds. He sells these fish to exporters in Bogotá, where they are transported to various markets in the USA, Asia, and Europe.
During transit, the fish are secured in plastic bags filled with pressurized oxygen to ensure their survival.
Among the species being sold are sapuaras (Semaprochilodus laticeps), known for their lively and energetic nature, as well as cardinal fish celebrated for their peaceful schooling behavior.
Additionally, Rojas deals with scalaria altum (Pterophyllum altum), which are sought after for their stunning appearance and long, elegant fins. This species exhibits unique black or red markings and can only be found in this specific Amazonian region.
Rojas purchases these scalaria for about two dollars each, but by the time they reach the American market, after passing through several intermediaries, their price can soar to $70 or $80.
“There’s so much beauty in such a small creature,” Rojas remarks while preparing for his shipment of 600 to 800 altum scalars.
“After traveling throughout the country, I stumbled upon this place, and I believe it has the highest diversity of ornamental fish in Colombia,” he shares.
– Vulnerable Piranhas –
The Guainia region is home to 60% of the 521 species approved for commercial sale in Colombia, as reported by the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Authority (Aunap), which oversees fishing activities in the country.
This year alone, authorities reported the export of 526 tons of fish, generating approximately six million dollars in revenue.
Given that this remote city is accessible only by plane or via lengthy river journeys, ornamental fishing is a vital sector in the local economy, according to Oscar Javier Parra, director of the local environmental authority (CDA).
To promote sustainability, environmental regulations implement an annual seven-week fishing ban, typically from early April to June. For certain species such as scalaria, this period starts even earlier.
“This is a regulated activity with excellent practices in place,” Parra affirms.
The authorities are vigilant in ensuring the protection of vulnerable species such as piranhas and the strikingly colored tucunare (Cichla temensis), which are not harvested from the nutrient-rich waters of the Inirida River and its tributaries.
This mineral-rich environment is believed to play a crucial role in creating the distinctive colors seen in altum scalaria and other local fish species.
While acknowledging concerns from animal rights activists regarding the capture of fish for ornamental purposes, Parra defends artisanal fishing as a low-impact means of harvesting in a region where illegal gold mining poses a far greater environmental threat, releasing significant amounts of mercury into the water annually.
“If ornamental fishing were to cease, the environmental repercussions could be even more detrimental,” he emphasizes.