The Piabeiros and piabeiras

In the Brazilian state of Amazonas there is a tiny village called Daracua you can only get to by boat. On the banks of the Rio Negro, in houses on stilts to avoid the yearly flood waters, live the Piaberos and Piaberas, the fishing communities. As the floods begin to recede they take to their wooden canoes to catch cardinal tetras, discus fish and many other types of fish for the aquarium fish trade around the world. By far the most important fish to the locals is a tiny species of local minnow, the Cardinal Tetra. This fish, barely 3cm (1.5 inches) long, is the backbone of the local economy. During the food rich flood season the tetras spawn, having hundreds of young. As the waters recede, many would simply perish. But the fishing communities catch them and supply thousands of them to the trade. Because the species is so prolific and has so many young, there is no risk of over-fishing. Harvesting the fish simply works in the life cycle of spawning fish during the flood, most dying off when the waters dry up. Many of the fishing communities rely on the aquarium fish trade for their primary income, and most of them collecting Cardinal Tetras.

Because of the economic stability offered by fishing, and since the fish rely on food falling into the water from the trees of the flooded forest, the fishing communities are diligent in protecting the local ecosystem from those that would do it harm. There is no logging or mining allowed. They have preserved a pristine, beautiful rain forest, and go on protecting it year after year. This undisturbed forest provides a sanctuary to hundreds of species of birds and other animals. Protecting this fishery is of vital importance to the ecosystem.