Rondônia operation removes 18 tons of invasive pirarucu

An environmental management operation in the Rio Cautário Extractive Reserve in Costa Marques, Rondônia, resulted in the removal of over 18 tons of pirarucu between August and October. The initiative targeted 361 specimens of the fish, which is considered an invasive species in this specific river basin.

The operation was conducted in two stages, involving technical support from the State Secretariat for Environmental Development (Sedam) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). The project also provided economic benefits to the local community, with approximately 40 extractivists participating in the capture and cleaning of the fish, generating roughly R$ 180,000 in revenue.

One notable specimen captured during the operation measured 2.46 meters and weighed nearly 138 kilograms, marking the largest pirarucu recorded in a Rondônia conservation unit. While the species is native to the Amazon, its presence in certain environments requires control measures to maintain ecological balance.