Fish yield from the amazon in brazil: Comparison with african river yields and management possibilities

Abstract

A total fish yield of 85, 200 t was realized in the middle and upper Amazon basin in Brazil during 1977, of which 20% was exported from the region. A comparison with yields based on higher exploitation rates in African rivers suggested that the resource was being underexploited as a whole. However, it is hypothesized that even the present yields of the very large species (comprising over a third of the yield) could not be maintained, and managing the fishery on the basis of the present species composition may not be economically feasible. Management on a higher-yield basis would depress the stocks of the larger species. Although this would reduce the cost of management, the feasibility of the strategy would depend on increased commercial values of many smaller species. © by the American Fisheries Society, 1981.