Environmental sustainability of paiche (Arapaima gigas) production in pond‐based intensive aquaculture systems in the Peruvian Amazon

Peru is one of the main exporters of fish products worldwide. These products have historically been exported for indirect human consumption (e.g., fishmeal or fishoil) through the reduction of anchoveta (Engraulis rigens)... [ view full abstract ]

Peru is one of the main exporters of fish products worldwide. These products have historically been exported for indirect human consumption (e.g., fishmeal or fishoil) through the reduction of anchoveta (Engraulis rigens) landings along the Peruvian Pacific coast. However, the cultivation of freshwater fish species, such as trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), in Andean lakes, or tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and black pacu (Colossoma macropomum) in the Amazon basin have started to become important sources of economic revenue, sold both in the domestic and in the international markets. In recent years paiche (Arapaima gigas), one of the biggest freshwater fish in the planet, with high protein content and zero cholesterol, became nearly extinct in natural environments in many areas of the Amazon basin. However, through aquaculture it has started to be exported to United States, France, Spain and other international markets. For instance, in 2015 a total of 800,000 USD of paiche were sent abroad and the economic revenue is estimated to continue increasing abruptly in the next few years. While this can constitute an interesting opportunity for economic and social development in the poverty-stricken Amazon basin, it can also constitute an environmental threat in many areas if not managed correctly. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to provide an analysis of the environmental profile of paiche cultivation in pond-based intensive aquaculture systems in Peru. For this, a series of production sites were contacted and data were collected for each of them in order to develop site-specific life cycle inventories. The system boundary analyzed constitutes a cradle-to-gate perspective, in which the raw product ready for filleting and packaging is assessed, without considering post-packaging stages. Environmental impacts are being computed for a set of impact categories, including global warming potential, depletion of resources and categories linked to air pollution and water degradation. In fact, for the latter eutrophication and freshwater toxicity will be monitored with the CML and USEtox assessment methods, respectively. Finally, special attention will be given to land use changes, since many of the new intensive ponds may be placed in fragile areas, were deforestation may have previously occurred. Results, which are still under computation, but presumably finalized by early 2017, are expected to provide relevant insights regarding the current environmental hotspots of the cultivation process. These are intended to provide valuable information to companies and institutions in order to improve the production process in terms of cleaner production, and may allow steering public policies to avoid future environmental impacts as the sector continues to expand.

Keywords: aquaculture; cleaner production; industrial ecology; Life Cycle Assessment; Peru