Project Piaba is a community based program to safeguard and improve a sustainable ornamental fishery in the rio Negro basin, where over 40 million live fishes are collected and exported to the aquarium fish hobbyists worldwide. The project aims to support and improve the current fisherys' in the rio Negro basin, which provides a livelihood for 10,000 rural folk (caboclos).  The assertion behind the slogan “buy a fish, save a tree” is that if people have a stable economic livelihood from the fishery, they would unlikely engage in illegal and ecologically destructive activities, such as slash-and-burn farming and ranching, mining and wildlife poaching. Since the piabas (local term for ornamental fish) have a short life span and replenish annually, the aquarium fish trade has been a highly effective means of providing local subsistence and conserving rainforests ecosystem. Project Piaba believe that a sustainable Piaba fishery and fair trade practice can reduce the pressure on deforestation and improve quality of life for caboclos.


Since 1991 Project Piaba has organised a fund raising expedition along the rio Negro river. The trip involves a river cruise led by Dr Ning Labbish Chao (Prof. Univ. Federal do Amazonas) and MSc. Scott Dowd (Senior Aquarist at the New England Aquarium) which usually lasts for around 12 days. Typical daily activities include canoe rides, fishing, swimming, jungle walks and looking for new species.  The research team, who conduct research during the trips give presentations and also, where possible, they invite other collegues who specialise in different areas of the Amazon fauna and flora to share their knowledge.



This trip offers the rare opportunity to swim and snorkel among fish in the crystal clear streams, to net and observe fish and to catch piranha and other large fish for food.  Teams penetrate deep into the forest streams in canoes and also visit the breath taking "wedding of the waters" near Manaus where the Rio Negro and the Solimoes rivers meet and form the mighty Amazon River.
The trips take place in January because it is the low water season, best for fish watching and collecting. It also enables a trip to the "Ornamental Fish Festival" in Barcelos where folks celebrate the prosperity bought by the piabas with great pageantry and dance contests.




Also an ideal opportunity to visit Turky's Aquarium in Manaus which is where the Cardinal Tetras are shipped to and from. Turky's Aquarium has been very instrumental in the development of the ornamental fish industry in the Amazonas and also makes a donation to Project Piaba for every box of Cardinal Tetras he exports.

Please visit the Project Piaba website for more information www.opefe.com/piaba.html
Richard made his second trip to the Amazon in January 2008 to take part in the expedition and research.










The next trip is January 2010, Richard will be making his third visit to the Amazon on this trip.