Piloto para la Criaña del Paiche con la Nacionalidad Cofán del Ecuador

The project was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by a consortium of organizations, including the Nationality Originaria A'I Kofan Del Ecuador (NOA'IKE), the Coordinadora Indígenas de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica (COICA), the Instituto del Bien Común (IBC), and the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF). The evaluation and selection of the sites pre-selected by the Cofán community for the development of the project were conducted on October 27, 2015. The evaluation considered parameters related to the quality of the water, public services, and security. The results of the analysis of the parameters/sites pre-selected are presented in a table, which shows the characteristics of the water, vegetation, access, public and private lighting, and security at each site. Based on the results of the evaluation, Chingual - piscinas was selected as the most suitable site for the project due to its characteristics of water quality, public services, security, and the ability to be ready in a few days to receive the fish. The project involved the capture of paiches in the piscina of cultivation, cuarentena in the house of management, empaque in bags and cartons, transportation, and finally, the siembra in the piscina. The capture of paiches involved the use of a fishing net of 25 meters in length and 3.5 meters in height, with a bottom line and flotation line. The paiches were not fed the day before the capture. The transportation of the paiches was done using double plastic bags of one meter in width and two meters in length. The cuarentena in the house of management involved the maintenance of the paiches for 18 hours in tanks with water recirculation and permanent aeration. The empaque of the paiches involved the use of three quintal bags, 16 liters of water, and 20 liters of pure oxygen, and a carton. The transportation of the paiches was done using a medium-sized truck with a wooden body and a canopy to protect the cartons from the sun and ensure the freshness of the water during transportation. The siembra in the piscina involved the removal of the paiches from the bags and their release into the piscina after a rapid acclimation of 40 seconds. The project was successful, and no paiches died during the process, despite their large size. The project involved a team of experts from Peces Tropicales who developed a strategy to ensure the survival of the paiches during the capture, transportation, and siembra processes. The project also involved the use of modern technology and equipment to ensure the quality of the water and the well-being of the paiches. The project had a positive impact on the Cofán community, who benefited from the knowledge and skills gained during the project. The project also contributed to the conservation of the paiche species and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices in the region. The project was a success, and it paved the way for future projects aimed at promoting the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the Amazon region.