PAL began working with the Shipibo in early 1995 in the Ucayali region of the Peruvian Amazon. A village development program resulted in the construction of five wells, a womens sewing and kitchen cooperative and an agroforestry system. Working with indigenous fishermen we pioneered the development of the Shipibo aquaculture model.

Three ponds containing over twenty five acres surface area have been constructed in different villages and many thousands of native food bearing trees planted on their perimeters. With ripened fruit dropping into the water the fish are directly connected to their natural food chain. This process requires minimum to no management requirements and obviates the need for external inputs. Concomitantly it proves that a well designed Shipibo aquaculture system can match high input commercial fisheries. The Shipibo system represents a very practical and culturally appropriate model for guaranteeing protein security for all riverine indigenous groups in the Amazon.

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www.redpalperu.org

A self feeding fish pond with overhanging trees supplyng a diverse aquatic ecosistem with its natural food chain.