Fishing

Transformed in recent years into one of the principal tourist attractions of the region, fishing was always one of the main economic activities of the local population and a staple of their diet. There are many species of fish in the innumerable rivers of the region, among them tucunaré, Amazonian dourado and pescada. The piranha, a carnivorous fish which is used to make a stew highly prized by local fishermen, is found in almost all the rivers of Amazônia. However, it is rarely found in sufficient numbers to do the damage which is often ascribed to it. The pirarucu, one of the largest fresh water fishes in the world, is found in abundance. The peixe-boi (manatee or cow-fish), one of the most exotic species in Amazônia, risks becoming extinct because it is an easy prey for hunters.