Review of the fisheries in the Brazilian portion of the Paraná/Pantanal basin

Abstract

The status of the commercial fisheries in the Brazilian part of the Paraná river basin, including the Pantanal is reviewed. The Paraná is nearly completely regulated by a cascade of dams built for hydroelectric power generation. Only 230 km of main river remain as running waters. The basin has the highest population density in the country, and a high concentration of industry and intensive agriculture. Despite the variable quality of data, fish stocks have been severely degraded by flow regulation and pollution. Large migratory fishes are rare or even absent in some stretches of the main river and in some important tributaries. Fisheries are now dominated by small, low commercial value specimens preadapted to lacustrine habitats. Species introductions are also a major concern.