Risks of oil spills for Amazonian aquaculture in Peru

Abstract

Aquaculture in the Peruvian Amazon has the potential to complement the important food supply provided by the fishing sector, but it must be conducted efficiently and sustainably, while avoiding environmental risks such as those posed by oil exploitation. In this policy brief, we identify the impacts on aquaculture and its products associated with hydrocarbons, as well as measures to mitigate potential negative effects, including proposals for policies and actions for the relevant national institutions involved in management, regulation and monitoring. In this document, we also offer recommendations related to training, research, possible mitigation measures, and alternatives for energy generation using biofuels. Finally, we acknowledge the difficulties inherent in controlling and reacting to spills, deriving from the governance of national institutions, the vastness and diversity of the territory involved, and the associated environmental and social complexities.