Peruvian Institute to Boost Aquaculture with New Fish Breed

The Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (IIAP) will transfer juvenile doncella fish to aquaculture farms in the Ucayali region of Peru. The initiative aims to create sustainable economic opportunities and diversify regional aquaculture production. Local populations have seen declining catches of large catfish due to overexploitation, increasing prices in local markets.

The IIAP developed a technology using hormonal induction to reproduce doncella in captivity. Researchers addressed cannibalism among larvae by adjusting light exposure, feeding strategies, and adaptation to dry food.

This innovation has increased survival and growth rates, with doncella potentially reaching three kilograms in around three years with nearly 50% meat yield. The juvenile fish originate from the IIAP’s experimental cultivation module in Iquitos, and the transfer to Ucayali will launch pilot farms.