New Horizons:
Arapaima in Thailand & Global Conservation
Circumstances of Introduction
It appears Arapiama was initially introduced for food. While there isn’t an exact and specific timeline for the initial food-related introduction, exotic fish species have been introduced to Thailand for various purposes, including food, since at least the 18th century. Arapaima, being the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world and known for its high-quality meat, would have been an attractive candidate for aquaculture to meet local demand. Their excellent growth performance and low fat content made them a promising species for fish farming.
The shift towards sport fishing became a more significant driver for arapaima introduction. They grow to immense size, offering a challenging and thrilling experience for anglers. This has led to the establishment of numerous private fishing parks and resorts across Thailand that specifically stock arapaima for recreational fishing. These fisheries normally operate on a catch-and-release policy to ensure the sustainability of the species for continued angling.
Timeline and Population Establishment
Populations are primarily established within man-made fishing lakes and ponds. These controlled environments are designed to facilitate their growth and provide a reliable stock for anglers. The success of their establishment in Thailand’s fishing parks is largely due to:
Controlled Breeding: Aquaculture techniques have been developed to breed arapaima in captivity, ensuring a continuous supply of fish for stocking.
Ideal Conditions: Thailand’s tropical climate provides warm waters that are suitable for arapaima.
Dedicated Management: Fishing parks actively manage their arapaima populations, including feeding, health monitoring, and implementing strict catch-and-release protocols to protect the fish from harm due to their delicate nature.
Breeding Programmes in Thailand:
Broodstock Selection and Management:
> Due to their territorial behavior during breeding, large earthen ponds (often hundreds or thousands of square meters) are crucial to allow the selected mutual pairs to establish their nests and guard their offspring without excessive stress from other fish.
> While year-round spawning can occur in captivity, reproduction often intensifies during the “rainy season” (December-March in their native Amazon). Thai Farmers may try to stimulate breeding by manipulating pond conditions.
> Proper nutrition for broodstock is vital to ensure good egg and sperm quality. Their diet typically consists of high-protein extruded pellets, often supplemented with fresh or frozen fish.
Nesting and Spawning:
> The male and female pair construct a circular nest in the pond’s substrate, typically in shallow, clear water with some overhead shade.
> The female lays adhesive, emerald-green eggs in the nest, which are then fertilized by the male. Batch fecundity (number of eggs per spawn) is relatively low for such a large fish, ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 mature oocytes for an 80 kg female.
> A key aspect of arapaima reproduction is strong parental care. Both parents guard the eggs and larvae, which remain in the nest for several days. Once the yolk sac is absorbed (around 8-9 days post-hatch), the fingerlings leave the nest and shoal around the male, while the female continues to guard the territory. This parental care lasts for at least a month.
Fry and Juvenile Rearing (Nursery Phase):
Collection: At around 2-4 weeks old (when they are 7-12 cm long), fingerlings are typically separated from their parents using seine nets and transferred to nursery tanks or smaller ponds. This separation is crucial to prevent the adults from potentially preying on the young.
Feed Training: This is a critical stage. Initially, the fry might be fed live food (like zooplankton) or a mixture of chopped fish fillet and ground dry feed. They are then gradually weaned onto high-protein dry extruded pellets (often with 55% protein). This acclimation process usually takes 4-6 weeks.
High Survival Rates: Arapaima fingerlings are not cannibalistic within their year class and can have very high survival rates during this phase if water quality is good and they are fed properly.
Growth: After the nursery phase, juveniles are transferred to larger grow-out ponds or net-cages, where they continue to be fed high-protein pellets. Arapaima are known for their incredibly fast growth, reaching 10-15 kg within their first year.
Ecology & Behavior:
The transportation of arapaima from aquaculture farms to recreational fishing lakes requires careful handling to minimize stress and ensure the fish’s survival. Given their size, these are not typical aquarium fish shipments.
The entire process, from breeding to transport, emphasizes minimizing stress and ensuring the health of these valuable and impressive fish, especially considering their role in the lucrative sport fishing industry.
Arapaima fishing and farming, while not a traditional or widespread industry like shrimp or tilapia in Thailand, contribute to local economies primarily through:
Preparation for Transport:
Fasting: Fish are typically fasted for a period before transport to reduce metabolic waste production in the transport water.
Acclimation: Fish may be gradually acclimated to the transport conditions (e.g., slightly lower temperatures or different water parameters) if significant changes are anticipated.
Transport Methods:
Specialized Tanks: Arapaima are transported in large, well-aerated tanks, usually on trucks. These tanks are designed to provide sufficient space and maintain optimal water quality (temperature, oxygen, pH).
Oxygenation: Adequate oxygen levels are crucial during transport, often maintained through aeration systems or supplemental oxygen.
Density Management: Transport density is carefully managed to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to stress, oxygen depletion, and injury.
Arrival and Release:
Acclimation to New Water: Upon arrival at the fishing lake, the fish are carefully acclimated to the new lake’s water temperature and chemistry before release. This might involve slowly mixing the transport water with the lake water.
Gentle Release: Fish are gently guided into the lake, often by sinking the transport cage or sling and allowing the fish to swim out naturally, to avoid physical injury.
Sport Fishing Tourism
This is arguably the most significant economic contribution of Arapaima in Thailand.
Direct Revenue for Fishing Parks: Fishing parks that stock arapaima generate income through:
Fishing Fees: Anglers pay a daily or hourly rate to fish. These fees can be substantial given the size and rarity of the fish.
Bait and Tackle Sales/Rental: Parks often sell specialized bait and rent out heavy-duty fishing gear necessary for catching large arapaima.
Accommodation and Food: Many parks offer on-site bungalows, restaurants, and other amenities, providing additional revenue streams.
Job Creation: Fishing parks employ local staff for various roles, including:
Guides and Ghillies: Experienced local anglers who assist tourists.
Pond Managers: Responsible for fish health, feeding, and water quality.
Restaurant and Accommodation Staff: Cooks, servers, cleaners, and receptionists.
Maintenance Workers: For the upkeep of the facilities.
Supporting Local Businesses: Tourists visiting these fishing parks often spend money in the surrounding areas on:
Transportation: Taxis, local buses, or motorbike rentals.
Local Restaurants and Shops: Beyond what’s offered at the park.
Other Tourist Activities: Extending their stay in the region.
Marketing Thailand as a Fishing Destination: The presence of unique and challenging species like arapaima helps to promote Thailand as a premier destination for exotic freshwater sport fishing, attracting international anglers and contributing to the broader tourism industry.
Sport Fishing Tourism
While the primary market for farmed arapaima in Thailand is currently for stocking fishing parks, there are also potential and emerging contributions related to food and ornamental trade.
Arapaima farms (or those with breeding programs) provide the juvenile fish needed to stock the numerous fishing parks across the country. This creates a specialized agricultural sector.
Job Creation in Farming:
The demand for arapaima feed (high-protein pellets) and specialized aquaculture equipment creates business opportunities for local and national suppliers.
While not as common as in their native South America, there is some potential for arapaima as a food fish in Thailand due to its appealing meat quality (low fat, high protein, boneless fillets). If this market grows, it could further diversify the economic benefits for farmers.
Young arapaima are highly sought after in the ornamental fish trade, both domestically and internationally.
Challenges and Considerations
Arapaima contribute to Thailand’s local economies primarily by diversifying the tourism sector through sport fishing and by supporting a specialised aquaculture industry that supplies these recreational venues.
Arapaima farming continues to be niche compared to Thailand’s massive shrimp and tilapia aquaculture industries.
The introduction of non-native species always carries potential ecological risks if fish escape into natural waterways. Thai authorities regulate this through licensing and monitoring of fishing parks.