Family fish farming improves quality of life in the Bolivian Amazon

Despite great diversity in freshwater fish, Bolivia has one of the lowest levels of per capita fish consumption in the world. The Government of Bolivia has recognized the potential contributions that fish can make for food security and has created a national program for fisheries and aquaculture development.   The Fish for Life project set out to increase family fish farming profitability in Bolivia's Yapacani municipality. The project has contributed to the development of fish farming as an alternative means for rural families to improve their quality of life. There are now 130 families engaged in fish farming, each with three fish ponds. The supply of fish has increased from 50 to 400 tons a year, and families are consuming more fish. New technology for polyculture was introduced, and aquaculture has opened up new and greater economic roles for women. 

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This document is part of the Stories of Change series that shares some of the emerging outcomes from research supported in Latin America and the Caribbean by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund, a program of Canada's International Development Research Centre, undertaken with the financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada.