Sustainable, community-based Aquarium Fish business, Iwokrama Forest – Guyana

Objectives and Goals Develop a sustainable aquarium fish business in the North Rupununi as a NTFP and an alternative to tropical deforestation Develop a multi-stakeholder management plan and work toward developing regulatory structures that ensure the ecological, social, and cultural sustainability of the aquarium fish trade Build stakeholder capacity and awareness of the potential for the trade to contribute to development and conservation in the North Rupununi

Experience Gained: Ecological Sustainability  Catch Per Unit Effort  Holding and Health Protocols for selective key aquarium fish species  Habitat and distribution and abundance of key aquarium species  Migration and breeding behavior of key aquarium fish species

Experience Gained: Cultural Sustainability  Custom and belief  Local community involvement  Decision Making Process  Trust  Partnership

Experience Gained: Socio-Economic Sustainability  Alternative source of income  Harvesters expectations  Cultural Shock  Business Management  $$$ Matters