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Local Ecological Knowledge, Fishing Practices, and Perceived Threats among Kichwa, Cofán, and Siona Fishers in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Gabriela Echevarría,Rafael Yunda,Fernando Sánchez,Blanca Ríos-Touma,F. Cuesta

Published 2026 in Ethnobiology and Conservation

ABSTRACT

 Fisheries in the Ecuadorian Amazon support subsistence, cultural identity, and local economies, yet facethreats from oil extraction, agricultural expansion, and overfishing. This study integrates Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and fishing practices from 53 Kichwa, Siona, and Cofán fishers in seven communities across the Napo and Aguarico watersheds. Using structured and open-ended questionnaires, we recorded information on fishing techniques, seasonal patterns, perceived environmental changes, and threats to fisheries. Fishers reported 30-40% decline in abundance, that over 25% of fishers relate to oil extraction. Results show differences in fishing practices among Indigenous groups and communities, and identify key ecological insights including fish migration routes, spawning habitats, and seasonal abundance patterns. Despite high species richness, approximately 15 species dominate catches. Differences in market access and seasonal isolation also risk the food security of the more distant communities. Our results show that LEK in this data-poor region is not only a source of ecological information, but also a foundation for differentiated governance capacities, with some communities already translating knowledge into collective rules. These findings offer a baseline for culturally grounded, participatory co-management and community-based monitoring of Amazonian freshwater fisheries in Ecuador.

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