The “Pintado” (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) is a high-value migratory catfish of significant ecological, economic, and social importance, underpinning fisheries and local livelihoods across South America. In Brazil, multiple lines of evidence indicate ongoing population declines, prompting heightened conservation concern. Consequently, the species has been classified as Vulnerable on the Brazilian National Red List since 2022. This 45-minute side event will present the Pintado Recovery Plan (PR-Pintado) as an integrative, policy-oriented strategy that aligns conservation goals with sustainable use and implementation capacity.

 

The session will highlight how the species is already addressed under two Brazilian National Action Plans (PANs), and how these instruments can be coordinated with the PR-Pintado to strengthen governance, harmonize priorities, and operationalize actions such as participatory monitoring, data sharing, enforcement-independent reporting, and adaptive management across basins. Building on this policy architecture, we will also discuss the rationale and opportunities associated with the proposal to include P. corruscans in CMS Appendix II, emphasizing how a CMS listing can catalyze international cooperation, promote alignment of monitoring protocols, and accelerate coordinated recovery measures among Range States.

 

The event is intended for CMS delegates, government agencies, researchers, and stakeholders engaged in migratory fish conservation and fisheries management.