The side event addresses, in an integrated manner, the impacts of climate change on the migratory routes of large Amazonian catfish, with a focus on dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) and piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), and the need to strengthen the generation, integration, and use of continental fisheries data at an Amazon-wide scale. These species undertake some of the longest freshwater fish migrations in the world, connecting estuarine, riverine, and headwater environments over thousands of kilometers. They play a central role in the ecological connectivity of the Amazon basin and sustain livelihoods, food security, and local economies of traditional and riverine communities.
Climate change has altered hydrological regimes, water temperature, turbidity, salinity, and food availability across the Amazon region. Increasing anthropogenic and environmental pressures, including overfishing, habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, dams, and extreme climate events, have directly affected migratory patterns, reproduction, and survival of these species. This synergistic effect increases risks to the integrity of migratory routes and to the sustainability of Amazonian continental fisheries.
In this context, the side event highlights the importance of regional and transnational cooperation for generating integrated, comparable, and continuous fisheries data capable of supporting evidence-based decisions for sustainable use and management. Existing data gaps limit proper assessment of these species and undermine the effectiveness of public policies aimed at the conservation of migratory species. The consolidation and sharing of information enable the identification of critical areas for reproduction, migration, and growth, support the planning of protected zones, and strengthen sustainable management strategies.
The event proposes advancing the development of a technical and political roadmap, the “Belém–Campo Grande Roadmap”, which brings together science, public management, and community participation, connecting climate, biodiversity, and inland fisheries agendas. It also highlights the link between recent international commitments, such as Brazil’s resumption of national fisheries statistics presented at COP 30 and the inclusion of dourada and piramutaba in Appendix II of the CMS, and the discussions of CMS COP15, to be hosted by Brazil in 2026.
By bringing together governments, researchers, fishing communities, and international institutions, the side event seeks to promote dialogue and regional cooperation as pillars for the conservation of Amazonian migratory species, the maintenance of ecological connectivity in the basin, and the strengthening of the socioeconomic sustainability of fishing-dependent communities, reaffirming Brazil’s leadership role in the conservation of migratory biodiversity.