Jaraquis

Length Category:  Small (<40 cm)

Trophic Level:  Detritivores

Migratory Pattern:  Medium Distance (100-1,000 km)

Spawning Period:  Rising

Export Market:  Regional (in Amazon)

Market Status:  Second class

Catch Distribution:

Jaraqui potential yield was estimated to be 10,500 tons. Jaraqui catches are concentrated in the Central Amazon, which represents 93% of the total.

Natural History Notes:

There are three species of jaraqui in the Amazon. Semaprochilodus insignis and S. taeniurus account for about 99% of the total yield. Semaprochilodus brama is captured commercially only in the Tocantins River and Xingu River. Jaraqui are detritivores and most abundant in blackwater rivers. Jaraqui, however, spawn in whitewater rivers. They are captured while migrating down blackwater or clearwater rivers to spawn in turbid water or during dispersal migrations. The most intense jaraqui fisheries are centered on the lower Negro River near Manaus. Central Amazon jaraqui populations were overexploited but fishermen have now begun to limit their catches to adult fishes in hopes that stocks will recover.