ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that riparian Amerindian groups in the central part of the Amazon Basin ever suffered for lack of animal protein, and it is highly unlikely that native groups were capable of overexploiting the fisheries in and along the larger rivers. The illustrious Brazilian historian and naturalist, Jose Verissimo, noted almost a century ago that fish was the principal animal protein source in the European and caboclo conquest of the Amazon region. The Portuguese apparently took control of the fisheries because they were the first to make significant commercial use of seines in the Amazon region. Belem is situated at the south-eastern corner of the Amazon estuary, and thus is in close proximity to freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater fishing habitats. Amazon food fishes are netted, seined, gigged, gaffed, hooked, bombed, and poisoned, and each of the methods can touch the individual psyches of authorities in different ways.
