Friend of the Sea launches the Botos dolphin protection project in the Amazon River

On site monitoring is of quintessential importance to Friend of the Sea. Currently, FOS Monitors cover Costa Rica, Morocco, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to FoS.

Luiza Prestes de Souza, who has a Masters in Ecology and a Bachelors in Fisheries Engineering, has recently started to work as an onsite FOS Monitor covering the Brazilian and Amazonian regions. Luiza thoroughly tracks onsite the chain of custody of Amazon river products which have been certified and produced by the company Noronha Pescados (www.noronhapescados.com): Amazonian Cod Fish/Pirarucu, Peacock Bass, Cat Fish, Yellow Croacker, Amazonian Bass, Tiger Fish and Silver Arowana. All these fish species originate from quota managed reserves and artisanal fisheries.

In this process, Luiza also verifies that botos-the Amazon River Dolphins-are not killed for bait by local fishermen supplying Friend of the Sea certified products. This is in fact a deadly practice still performed by a limited number of fishermen, which is endangering the botos' population. Luiza Prestes de Souza is happy to be a part of the Friend of the Sea project "Conservation and sustainability is important to me being from Manhaus, I am delighted to be able to do my part in conserving Brazil's unique marine life for the future."