“It doesn’t just affect the fish.”

What happens when climate change and pesticide pollution collide? Ecosystems are suffering, local businesses are struggling, and communities are facing real risks. However, aquatic solutions are emerging to protect the Amazon’s fish, the people who rely on them, and the region’s biodiversity.

What happens?

A new study from Brazil shared with Mongabay shows how fish in the Amazon are struggling to survive despite the severity of both threats. The findings are concerning, but also offer opportunities for solutions that could protect aquatic life and the communities that depend on it.

The tambaqui (also known as the giant pacu or black pacu) is a frugivive fish that supports the riparian forests of the Amazon through the dispersal of seeds that maintain the health of the ecosystem. It is an important food source in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and is valued in local diets and fisheries due to its size and nutritional value. Studies highlight its importance to both the environment and the communities that rely on it.

To understand how this freshwater fish copes with environmental changes, researchers at the National Institute of Amazonian Research tested its resilience under extreme climate conditions and exposure to common pesticides. Using a “room of the future” in the Amazon city of Manaus, they simulated a world 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than today, with carbon dioxide levels of 708 parts per million.

Why is this important?

The fish were exposed to a mix of pesticides commonly found in Amazon rivers, including chemicals such as chlorpyrifos, malathion, atrazine and carbendazim.

Even at low doses, the fish experienced severe liver damage, nervous system problems and DNA degradation. These effects were more pronounced in the simulated warmer climate because the fish had difficulty processing the toxins due to a slowed metabolism.

Pesticides in the Amazon rivers can accumulate in fish and pose a threat not only to wildlife but also to human health, including damage to the nervous system and organs. Scientists at the National Institute for Amazon Research are pushing for stricter regulations in Brazil, where thousands of pesticides are still being used.

What is being done about it?

Solutions such as crop rotation, natural pest control and integrated pest control are used in sustainable agriculture to reduce the use of chemical pesticides. For example, farmers plant cover crops such as nasturtiums and marigolds to keep pests away from main crops, effectively controlling pests without harmful chemicals.

Innovations such as Biofloc systems, which improve water quality and strengthen fish immunity, offer a promising opportunity to reduce the use of chemicals in fish farming. Projects covered by The Cool Down, such as the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable farming practices or Amazon reforestation initiatives, are examples of companies and individuals who can help make a difference.

Conservationists are protecting the Amazon and the people who depend on its biodiversity by introducing solutions to reduce pollutants and rising temperatures. The effort is an effective way to ensure that “Future Space” remains a tool and does not become a glimpse into “Future Earth.”

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