The Amazon Research Center (ARCOF) is the first research facility devoted solely to the study of aquarium fishes established on land located outside of Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon. Approximately 10,000 indigenous people earn an income from the aquarium fish trade. As such, the capture and exportation of aquarium fishes is both a key contributor to the local economy as well as a key factor in the overfishing of these fishes. ARCOF helps local villagers make a living in a manner that does not do further damage to the vulnerable rainforest ecology through education and aquaculture.
.In 2019, we realized the need for greater educational offerings and enhanced collaboration between scientists and the local community. Thus, we began a critical initiative to develop the first public aquarium in this part of Peru. We broke ground in October 2019 for the “Aquarium of the Amazon” and have completed the infrastructure for the Aquarium as well as the construction of the large individual aquaria. Unfortunately, the COVID Pandemic has forced us to move the opening of the Aquarium to the Winter of 2023.
The aquarium will be used as an environmental education center for the school systems in the Iquitos area. The school districts will have the opportunity to visit the aquarium. While visiting the Aquarium the school children will be introduced to the environmental damage that is happening in the Amazon region and ways to overcome this environmental degradation. A key initiative to help create an eco-friendly philosophy within the peoples of the Peruvian Amazon is through the education of the children.