Traditional Fishing in the Colombian Amazon
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Provided by: Mongabay Kids|Published on: May 7, 2026
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article describes the traditional fishing practices used by the Indigenous Macaquiño community.
- Students will understand how Indigenous fishing methods contrast with commercial fishing, and how traditional knowledge can support conservation efforts in one of the world's most biodiverse river systems.
Subjects: Social Studies, Biology
Authors: Aimee Gabay
Region: South and Central America
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Prerequisites:
- Use a world map to help students locate the Macaquiño community and compare this region with their local region.
- Introduce terms like Indigenous, ancestral, and lagoon.
Classroom Implementation:
- Have students take notes on each of the traditional fishing techniques and compare them with modern practices.
- Use this article as an entry point for discussions about Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental stewardship, particularly in units on biodiversity, ecosystems, or climate justice.
- Use as a paired reading with a scientific article about Amazon deforestation or freshwater biodiversity to give students both cultural and ecological perspectives on the same ecosystem.
Climate Change Connections:
- Stress the importance of fishing sustainably to maintain biodiversity, which may decline as the climate warms.
Sustainable Development Goals Connections:
- Make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, through its focus on freshwater fish and sustainable fishing practices.
This webpage discusses the traditional fishing techniques of the Macaquiño community from the southeastern Colombian Amazon rainforest. In addition to the fishing techniques, the article discusses how the community lived in balance with the forest and the river, carefully protecting the environment while also meeting their needs. This resource supports conversations about sustainability and the importance of balancing resource consumption. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Mongabay Kids
Mongabay Kids is the dedicated youth education initiative at Mongabay, an award-winning nonprofit environmental and conservation news organization. We provide free, age-appropriate news, features, activities, and multimedia resources that inspire curiosity, ecological understanding, and action. Designed for children ages 8-14, families, and educators, Mongabay Kids empowers the next generation to explore, celebrate, and protect the natural world.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
