Top Pirapatinga Fishing Countries

The pirapatinga (Piaractus brachypomus), also known as the red-bellied pacu, is a large, omnivorous freshwater fish native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. Closely related to the piranha but distinguished by its broader diet and less aggressive nature, the pirapatinga is highly valued both as a food fish and for aquaculture. The top pirapatinga fishing countries are Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, where the species is harvested from wild river systems and increasingly farmed in aquaculture operations due to its rapid growth, adaptability, and desirable flesh. Brazil leads in both wild capture and aquaculture production, with significant commercial and subsistence fisheries supporting local economies and export markets. The rise of aquaculture has helped stabilize supplies and reduce pressure on wild stocks, making pirapatinga an important species in the South American freshwater fishing industry.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.