including with paiche. its firm white flesh is considered a delicacy. economic considerations need to be reconciled with the peruvian state is investing in paiche farming and research. the more scientists know about the breed, the more likely it that commercial cultivation prove successful and that wild paiche can also be protected. paiche may not be fished the breeding months of october and february when the parents are taking care of their young. these children belong to the shipibo indigenous people. they learn about conservation school. miliagros oblitas quiroz finds playful ways of passing on knowledge which their grandparents had, but which has almost disappeared. >> the problem is that if start taking the biodiversity around them for granted again, then they won't bother protecting it. we want to show them the value of the nature they have here. >> the imiria conservation area could be the paiche's last it could also be the only way for local fishermen to secure their livelihoods. according to the new plan, only indigenous fishermen will be legal

. >> pedro: and here we have, uh, paiche. it's the second biggest freshwater fish in the world. that is a palm fruit, and the sauce is a reduction of fermented wild mandioca yucca. >> eric: fermented. >> pedro: yeah, this is, how you say, toxic or, uh -- >> anthony: or poisonous, yeah. >> pedro: poisonous. >> anthony: yeah. >> pedro: yeah, so they let it ferment and it becomes -- uh, you can eat it. >> anthony: these fish are unbelievable when you see them. uh, they get up to, like, 600 pounds. and they're swimming in water no deeper than a rice paddy. >> eric: really? >> anthony: giant. they're like dinosaur fish. everyone has been saying for years that peru was going to be the next big thing as far as -- >> eric: yes. >> anthony: -- restaurants and -- >> eric: and it is. this really proved it. >> pedro: and we have a chili pepper made with brazil nuts, and these are ants. >> eric: wow, they're huge. >> pedro: they are huge ants. >> eric: okay. you think i should try it? >> anthony: yeah, yeah, totally. you're not loving that, are you? >> eric: no. >> anthony: imagine you took