Fishing using poisonous plants exists all over the world. However the Amerindian tribes certainly use the largest range of plants. The most used substance, and the least dangerous for man, is rotenone. Plants containing this chemical, such as the Fabaceae family, in particular species of Lonchocarpus, Paraderris and Tephrosia, are submerged in the fishing grounds.

This method of fishing is so deeply rooted in their culture that the Amerindians not only pick the appropriate wild plants, they also cultivate them.
In the Barima River region, more than 11 plants are used for fishing and at least 7 of these are grown specially. The fact that some of the plants the Amerindians use for fishing can also be used as medicines has caused researchers to look into their curative properties, particularly in certain types of cancer.