The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) proposes the investigation of viable alternatives for marine aquaculture in the Central American territory.
According to the study entitled The Contribution of Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food Security and Household Income in Central America, prepared by this agency, it is necessary to emphasize Panamanian fish production to implement alternative and strategic measures that can improve the commercial fishing industry and artisanal sector of the nation.
The document, written by Dr. Claudia Beltran, of FAO Sub-Regional Office located in Panama, is based on national and regional experiences and expectations in aquaculture of several countries in the Central American isthmus: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
According to the Economic and Social Report of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Panama, issued in April 2012, the fishing industry has declined in recent years due to several aspects, including the prohibition of longline gear, removing the incentive to exports of non-traditional products and low fishery yields, such as the shrimp one.
Besides, small-scale or artisanal fisheries also face problems that are associated with climate change, the use of illegal fishing gear and the lack of awareness of many fishermen on the importance of engaging in the activity responsibly.
Anyway, FAO report recognizes that training encourages fishermen to improve fishing and fish production conservation practices.
Beltrán believes it is necessary to diversify marine and inland aquaculture. And she suggests that to achieve this, it would be important to involve the authorities and the unions representing the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the newspaper La Estrella de Panama reported.
Some of the options that could be implemented in order to generate better income to the Central American region are:
Shellfish culture: This activity is supported by Japan’s International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It develops technology to produce seeds and fatten the species in the Shellfish Aquaculture Production Centre in El Salvador;
Common snook farming: The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is working on the development of technology. It initiated a pilot project in La Ceiba (Atlantida) and two pilot projects on this resource in San Francisco de Yojoa (Cortés);
Octopus farming: The actions shared with UNAM have also allowed the identification of potential areas for farming maya octopus (Octopus maya), whose reproduction and cultivation are developed in the Multidisciplinary Teaching and Research Unit (UMDI);
Sea cucumber farming: This echinoderm present in the Pacific and the Atlantic is highly sought after by Asian nations. Mexico is dedicated to its cultivation and breeding;
Ornamental fish culture: This activity has not been fully developed in Central America yet, although in most countries small-scale cultivation of native species is performed;
Options for maximizing the use of tilapia: The byproducts of this species are really appreciated abroad and can offer farmers other business options thanks to the skin and scales, which can be used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
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