- CHAPTER II -
BACKGROUND

1 - GENERAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTRY

1.1. GEOGRAPHY

Suriname, formerly Dutch Guyana, covers about 163 000 km2 and is located on the north-eastern coast of South America. The latitude and longitude respectively range between 2°– 6° N and 54°– 58°W. The country is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Brazil, on the west by Guyana and on the east by French Guyana (see map N^o 1).

It is divided into 3 geographic zones from the North to the South : The northern-zone or coastal plain extending about 35 km inland from the coast ; the agriculture (paddy, etc.…) is concentrated on that zone. The central zone, 50–65 km wide, covered with forest and scattery savannas. The southern hilly zone rising to about 1 255 m above the sea level. That latter zone covers 75 % of the whole country surface.

Paramaribo, the main town is located on the coast, on the Suriname river.

1.2. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

The climate is tropical with an average annual rainfall of about 320 cm. As shown in Table 1, 2 raining seasons occur with the most important one from June to August and the second from November to January. Air temperatures are high, ranging between 21°C and 32°C thoughout the year. The relative air moisture ranges between 70–75 % and 85–90 %.

1.3. HYDROGRAPHIC NETWORK AND FRESHWATER CHARACTERISTICS

The 3 main rivers are the Corentyn river, the Nickery river and the Suriname river. At the level of its estuary the Suriname river receives (from the east) the Commewijne river on a confluent site called New Amsterdam. The colonial period in Suriname started here with the first implementations (polders, etc…).

All these rivers are wide with an important flow and the estuaries are under the influence of the marine tidal cycles. The most important factor as regards the rivers is their important silt content. For instance, data collected from the New Amsterdam station (from January to October 1986) can be summarized as follows :

MAANDGEGEVENS : Regenval

STATION : New Amsterdam 615

- On the Commewijne river side, the silt content ranges between 55 and 7 300 mg/l (during one tidal cycle, the content may be reduced or increased-by a factor 10)

- On the Suriname river side, it ranges between 35 and 5 400 with the same potential influence of the tide.

The pH of the water varies from 6,7 to 8,2 and the salinity may reach 30-32‰ in some parts of the estuaries at high tide and during the dry season (data collected on 12/11/86 by the team on the northen part of the Suriname river estuary).

1.4. SOILS CHARACTERISTICS AND LAND OCCUPATION

The coastal areas are mainly covered with clay soils (about 65 % of clay). Sulfat acid soils (presence of pyrit) have been observed but very locally. Furthermore, that presence of pyrit is more frequent on the western coast of the Suriname river.

About 100 % of these coastal areas, are very shallow and swampy. However, thousands of hectares were improved (mostly on the eastern coast of the Suriname river) and cultivated during the colonial period. Most of these estates are now abandoned.

Silting on the beaches and downstream of the estuaries is very important. Most of the beaches are covered with a soft mud and at low tide, the muddy foreshore is discovered up to 3 miles from the beach. However, the natural silting on the beaches is more important on the western coast of the Suriname river estuary as large, discovered sandy areas are observed on the eastern coast (between the Suriname and Maroni rivers).

1.5. OCEANOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

- Depths :

Very shallow marine waters is a constant characteristic in the area. The 5 m depth is usually reached at about 10 miles from the coastline.

- Tides :

The tides are semi-diurnal type and the amplitude ranges between 1,3 and 2,3 m.

- Currents :

The flood tide current is westward while the ebb current is eastward. However, the general south-equatorial current is predominating with a N.W. direction, comming from Brazil.

- Temperature of sea water :

The surface water temperature is almost constant throughout the year ranging between 27° C and 29° C.

- Salinity :

The coastal areas are permanently under the influence of the rivers. Thus, during the rainy seasons it is almost impossible or at least very difficult to find, close to the sea shore, marine waters with a salinity above 25–30 ‰ (Influence of the Amazon river, Maroni river, etc…).

Nota : During the short period of that mission, it was not possible for the experts to look for coastal areas where the salinity of the marine water can be above 30‰ during long periods (at least 8–9 months per year).

2 - SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTRY

2.1. POPULATION

The total population of Suriname is about 350 000 inhabitants and the population density is 2/km2. It is composed with a mixture of ethnic groups such as Hindustan, Creole, Javanese, Bush Negro, Amerindians, Chinese and Europeans. However, as 96 % of the country is covered with forests, most of the population is concentrated in the coastal region and 50 % in Paramaribo.

2.2. POLITIC

Former dutch colony, Suriname became independant on November 15, 1975 and the Colonel Desi Bouterse leads the country since February 1980.

2.3. GENERAL TRENDS OF THE ECONOMY

Suriname is a relatively rich country with a G.N.P. amounting to about US $ 3 800 per capita in 1984. The economy is mainly based on industry (aluminium and alumine from Bauxite, etc…), agriculture and mining (6 th Bauxite World producer) which respectively account for 47 %, 13 % and 10 % of the G.N.P.

Such basis are very sound and the annual growth rate of the G.N.P. was one of the highest in the world from 1970 to 1983. However, due to the stopped financial aid from Netherland (about 100 millions US $ per year) and the drop of the international Bauxite price, the country is now facing drastic economic difficulties. The present important shortage of foreign currency results in many problems such as lack of spare parts, difficulties to find goods with a large component of foreign currency (animal feed, equipment, etc...).

The official and fixed parity between the local currency the Suriname florin (S. Fl.) and the US dollar is 1 US $ = 1,85 S. Fl. However, in the present economic situation the real parity reaches about 1 US $ for 8 S. Fl in the black market.

3 - THE FISHERIES SECTOR

3.1. NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR FISHERIES

The fisheries sector depends of the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fishery which is headed by a Deputy Permanent Secretary. That Fisheries Department administers the country's marine and inland fisheries development programme and aquaculture falls under its Inland Fisheries Division.

3.2. CATCHES AND EXPORTS

In 1984, total catches amounted to 9 800 tons and 60 % were exported. Marine shrimps catches and exports are slowly decreasing as it can be seen on the following table (the main species of caught shrimps are Penaeus schmitti, P. duorarum and P. brasiliensis.

(Source : State Commission for Fisheries)

As it can be seen, the quasi-totality of the shrimp production is exported. However, the real income in foreign currency is limited as :

- Production cost for fishing requires a large input in foreign currency (energy, boats, equipment, etc…).

- An important part of the landings is provided by foreign boats (japanese and Korean) and is paid in foreign currency.

The real income in foreign currency should be close to 15 % of the export value.

4 - THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR

4.1. PRESENT STATUS OF THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR IN SURINAME

Commercial aquaculture is non-existent in the country in both the public and private sectors.

A - In the public sector

In 1984, the Government-owned SURLAND company, engaged in large scale rice and banana production, conducted some trials on the culture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. SURLAND intends now to go into a larger project (pilot project) but the shortage of foreign currency presently freezes the project.

B - In the private sector

Very interesting trials are presently carried out by a private investor (Mr Van ALEN) on the culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The farm is located on the right bank of the Commewijne river on Mr Van Alen's estate. It includes several ha of grow-out ponds (under production with post-larvae purchased in French Guyana in May 1986) and 1 hatchery under construction. The dynamism of the investor is the first quality of the project. However, additional inputs such as a foreign know-how are highly necessary.

During the mission, the experts could hold many talks with various potential investors. They show a strong interest for aquaculture and provided :

- The economic situation be improved (possibility to import the necessary goods to start and continue the activity) ;

- The necessary technical demonstrations be successfully performed in the country ;

they will go into a commercial aquaculture for export.

4.2. EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURES OF POTENTIAL SUPPORT FOR MARINE SHRIMP CULTURE

A - Shrimp processing

There are 2 processing plants in SURINAME. One is SUJAFI (a japanese owned company) and the biggest in SAIL, a Government-owned company. The total production capacity should be about 5 000 T/year but SAIL works at 50 % only of its capacity. During the mission, the experts could visit the SAIL facilities only. It is clear the process can be improved as the following critics can be stated :

HAND PACKING IN SAIL FACILITIES

PLATE DEEP FREEZER IN SAIL FACILITIES