With coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Oceans, Colombian fisheries are extensive and diverse. The continental shelves are relatively narrow (48,365 square km). Fishery resources are characterized by high species diversity and relatively small stock size.
The main species fished include tuna, langostino, shrimp, lobster, snappers, and conch. A significant part of the product is exported to the USA, Japan, and Europe.
Approximately 25,000 artisanal fishermen provide an important source of food for internal consumption, and bring significant socio-economic benefits to coastal areas.
Major fishing techniques include purse seining for tuna and small pelagic species, shrimp trawling in both shallow and deep waters, bottom longline fishing and hook-and-line. Many of these techniques were imported during the nineteen-fifties from countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, and the USA. In 1996 there were approximately 144 vessels targeting shrimp, 69 tuna vessels, and 80 vessels targeting mixed demersal species.
In recent years shrimp trawlers have been required to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). The consequent reduction in bycatch is expected to benefit artisanal fisheries, and the improvement in the quality of shrimp landed should improve the economics of the shrimpers. Tuna purse seiners have had to adopt techniques to avoid the incidental mortality of dolphins, and the benefits have been documented by the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission.
Some species targeted by traditional fisheries are harvested at or beyond maximum sustainable yield. However, others which could be harvested are not, due in part to a lack of appropriate and economically viable technology. These include thread herring, jumbo squid and deepwater shrimp.
Areas of interest for fisheries research include the selectivity of fishing gear and methods, reduction of bycatch in shrimp trawls, measurement of fishing effort, fishery economics, Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, fishermen’s safety and working conditions. Private fishing companies conduct their own research in fishing gear and methods, sometimes contracting additional expertise from countries including Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, or the USA.
National legislation and policies support the application of appropriate fishing technology to increase production and assure the rational utilization of physical, human and economic resources. The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Instituto Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura INPA) have arrangements for technical support to both artisanal and industrial fisheries. However, the development of an overall plan for research and development in fishing technology has been hindered by shortages of experienced technologists, infrastructure and financial support.
Several institutions offer fisheries training. The Department of Fishery Engineering (Falcutad de Ingeniería Pesquera), located in Santa Maria on the Caribbean coast, trains professionals in fishing technology, design and calculations for fishing gear.
The Nautical Fisheries Centers of the National Training Service (Centros Nautico-Pesqueros del Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje SENA) are located in Buenaventura and Cartagena. The Centre in Cartagena provides training in net construction, seamanship, fishing operations, marine engines, refrigeration and navigation. It is equipped with a testing tank. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided support to this centre, and its professors have been trained in Japan.
The Technical University of Chocó (Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó) trains mid-level fishing technologists with basic skills in fishing technology, marine engines and seafood preservation.
A number of marine biologists, fishing technologists and fishery engineers have received training abroad in Japan, Korea, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Chile. The Colombian Association of Fishery Engineers (Asociación Colombiana de Ingenieros Pesqueros) cooperates with the University of Magdalena, the Technical Institute of Mazatlan, and the Organization of American States to offer an international course in the design of machinery for fishing. The course is intended for thirty professionals and consists of 200 hours of theory and practical exercises.
The INPA has conducted research on artisanal fishing technology and related economics, as well as studies of nets and longlines for exploratory fishing.
The Department of Fishery Engineering is currently conducting the following projects:
In cooperation with the European Union Program for Technical Cooperation in fisheries and Development of Artisanal Fisheries, the following activities are in progress:
The results of these projects will be published in the program’s Technical Bulletins, and will serve as the focus of further extension activities. Certain related technologies such as the use of GPS in mid-sized vessels, have shown promise and been widely accepted.
An urgent need for regional cooperation in fishing technology research and development has been voiced. In particular, technical assistance aimed at solving specific practical problems could bring great benefits. A few potential participants are the National Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Nautical Fisheries Centers of the National Training Service and the Department of Fisheries Engineering. Some specific topics for general courses and/or focused training might include the design, construction and testing of the following:
In addition, there is an urgent need for technical assistance in the design, construction and repair of tuna purse seines, because the local industry does not have sufficient trained technicians in this specialty.
