A review of the history and present status of freshwater and coastal aquaculture in Latin American countries shows that development has taken place under different conditions in different areas and with different objectives and orientations. In a number of countries rural-scale fish farming has been developed as a means of improving the nutrition of economically backward communities living in the highlands in the interior areas. These projects appear to have received greater social and political significance, sometimes disproportionate to their economic importance. In some countries considerable stress has been laid on aqua-culture to improve or increase fish populations in lakes and reservoirs through stocking operations. While critical evaluations of the results of such operations are not readily available in all cases, there is evidence to show that at least in some countries they have contributed to appreciable increases in fish resources. In countries like Brazil such stocking operations are being made obligatory when major river basin or hydro-electric power development plans are implemented. Environmental manipulation and management through hydraulic projects, as in the lagoons of Mexico, to enhance the natural stocking of shrimps and other species and thereby their productivity and yield, are undertaken as a form of aquaculture.
Despite these developments, the Workshop noted that aquaculture has not received the level of recognition and importance as a national economic activity in many of the countries. Responsibility for developmental activities remains diffused; often in different agencies and ministeries, and even in the same agency in different institutions or divisions. This makes it difficult to formulate and implement integrated programmes. Adequate attention has not been given to demonstrating the economic viability and production potential of aquaculture. These factors may cause a vicious circle; inadequate support resulting in the inability of agencies to demonstrate the value of aquaculture and this acting as a limiting factor in attracting support. A well designed development plan oriented to make a major impact on production appears essential to remedy this situation.
The need for aquaculture in some of the countries of the region that are major meat producers and exporters was discussed. It was noted that in spite of the high levels of meat production and marine fish landings, the national protein consumption rates were low, particularly in the rural areas and among the poorer sections of society. Even with improved transport and marketing arrangements, it may not be feasible to increase animal protein consumption to the required level, because of either inadequacy of production or the needs of export trade. In addition, most industries are at present in need of diversification and aquaculture offers excellent opportunities in this direction.
Although aquaculture still remains in an experimental stage in a number of countries, there are systems of culture that have reached a production or pilot - scale stage of development. These include large-scale pond culture of trout, tilapia (particularly hybrids), carps; raft or rope culture of oysters and mussels in coastal waters and the cage culture of tilapia. Stocking of irrigation and multipurpose reservoirs with indigenous species, and extensive culture of shrimps in coastal impoundments and lagoons are also capable of being undertaken on a production scale. Experimental studies on the pond culture of some of the indigenous fishes such as Cichla ocellaris, Colossoma bidens, Mylossoma bidens, Pimelodus spp., Prochilodus spp. and Mugil spp. are nearing the pilot-scale operation stage. Since many of these developments have occurred in only certain countries or areas, the importance of vertical and horizontal transfer of technology within the region assumes special significance. Similar transfer of technology from other regions of the world such as Asia and the modification of the techniques to suit local conditions and requirements are also of considerable importance.
Many of the communities to be served by aquaculture production programmes may not presently be major consumers of fishery products and in such cases there will be need for an effective consumer promotion campaign. Experience seems to indicate that if properly planned and implemented such campaigns can serve to establish fish as a well-accepted food. When high-valued species like the trout are farmed, the product is generally destined for the speciality market and restaurant trade. However, it brings in considerable economic benefits to the rural communities.
The discussions in the Workshop showed that valuable experience is accumulating in many centres in the region and the collection and dissemination of such information can contribute substantially to the development of the industry. The CARPAS Symposium on Aquaculture in Latin America (Montevideo, Uruguay, 1974) had recognized the need for such information activity on a regional scale. But considering the staff and facilities required for establishing an efficient system of collection, analysis and dissemination of information, the Workshop agreed that this should form a major activity of the Regional Aquaculture Centre to be recommended to be established (see page 21). In the meantime the regional fishery bodies, CARPAS, WECAFC and the. Latin American inland fishery body to be established by FAO should be utilized through specialized working parties to pool experience and data. Participants from most of the countries expressed the very strong wish and interest of their governments to share their experience with other countries of the region and offered the facilities of their institutions for this purpose.
The scarcity of adequately trained personnel, specially for production programmes, was repeatedly underlined as a major problem facing aquaculture development in the region. The training courses organized in some of the countries of the region were described. The need for regional cooperation in the training of higher level aquaculturists was recognized.
