Aruba has had no experience of acquaculture. In spite of this, the Aruban Government has been advocating its development since the early '80s as a possible alternative source of fish product and income. This interest has been shown again by the inclusion of an aquaculture feasibility study among the objectives of the project ARU/90/002.
The high consumption of fish by residents and, in particular, that related to the very active tourist trade, appears to be by far the most concrete motivation for aquaculture development in Aruba. It could provide an income for local producers and, simultaneously, a means to reduce import expenditure.
Imports of fish products in 1988 amounted to 1125 tons, representing a value of over AFIs 8 million (Central Bureau of Statistics). The project ARU/90/002 estimated around 1500 tons of fish imports in 1992 and foresaw a 48% growth in the global demand for fish food by 1999 (Aviat 1993). Residents consumption per capita was estimated at 12,4 Kg/year, consisting mostly of fresh fish, whereas the consumption for tourists was estimated 77,4 Kg/year. Fish prices are regulated by the Government and the species most in demand such as grouper (Epinhephelus sp.), wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) or kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla), are sold at 9–10 AFL/kg (5,1–5,7 US $)* . This does not apply to frozen or processed products which, sold in supermarkets as cutlets or fillets, reach values of 16–18 and even 20 AFls/kg ( ARU/90/002. Direct checks were also made during the mission). These figures confirm that aquaculture production should find good local market opportunities (however, the acceptability of “reared fish” still has to be checked) At the same time, they show a low economic operating margin due to the general “low” price of the fresh product and the high operating costs. No fish processing industry exists on the island and even if aquaculture operators could process their products to increase their value, competition from the imported processed products would still be strong.
In certain cases the preservation of natural resources could also justify the development of an aquaculture programme. An example is given by the Fundashon Marcultura's programme of conch juveniles production and release. Even if official data is not available, field surveys carried out in the past few years by Marcultura and DAHF personnel (Barnes, pers. com.) have confirmed the recovery of the over fished conch populations in the areas where the juveniles were seeded.
Aquaculture can not be justified as a source of employment since simple yet labour intensive aquaculture such as rearing bivalve molluscs or macrophytae cultivation, are apparently not feasible on the island (see 3.3). In addition, unemployment is not considered a major problem on Aruba.
Inland aquaculture cannot be considered due to the extremely low fresh water resources available on the island; drinking and industrial fresh water is provided through a desalination plant at a price of 5.15 AFls (domestic use), 5.25 AFls (industrial use)/m3.
Sea water is therefore the only resource available and the availability of appropriate sites along the coast becomes the determining factor for aquaculture development. Site selection surveys have been previously carried out by Fundashon Marcultura personnel and recently by private investors interested in setting up aquaculture enterprises; very few sites were selected and some of them cannot now be considered available due to modified environmental conditions i.e. the expansion of tourism.
Due to the limited time available, no very detailed field surveys were carried out during the mission, therefore the possibility of further sites suitable for intensive rearing in tanks cannot be completely excluded. The overview obtained of the coastal characteristics is sufficient to give the following picture:
- West coast, from North to South - (Appendix 4)
Tourist and recreational facilities are concentrated in the North- West part of the island, from the California Light House to Oranjested. This area should be excluded as no industrial activity is contemplated there by the Government and the cost of the land is very high.
From Oranjestad to San Nicholas the coral reef emerges close to the coast, creating protected bays. The two bays formed by Sonesta Reef Island and Palm Reef Island are potentially exposed to pollution due to the presence in this area of the Oranjestad land-fill site (in expansion), the industrial port area of Barcadera, the desalination plant and two yacht clubs (Bucuti and Aruba Nautical Club); part of this coastal strip is also reserved for industrial activities. Spanish Lagoon, located in front of Palm Reef Island is too small to host aquaculture activities and furthermore, is a protected area for birds and mangroves.
Commanders Bay in the South has also to be excluded for aquaculture development, being a closed bay with a quite high residential density along its coast. No other available sites exist due to the presence of San Nicholas city and a coastal oil refinery, until the southern point of the island. Here, a very small site, suitable for aquaculture is available (Rogers beach) in front of the ancient ESSO club (which now belongs to the Government). The site consists of a few hectares of coral rocks and a sandy beach which have been presently requested for use by PROPESCA (a Venezuelan shrimp production and sea food processing company) for the construction of a pre-fattening (from nauplii to post larvae) shrimp plant. The land concession is being evaluated by the Government but risks a negative response due to the presence of the social club behind the site and the position of Baby Beach Lagoon on the right which is highly frequented by tourists.
- Eastern coast, from North to South -(Appendix 4)
The all east cost is exposed to constant strong winds, waves and marine currents.
Between the California sand dunes and Boca Poos di Noord the coral platform slopes gently to the sea and is partially covered by sand. This site attracted the interest of potential investors in aquaculture, looking for the possibility of excavating ponds (fish/shrimp rearing in lined earth bottomed ponds. The sand-earth layer however does not seem deep enough). Nevertheless, important constraints exist even here. The most important one is the presence of a golf course a few hundred metres from the sea. The owners of the golf club have already asked that no construction should be allowed there in order to avoid damaging the beautiful landscape. It must be remembered that tourism is the most important industry on the island! Moreover, part of the land, in the centre of the site is private property.
From Boca Poos di Noord to Rincon the coral cliff forms terraces some five or six meters high above the sea. This area can be considered as a good platform upon which a rearing system based on concrete tanks could be built but again the difficulties appear insurmountable. No utilities (electric energy, fresh water, telecommunications) exist in the area; the territory belongs to the Dutch army which periodically uses it for military exercises; the coast is exposed to strong winds and constant salt spray, hence construction costs would be high and maintenance difficult.
Large beaches characterise the southern part of the east coast, staring from Rincon. This seems to be the most appropriate area for aquaculture farming and it was selected for this purpose in 1989 by a National Commission advising the Government on land use (Directie Openbare Werken 1989). In Rincon the coral reef extends into the sea, quite close to the surface, breaking the big waves and protecting the beach. Coralline-sandy soil is present in this area and it is probably a few meters deep. Some monitoring wells drilled in 1985 by the Lago Oil & Transport Co. Ltd about 1 km south seem to confirm this impression (Appendix 5). The site is anyhow exposed to strong wind and continuous salt spray. Electricity and fresh water are about one kilometre away. Furthermore, an option for tourist development in this area is still under evaluation by the Government.
Despite the continuous interest shown by the Government, aquaculture still retains an anonymous role within national productive activities. In this sense, the closure of Fundashon Marcultura, financially supported by the ABC Governments and which should have proved the potential of aquaculture, represents a backward step for the future development of the sector. Aquaculture is not mentioned in Aruba's development plan, it is not subject to any specific legislation and does not profit by any fiscal incentive.
No global plan for land use or activities zones exists in Aruba (Abath, pers, com.), but the Government Land Administration Department acts as executing agency for the Housing and Urbanization Special Development and Environment Commission (VROM: Volkuisvesting Ruimtelik Ontwikkeling Milien), which founded in 1992, is working on land zoning and environmental protection.
Aquaculture is regulated by the current legislation on agriculture husbandry and fisheries. An example of the requirements to be fulfilled by investors in aquaculture is the documentation demanded by the Government from PROPESCA (PROPESCA 1994) for the submission of its proposal (see 3.2.). This includes: a general information prospectus on the Company, the Company's latest balance sheet, an economic and technical description of the project and it's operational processes as well as the project feasibility study, bank and commercial references and finally, (Barnes, pers. com.) an evaluation of the environmental impact of the project.
At present, skilled personnel in aquaculture in the island is limited to the two DAHF fisheries officers, who had a two-months training period near the Fundashon Marcultura facilities in Bonaire. No specific technical bibliography exists at the Department. This mission has delivered a copy of the FAO Fish. Dept. Publications and Documents 1977-1994 and recommended a subscription to ASFA Aquaculture Abstracts and to the Aquaculture Information Centre of the USA Department of Agriculture, in order to be up todate with the most important works published on the subject.
Aruba has no aquaculture facility or laboratory.
Three proposals are at present under consideration by the Aruban Government through its DAHF:
- The PRODUCTO PESQUERO DEL CARIBE (PROPESCA) Shrimp Hatchery Project.
Description
This project has been submitted by the enterprise STANDARD SEAFOOD DE VENEZUELA which consists of the PROPESCA seafood processing company, located in Maracaibo, and the RICOA - AGROMARINA shrimp farming company, whose production plant is in the State of Falcón (Venezuela).
The project objective as quoted is “to import (to Aruba) nauplii and or broodstock from the farm in Falcon and export (from Aruba) post larvae to the same farm or to our existing clients in Venezuela, Colombia and Costa Rica”. The justifications for locating this activity in Aruba, instead of along the Venezuelan coast, are (van der Valk, pers. com.):
The site selected (and requested from the Aruban Government) to build the hatchery is located in front of the ex-ESSO club near Rogers Bay. The project is divided in two parts (fattening of imported nauplii and during the first year and of locally produced ones afterwards) with a scheduled final production of 132 million of post larvae/year. The project foresees the employment of 15 persons (technicians, skilled labour and general labour force).
General comments
The proposal, even if unusual, appears justified by the convincing reasons put forward by PROPESCA, which delivered a complete dossier to the Government, giving the information requested. The financial analysis appears convincing. The choice of the site is physically correct, since the activity is restricted to hatchery production and does not require large land availability. The concession to PROPESCA remains uncertain, for the reasons reported in 3.1.2. (west coast)
The advantage to the Aruban Government in accepting this proposal is slight beyond that of foreign investment in the island. The employment of 15 persons is not sufficient justification to warrant the concession
A genuine advantage for Aruban aquaculture would be:
- NEWPORT BAY SEAFOODS (OREGON) red Tilapia rearing in sea water, technically assisted by MICROPA AGRICULTURE CENTER (ARIZONA)
Description
The proposal was not at the disposal of DAHF at the time the mission was performed. The only documentation available were two tables (Appendix 6) containing some physical and biological parameters which characterise the farming system, and the comments of Newport Bay Seafoods sent to DAHF and to Micropa.
The proposal deals with the farming of red Tilapia in sea water with a planned production of 3 tons per week, under an intensive rearing model in green water, using ponds. Green (fertilized) water is preferred to clear water because of the better food conversion rate obtainable and, therefore, the possibility of reducing the imports of pellets. The produce would be sold on the local market. The site chosen for the realisation of the farm is, probably, Rincon (Boekhoudt, pers. com.)
At the same time, Newport Bay Seafoods showed a particular interest in oyster rearing, and sent to DAHF some spat (Crassostrea gigas or virginica?) to check its growth in Aruba. The spat, placed in the Spanish Lagoon, gave very negative results (no growth and high mortality at the time of the mission visit to the site).
General comments
No technical comments could be made due to the limited documentation available. A number of doubts were raised from the information in the two tables and field observations:
LOPEZ BROTHER'S INDUSTRIAL (EMPRESA EN CONSTITUCION) SISTEMA AGRO-PISCICOLA;
Description
The Lopez Brother's Industrial Enterprise proposes the development of an integrated farming model. Red Tilapia will be reared in ponds with a production of 15 tons/month at the beginning and 40 tons/month as the normal productive régime. The red Californian earth-worm (Eisenia foetida) would be reared in the pond dams to “prepare the land”, forming the organic humus, which, combined with the moisture of the soil induced by the presence of water in the ponds would allow the cultivation of “herbaceous species”. Part of this product would be used as raw material to produce meal with a high protein content for fish food. Simultaneously the water discharged by the ponds would be used to “irrigate salad and fruit-trees”. Ornamental fish and local crustaceans and molluscs would complete the integrated rearing system.
General comments
The proposal appears confused and rough. Without making any specific comment on the usefulness, or reliability, of such a system in Aruba (or even elsewhere), it seems sufficient to underline the lack of technical substance. For example, Red Tilapia is introduced because of its adaptability to sea water (p. 11) The suggestion that the Lopez Brothers could irrigate salad and fruit-trees with sea water (“deriving from ponds where local varieties of shrimp and molluscs could be studied”, p. 8) appears incomprehensible, and, in addition, it is impossible to say that a return of 53,82% can be easily obtained when items such as “energy cost” or “depreciation” are not included in the financial analysis.
Very few aquaculture models seem applicable in Aruba, because of the extremely selective local conditions.
The lack of fresh water (desalinised water being expensive and limited) should exclude the option of inland aquaculture. However it appears worth pointing out that the only experience of fish rearing carried out on the island has been the fattening of Tilapia nilotica in the small reservoirs excavated by farmers for irrigation. About twenty reservoirs of 50–60.000 m3 and one of 100–120.000 m3 exist on the island (Barnes, pers. com.). This rearing model could be promoted again in the future*, bearing in mind that:
rain water is scarce and extremely unpredictable (Appendix 7). Aruba has a high water evaporation rate (7–8 mm/day). The selected reservoirs should contain sufficient volume of water to guarantee a full fattening cycle (5–6 months)
even a low rearing density (0,5–1 kg/m3) would represent a significant global quantity of fish for Aruba. Nevertheless, this will be true only if a selected product is obtained, with size and quality that appeals to the local market.
the promotion of inland aquaculture calls for an important effort to be made by the government (DAHF). The supply of fingerlings and farmers trained in the correct management of ponds and fish populations will be necessary at the beginning, as well as technical assistance to the producers afterwards.
Coastal aquaculture options are also very limited. In fact:
cultivation of macrophytae is to be excluded because of the lack of available sandy bottommed surface along the east coast, where the protected beaches are obviously for tourist activities only,
bivalve molluscs, which are a requested product in Aruba, cannot be reared because of the low primary productivity of the sea,
shrimp rearing in ponds is limited by the paucity of land available along the coastline. The intensive rearing of Shrimp in tanks, as mentioned before, is not advisable due to the high technology and technical experience required and the uncertain results achieved to date,
marine fish rearing is still hampered by the limited experience in this sector within the Caribbean Region. The recent Regional investigations into fish rearing in sea water (FAO 1993a; FAO 1993 b; Lovatelli and Loria 1993; Espeut et al., 1994) still show that, in spite of the relatively large number of marine fish species considered for commercial aquaculture, only in a very few cases were the results beyond the research stage.
The environmental and socio-economic conditions in Aruba point aquaculture towards intensive rearing models (with an intensive use of the occupied surface), with private industry as the main sector targeted for funding. Nevertheless, the absence of a reliable aquaculture pattern in the Netherlands Antilles (as highlighted by the closure of Fundashon Marcultura Station), represents the real constraint for the potential private investors who have no point of reference. It is important that an effort be made by the public administration to promote local aquaculture development and, at the same time, to improve its own capacity for evaluating and selecting future private investment proposals.
This could be achieved through the implementation of demonstratively productive programmes, but, in order to reduce the possible risks associated with building up new aquaculture facilities in Aruba, these should be preceded by a pilot project which would show the technical and economic feasibility of the selected models and increase the technical aquaculture skill of DAHF personnel.
The main characteristics of the suggested pilot project (appendix 8) are:
the partial use of the facilities of the ex-Marcultura Station in Bonaire, within strictly defined time and budgetary limits, which will allow the simulatation and evaluation of aquaculture production under environmental conditions similar to those of the Aruban west coast, without the immediate cost of building up new facilities,
the selection of red Tilapia as first species to be used, due to its adaptability to intensive rearing both in fresh as well as marine water, which would allow the development of aquaculture in fresh water ponds (farmers irrigation ponds), marine ponds (in case Rincon is the selected area), sea water intensive rearing in tanks (new station) and, if technically feasible, the future use of marine net cages.
the reduction of the future development risks through better technical and financial advice (trained personnel) and product market acceptability evaluation (market tests).
The completion of the pilot project activities will lead to informed judgement on the feasibility of future intensive aquaculture in Aruba, giving information on:
the rearing intensity achievable in the different aquaculture models applied which will permit the correct sizing of the productive structures
the reliable economic evaluation of the product and of the willingness of Aruban consumers to pay higher prices for fresh (live) fish and to increase their consumption (Aviat, 1993). Any variation of the sale price will strongly influence the value of the break-even point (contribution per unit or per value), thus giving the necessary dimension of the farms in relation with the quantity of produce needed.
Future projects must also consider:
the necessary use of special material and equipment for activities promoted along the west coast because of the aggressive environmental conditions. For example, special concrete (type five concrete, Wever pers. com.) should be used, thus increasing the building cost (1500–1700 A Fls/m3),
the relatively high costs of labour, energy and freshwater (freshwater must be used during the reproduction and fry rearing phases even with red Tilapia),
the cost of importing most of the equipment and some consumable goods, as for example fish food and most of the chemical and veterinary products,
the present lack of special financial benefits for agriculture or husbandry activity (the Government could favour this sector by promoting low cost credit loans and tax exemptions for certain imported products or for the fish locally reared and sold).
Red Tilapia, as already mentioned, could represent the best species to test, in the near future, for the possible development of marine cage culture in Aruba. This rearing technique seems a very good option for the island (as well as for a large part of the Caribbean Region) but constraints should be evaluated. No studies and mapping of the marine currents along Aruban coast exist (or, at least, they are not available at DAHF). Selection of a cage model suitable for the local conditions should be made. Red Tilapia seems to be more sensitive to parasites when reared in shallow marine waters (Espeut et al., 1994) but the positive effects of increasing the depth of water should be proved.
In addition red Tilapia, two more aquaculture development possibilities should also be mentioned:
conch reproduction and release. The first results obtained by Fundashon Marcultura looked promising (Barnes, pers. com.; Hensen, pers. com.). Private industry will probably not support this activity, but benefits will arise from the preservation of this resource and the possible increase of local conch production. Moreover, a market strategy similar to that applied in Turks and Caicos (FAO, 1993b), which promote the sale of conch juveniles as “conch escargot” in the seafood market, could be tested in Aruba. In this case, sales should be restricted to reared conch.
ornamental fish. Some positive experience with ornamental fish and invertebrate rearing has been gained by Marcultura Station in Bonaire. This form of aquaculture would greatly be helped by the high rate of tourism in Aruba, especially if linked with the realisation of a Tropical Marine Aquarium. Ornamental fish rearing and tourist shows cannot be considered “aquaculture for food”, but their high revenue potential could partially compensate for the cost of fish imports.
Most of the reasons which motivate the Government of Aruba to look towards aquaculture development are common to many of the countries in the Caribbean Region. Examples of these common objectives are the reduction of fish product imports, the necessity for complementary sources of products to integrate the limited and often overexploited fisheries resources and the need to diversify the economies. On the other hand, a joint Caribbean approach to the problem has been suggested several times. However, because of the scarcity of funds dedicated to information exchange or regional training and research programmes, this has yet to give significant results.
FAO has recently proposed a development strategy for aquaculture (FAO, 1992) to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which, considered the paucity of economic resources available and the diverse levels of sector development in the various countries The necessity for an integrated use of the existing human resources and facilities as well as common search for funds through the presentation of joint development projects to potential sponsors was suggested. Unfortunately, not even this proposal has been followed up with real action.
Any regional approach to aquaculture development would greatly benefit Aruba since there has been little experience gained on the island until now. At first this will help Aruba to become acquainted with the techniques successfully developed in this area. In this context, the rearing of both red Tilapia and ornamental fish is already successful in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Jamaica, Martinique). Later, a stronger collaboration could be promoted for the development of new productive techniques, such as marine cage farming.
A collaboration with FAO will enhance the possibility of technical training (study tours, technical visits or expert exchange) both by participating in the Caribbean Co-operation Network in Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture co-ordinated by the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean as well as by assistance with the promotion of TCDC programmes (Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries) with the other Caribbean Countries. In addition, FAO will be particularly helpful as source of technical information. At the beginning of 1995 the new Aquaculture Project Simulator (APS), an efficient tool for the design of productive projects and their evaluation will be available. APS is developed within the framework of the FAO Information System for Aquaculture Planning in Latin America (SIPAL).
An agreement as been recently signed by all the countries bordering the Caribbean Sea which brought about the establishment of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). This Association, which also participates in CARICOM and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), has as its basic purpose the widening of Caribbean Integration and includes fisheries and aquaculture in its areas of interest.
The EEC also represents an important source of funds for the Region. Proposed Aquaculture development projects could be financed under the 2o financial protocol of Lome IV Convention (European Overseas Countries Program) which will probably commence in the second half of 1995. In this case a Netherlands Antilles proposal should be submitted to restore Fundashon Marcultura's important role within the Region.
