Among the important commercial species are sardines, shrimp, tuna and various demersal finfish. Both industrial and artisanal fisheries are important. Venezuelan fisheries are conducted in inland waters, estuaries, coastal waters, offshore areas and in the vicinity of the country’s islands.
The Government agency responsible for overseeing and supporting research is the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas, CONICIT). In a workshop on Priority Areas for Marine Science and Technology organized by CONICIT in July 1996, National Priorities for Fishery Research were identified as follows.
1. Develop management models that improve the utilization of marine fishery resources exploited in traditional areas.
1.1 Improve the knowledge of the biology and population dynamics of commercial species.
1.2 Expand the database of reliable statistics on landings and fishing effort.
1.3 Increase the knowledge of non-biological factors and their effect on fisheries.
1.4 Develop technology to increase the efficiency of fishing operations and processing. Priority fisheries involve sardines, snapper-groupers, trawling, and commercially important invertebrates.
2. Develop management models that improve the utilization of marine fishery resources in non-traditional fishing areas.
2.1 Give priority to fisheries research aimed at artisanal fisheries on the continental shelves of islands.
2.2 Conduct exploratory fishing on the shelf edge and slope for the industrial fishery.
2.3 Evaluate the potential for sardines and other pelagic species in deepwater areas.
2.4 Develop technology to catch pelagic species in non-traditional areas.
2.5 Promote the development of processing technologies for deepwater species.
3. Develop a strategic plan for fisheries which reinforces access of Venezuelan fleets to extraterritorial waters and includes in an integrated manner, research, promotion and international exchange in the field of fishing technology.
4. Promote the application of new technologies such as remote sensing for fishery research and coastal development, especially in estuarine areas.
5. Promote more fisheries research in the western regions, especially in Lake Maracaibo and theGulf of Venezuela, and concerning the following:
5.1 Snappers and groupers in the shelf of Los Monjes
5.2 Crabs in Lake Maracaibo
5.3 Shrimp in Lake Maracaibo
5.4 Molluscs in Lake Maracaibo and the Gulf of Venezuela
5.5 Sardines in the Gulf of Venezuela
5.6 Demersal resources in the Gulf of Venezuela
5.7 Jacks and mackerel in the Gulf of Venezuela
5.8 Other pelagic resources in the Gulf of Venezuela
6. Morrocoy National Park
6.1 Identification of biotoxins in molluscs and areas of harmful algal blooms
6.2 Artisanal fisheries study
6.3 Socioeconomic study
6.4 Contingency planning for mass mortality due to harmful algal blooms
6.5 Characterization of plancton and productivity
7. Orinoco Delta and Gulf of Paria
7.1 Compile baseline data on the area prior to petroleum-related development
7.2 Increase research on artisanal fisheries in the region
In 1995 major changes in the fishery management system were introduced. The system is now based on more direct participation of producers in the development of management measures and on the need for responsive, dynamic management to optimize the sustained yield from fisheries and to conserve the environment.
In addition to CONICIT, a number of other governmental and non-governmental organizations participate in the planning and implementation of fisheries research. CONICIT receives information and advice from the National Oceanographic Commission (Comisión Nacional de Oceanología, CNO). The CNO incorporates members from other national organizations involved in ocean activities, and it acts as a liaison between these other organizations and CONICIT. The CNO develops strategies and research plans for implementation by the appropriate branch of CONICIT.
The organization which plans, develops, supports, implements, coordinates and evaluates activities involving the fisheries sector is the Autonomous Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Servicio Autonomo de los Recursos Pesqueros y Acuicolas, SARPA). SARPA is attached to the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura y Cría, MAC), and works with the Fisheries Advisory Group (Junta Consultiva de Pesca) which evaluates the effectiveness of fisheries programs. SARPA has a delegate on the CNO and also creates specific commissions to address particular management issues such as aquaculture in reservoirs.
The private fishery sector sometimes asks SARPA to solve specific problems or provide information concerning fishery statistics, technical advances, etc. SARPA uses the research results from various institutions to define policies and address management challenges in order to achieve sustainable utilization of fishery resources.
The official Governmental agency responsible for executing fishery research and technical assistance is the National Fund for Agricultural Research (Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, FONAIAP). FONAIAP is attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, and carries the mandate to develop and disseminate scientific and technical information for agriculture and fisheries. FONAIAP follows the guidelines developed by SARPA. Since 1986 it has implemented technical development projects receiving partial funding from the Interamerican Development Bank (Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, BID). It often works with state and regional development groups to address joint needs.
National universities, private foundations, and other non-governmental organizations also work with these agencies to develop and implement fisheries projects.
Some research activities in fishing technology have been hindered by factors such as insufficient financial support, inadequate coordination among different groups involved in administration, development and research, and insufficient application of research to the actual problems of the fishing sector. New relationships among the various institutions, through SARPA in particular, are being developed to address this. An additional hindrance is the difficulty in keeping trained and highly qualified people in these institutions - they sometimes emigrate or move to the private sector. Other constraints include insufficient infrastructure, lack of resources for extension and dissemination of research results, limited scientific and technical exchange with specialists in other countries, the lack of an integrated approach to fisheries problems, and a generally low priority assigned to fisheries research.
Fishery researchers have generally positive working relations with the artisanal fisheries sector - there is good cooperation and communication between them. There are also generally good working relations between the processing sector and researchers. However, working relations between most research organizations and the industrial fishing sector are reported to be less strong. There has been cooperation in some areas such as development of more selective gear, avoidance of protected species, and deployment of fishery observers on some vessels.
Fishery research generally addresses three main themes:
1) Stock assessment and determination of the potential yield of currently utilized resources to develop management measures.
2) Life cycles and population dynamics of commercially important species.
3) Technology for fishing, seafood handling and processing, including quality control.
Venezuela is conducting extensive research in all three fields. Specific research activities in Venezuela concentrating on fishing technology are as follows:
Interest has been expressed in increased international exchange of information, journals and documents on many aspects fishing technology and fisheries research.
