1. The third session of the Working Party on Fisheries Technology of the Commission for Inland Fisheries of Latin America (COPESCAL) was held in the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLAC), in Santiago de Chile, from 7 to 11 May, 1990.
2. Mr. Severino de Melo Araujo, Deputy Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean conveyed to the participants the greetings and welcome of the FAO Director General and of the Assistant Director General, Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. He pointed out that this session should have taken place in November 1989 in Cartagena, Colombia. Unfortunately, due to the serious problems affecting that country it has been necessary to hold it at RLAC. However, he thanked the generous offer extended by the government of Colombia to host in 1989 the meetings of two of the three COPESCAL's working parties and expressed his confidence in that it would be possible to accept that kind offer on occasion of the next session of the Working Party. He also mentioned that the main purpose of this meeting would be to analyze the socio-economic conditions of the artisanal fishermen's communities and to suggest alternatives based on the experience of the various countries in the region in order to improve their living conditions. He introduced the FAO staff members in charge of conducting the meeting: the Secretary of COPESCAL, Dr. E. Fagetti; the Technical Secretary of the Working Party, Mr. A. Mena-Millar and the Regional Fisheries Officer outposted in the Caribbean, Mr. B. Chakalall, and explained that the meeting was aimed at comparing experiences and analyzing the causes of the success or failure of artisanal fishermen's organizations in the region. He expressed his confidence in that the recommendations that the Working Party would bring forward to the consideration of the Commission will contribute to promoting the development of projects aimed at improving the living conditions of artisanal fishermen and their families. He suggested that participants allowed themselves time to visit RLAC's library and radio and TV studio that have an extensive collection of documentary and information material in the fisheries field, which can be obtained through library exchanges.
3. Mr. Alfredo Sanhueza, Chief, Resources Division of the “Instituto de Fomento Pesquero” (IFOP) welcomed the participants on behalf of the Sub-Secretary of Fisheries of Chile Mr. Andres Couve, and presented his apologies for not attending the event due to his absence from Santiago. He wished the best success to the Working Party and offered all possible collaboration to visit IFOP facilities and become familiarized with fisheries in Chile. The opening ceremony was also attended by Mr. Rodolfo Serra, Chief, Fisheries Department and Mr. Aranda Orrego, Chief, of the Technological and Fisheries Department of IFOP.
4. The COPESCAL's Secretary briefly informed participants of the objectives and scope of the Commission and its three Working Parties and explained the mandate of the fifth COPESCAL meeting (Panama, 1988), expressly addressed to the members of this Working Party, that they should devote their efforts to identify, as far as possible, the reasons for the success or failure of artisanal fisheries and fishermen organization's development projects in the region. She also pointed out that the participation of the Regional Fisheries Officer outposted in the English-speaking Caribbean, offered the opportunity for exchanging experiences in the field of artisanal fisheries with members of the Working Party, all of whom came from the Latin American region.
5. Mr. Plinio Arias, from INDERENA, Colombia, was elected Chairman of the Session. Seven experts from six countries of the region participated in this event (see Appendix 1). The meeting's Agenda and the List of working and information documents appear in Appendixes 2 and 3, respectively.
6. In introducing Item 3 of the Programme, the Secretary of COPESCAL and the Technical Secretary of the Working Party reported on the Commission, and its functions and explained the objectives of this Working Party as well as of its relationships with the other two COPESCAL's Working Parties on Aquaculture and on Fishery Resources. Detailed explanations were given on the selection procedures and the appointment of Working Party members on the part of the Director General of FAO with the consent of the pertinent governments. It was noted, in particular, that members of the Working Party were convened on their personal capacity and not as representatives of their governments, to discuss technical subjects to be dealt with during the meeting on the basis of their professional knowledge and to formulate on the basis of their discussions recommendations to be submitted to consideration of the Commission.
7. When analyzing item 4 of the Programme each participant presented a brief statement on the background and structure of the various fishermen organizations in their respective countries, as well as on their relationships with other professional and social associations, with governments and with international agencies supporting fisheries. They also explained the functions and goals of national fishermen organizations in connection with improving fishing techniques and the production supporting infrastructure, the access to sources of credit and financing, the development of social works, the incorporation of women and youth in the fisheries sector, technical training and their education as well as that of their families.
8. Working Party members also made a preliminary evaluation of the success and failures of fishermen organizations existing in the countries of the region and of those that existed in the recent past. A summary of the statements on this subject made by participants from the various countries appear in Appendix 5.
9. The analysis of this subject led to the conclusion that artisanal fishermen organizations, such as production cooperatives, unions and other forms of fishermen groupings existed in all the countries represented in the Working Party.
10. Results of the various types of artisanal fishermen organizations are widely differing. These differences are observed not only from one country to another but also within a same country and at times within areas with apparently similar characteristics.
11. The Working Party agreed in that the existing information was insufficient to clearly determine the reasons for the success and/or failure of fishermen organizations, although it became apparent that their role was in general positive in that they served as a means for increasing the political influence of fishermen, for obtaining recognition of their social needs, for helping to obtain financial and technical assistance and in contributing in general to the advancement of their cause. In this connection, the Working Party recommended that governments, non-governmental organizations and international agencies supported the implementation of studies aimed at determining the factors that underlie the success or failure of artisanal fishermen organizations.
12. It also recommended that FAO, with the support of the Working Party members, undertook the implementation of concrete studies of selected fishermen organizations in the region, in order to attain a better knowledge of the factors influencing the results of these organizations and being able to adopt provisions aiming at strengthening the positive aspects and eliminating the negative ones affecting the fishermen organizations.
13. The presentation of this subject focused on some aspects that were considered as the most important ones for determining the socio-economic needs of artisanal fisheries communities. Among these aspects, mention was made of the marginal condition of artisanal fishermen, the little attention paid by governments to this sector, fishermen's access to production means, the deterioration of the environment and other social, cultural and political factors influencing and, at times, even worsening the difficult conditions of fishermen communities.
14. As features characterizing the marginal condition of artisanal fishermen and their communities, mention was made of their low organizational level, their geographical isolation and the lack of infrastructures and communication means; the use of backward technologies and the great difficulties for accessing more advanced technologies; the lack of services such as public health, potable water, electric power; general education and technical training; social security and access to regular sources of credit.
15. As regards the governments' action in this sector, the Working Party identified the following most significant factors that do not contribute to solving the socio-economic needs of the fisheries communities: the lack of clear policies, the absence of a general plan where artisanal fisheries development projects could be harmoniously inserted; the scarce financial resources set aside for developing these activities; the shortage of qualified personnel to train fishermen and carry out extension work for the execution of small-scale projects and development actions; the shortage of training centres specialized in fisheries disciplines; lack of programmes and the low level, in general, of technical assistance provided to artisanal fisheries; the existence, in many cases, of an obsolete or inadequate legislation to meet the needs of artisanal fishermen and, what is even more serious, the lack of enforcement, in any cases, of existing fisheries legislation.
16. The difficulties artisanal fishermen face to have access to production means such as boats, engines, fishing gear and fish processing and marketing facilities, almost all of them in hands of intermediaries, were considered as an important obstacle in their pursue of increasing their incomes and their fight against poverty. The cases of some fishermen cooperatives and other production associations that had acquired production means and kept them as collective property were mentioned, but in almost all cases funds for initial investments had been donated by government or international agencies, or had been purchased with soft credits.
17. The Working Party expressed its concern and extensively discussed the growing environmental deterioration and its damaging effects on fishermen and their communities. Among the most serious factors that either negatively affect or destroy the environment, they pointed out the dessication of swamps and rivers, the silting of water bodies, the indiscriminate destruction of manglars and other types of vegetation, the aquatic pollution and the over-exploitation of fishery resources. In this connection, it was recommended to review fishery and enviornmental legislation and update it in those countries that have not done it recently and the strengthening of the mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations. It was also recommended that fishermen organizations include environmental protection among their main goals and that in economic development projects environmental impact be taken into account.
18. Participants mentioned several social, economical and political conflicts affecting artisanal fishermen and their communities such as internal conflicts, illegal narcotic traffic, social insecurity and improper use of fishery resources.
19. In view of the fact that socio-economic needs of artisanal fishermen are in general not well known to politicians and the general public, the Working Party stressed the need of creating a greater awareness on these requirements. To such effect, it recommended that: 1) subjects on fisheries economics be included in higher educational programmes for lawyers, sociologists and other non-fishery specialists; 2) short courses on these subjects be organized and 3) mass communication means be used for publicity purposes.
20. Information prepared by FAO on the subject of women and youths in fisheries was taken as a source of information for the presentation on this subject. The Working Party, in turn, prepared an account of the fishery activities in which, according to the experience of the participants, it was known that women and youths of the countries of the region participated. Among those activities the extraction of fish and the collection of shellfish and algae were identified, even though in this respect it was pointed out that youths and, in many cases children of the fishery communities had a wider participation than women in collection activities. Mention was made of some localities in Chile where all members of fishermen families worked on the collection of shellfish, algae and other aquatic species. Additionally, women generally participated in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of nets and other fishing gear.
21. Participants stated that probably fish processing and retail sale were the activities offering greater opportunities for women participation in the artisanal fisheries sector. Women also participated, though to a lesser extent from a regional viewpoint, in rural aquaculture, fisheries research, the administration and organization of communities and in social promotion and the provision of community services.
22. The discussion as to how incorporate the subject of women participation in fisheries development aroused great interest. Above all, the Working Party admitted that the importance of women in fisheries had never been recognized in the countries of the region and that there was an enormous lack of documented information on the role of women in fishery development. To this effect, it recommended the implementation of socio-economic studies on women's work and conditions in fisheries communities and the dissemination of such information.
23. The Technical Secretary reported that FAO had initiated studies on women problems in fisheries activities in some Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the Working Party recommended that such studies be continued and expanded to include a greater number of countries in order to gain knowledge on these problems and provide orientation to governments and international agencies concerned with fishery development in their policy making.
24. The Working Party considered that fishermen organizations were an excellent means for providing support to women and youth in their incorporation to the development of artisanal fisheries and its communities. Mention was made of some women occupying important posts in the direction of fishermen organizations and it was recommended that women's access to decision making levels within those organizations as well as to executive posts in public bodies concerned with the fisheries sector in the various countries be encouraged.
25. It was recommended, moreover, that methodologies for the formulation and evaluation of fishery development projects as well as guides for fishery planning also include consideration as to how to take women in fisheries communities duly into account when planning or implementing development activities.
26. In spite of the fact that COPESCAL and its Working Parties deal with inland fisheries in Latin America, when examining economic and production problems of artisanal fisheries, the Working Party agreed that marine artisanal fisheries could not be left out of the analysis because fishery problems and the needs of artisanal fishermen and their communities were very similar, regardless of whether the fishery activity was carried out in inland waters or in marine coastal areas.
27. It was stated that artisanal fisheries in Latin America is a source of employment and the main subsistence means for thousands of people. In some countries such as Belize and Chile, artisanal fishermen contribute with a significant share to foreign income earnings through the export of their products. However, the main contribution of artisanal fishermen lies in the supply of fresh fish for the internal market, that is estimated in about half the overall amount of fish consumed in the region. In several countries such as Colombia, Central American Countries and the largest part of the Caribbean islands, artisanal fisheries is the predominant type of fishing and in some countries in the region, fishing in inland waters is an exclusively artisanal activity.
28. Participants recognized the potential of artisanal fisheries in Latin America for contributing to national economic growth, improve living conditions of large numbers of people and increasing the supply of fish for the local market, without the need of large amounts of capital or technology. By way of example, it was pointed out that investment needs in this sector, even though significant, were lesser than those required by industrial fishery or commercial aquiculture, and that a large share of the inputs and technical services needed could be found either locally or within the region itself.
29. However, several serious obstacles limiting the development of artisanal fisheries were mentioned, inter alia, fishermen's access to sources of credit and technology, the growing deterioration of the environment and the reduction in many places in the amounts of fishery resources available, the remoteness and geographical isolation of fishermen and the low organizational capacity, in some cases, or the defficient operation, in others, of artisanal fishermen's organizations.
30. In some cases it was considered that the implementation of actions aimed at solving isolated development problems of artisanal fisheries caused a waste of resources. To avoid these negative effects, the Working Party recommended that wherever possible, fishery development projects be integrated within the framework of the fishery sector and viewed in its relationships with horizontal and social elements.
31. The Working Party considered that provisions to be adopted for overcoming the factors limiting the development of artisanal fisheries production were almost always of a specific nature and that it was difficult to prescribe general solutions. However, the provision of support to fishermen that would facilitate their access to credit, a strengthening of fishery and environmental protection regulation systems, the construction of productive infrastructures and a greater governmental support to fishermen organizations could have a significant impact in many cases.
32. The role of planning in artisanal fisheries development was particularly emphasized by the Working Party. It was stated that the implementation of diagnoses would make it possible to determine the sector's economic importance and production goals and to estimate the nature and magnitude of technical, financial and training assistance and of other services that are essential for sustained development. Even though development plans should be prepared by governmental fisheries departments, in consultation with fishermen and other parties concerned with their implementation, it was noted that fishermen organizations could also take the initiative through political actions that may draw the governments' attention to the sector's needs. It was also stated that the formulation of plans should be followed by the approval of regulatory provisions, of an economic nature, in favour of artisanal fisheries. In this connection, the Working Party recommended that fishery planning systems and procedures be analyzed and evaluated by COPESCAL member countries.
33. Regarding aquatic pollution and environmental deterioration, the Working Party estimated that it was necessary to undertake a more in-depth study of these problems so as to facilitate to governments the task of adopting measures to minimize negative effects on environment. It was recommended that FAO updates the study on inland waters' pollution in several countries of the region, published as COPESCAL Tech. Doc. 8, expanding it to cover a greater number of countries. It was also recommended to encourage regional cooperation among countries using common aquatic resources in areas such as the Amazon.
34. When introducing Item 8 of the Agenda, it was stated that only a small proportion of artisanal fishermen received institutional credit, whereas the great majority depended on credit granted under very unfavourable conditions by intermediaries or other moneylenders. It was stated, moreover, that credit for artisanal fisheries was necessary not only for investments in basic equipment for long-term use, but also for financing needs for fish capture, culture, processing and daily distribution of fish.
35. During the ensuing debate, participants mentioned several cases of failure of credit programmes. Among the main causes of these failures, mention was made of the limited familiarity credit agencies had of the artisanal fisheries sector, the almost generalized demand that fishermen give guarantees, something which they usually lack, fishermen's ignorance of the procedures for the obtention of credit and the excessive redtape for the implementation of approved credit lines.
36. Even though the conditions of artisanal fisheries and its relationships with sources of credit are very varied, the Working Party agreed in that certain principles that seemed to facilitate the achievement of good results in credit operations could be identified in most countries in Latin America, among which the following were mentioned: a) credit programmes should be flexible, addressing specific needs originating either from investment requirements or fishermen's social needs and taking into account the lender's organizational capability and his familiarity with the fisheries sector; b) short time lapses between the submission of the credit request and loan granting, through a sound and rapid technical evaluation of the request; c) close cooperation among the financial institution, the fishery administration and the fishermen organization; d) systematic supervision and control of credit use and reimbursement; e) the creation of the proper mechanisms for controlling repayment delays and for handling doubtful or hardly retrievable funds; and f) the establishment of a direct relationship betwen credit and marketing of fishery products.
37. Participants mentioned cases in which the creation of revolving funds had given good results and emphasized the important role played by fishermen associations in maintaining those funds, thus doing away with intermediate money lenders and originating positive balances that increased fishermen's incomes and offered greater economic support to face bad fishing seasons or natural disasters affecting them.
38. Since matters concerning credit to artisanal fisheries in Latin America and the Caribbean had been given relatively little attention, the Working Party supported the idea that FAO organizes regional workshops to discuss this matter and disseminate their results. It also recommended that governments intensify their efforts to simplify administrative arrangements for granting funds for artisanal fisheries development, which involve a great number of agents thus hampering the smooth flow of credit requests and allotments.
39. The Working Party recommended, moreover, that FAO translated into Spanish and distribute among COPESCAL members the publications “Fisheries credit programmes and revolving loan fund: case studies” and “Guide for the administration of fisheries credit programmes and revolving loan funds”.
40. In the presentation of this subject, it was stated that technological transference in artisanal fisheries had generally encountered obstacles of an educational, socio-cultural and economic nature and of knowledge of natural resources. The problem was stated in terms of to whom should technological transference be addressed, what technology to transfer, who is the transferring agent and how the transference process takes place.
41. Expanding the ideas expressed above, it was stated that artisanal fishermen were a heterogenous group who was generally not very well known from the psychological and anthropological viewpoints. It was thus necessary to make an in-depth study of the specific characteristics of each group of fishermen before implementing any action of technological transfer.
42. As regards the technologies to be transferred, emphasis was laid on the fact that the fishermen would hardly accept techniques which are alien to their experiences and customs. Hence, in order to determine the technologies to be transferred, it is also necessary to know beforehand which are the techniques used traditionally by the fishermen, and to make sure that they are really interested in changing their traditional technology. In a community of fishermen, there are normally only a few who express willingness to experience technological changes, at least until positive results are made evident.
43. The statement concerning the agent of technological transfer or extensionist was expanded, emphasizing that the validity of the extensionist was extremely important, and could only be achieved by his living in the community and his full identification with the group that is to receive the new technology. It was also noted that training of the fishermen and the introduction of new technologies generally implies a slow process which requires stable programmes and continuous follow-up over a long period of time.
44. During the debate which followed the statement, the Working Group discussed various experiences, recognizing that training of the fishermen was one of the most important and complex aspects in order to achieve success in the development of artisanal fisheries and economic and social progress of the fishing communities. Examples were mentioned of sophisticated technologies which worked well in other socio-economic surroundings, but that when introduced in fishing communities alien to these experiences, had ended in failures, with a great waste of resources.
45. The Working Group assigned great importance to the need to prepare training programmes adapted to the specific conditions of the local fishing communities, and recommended that fishery elements be introduced in public teaching programmes in schools, in order to dignify and do credit to the profession of fishermen.
46. It was recognized that the preparation of overall plans and strategies for the development of artisanal fishery, such as the strategy of CESPAS (Artisanal Fishery Service Center) of Colombia, may contribute significantly in training the fishermen and transferring technologies. Emphasis was also laid on the important role that could be played by fishermen organizations for the development of specialized teaching centers and the preparation and implementation of appropriate training programmes for different groups of fishermen.
47. The Working Group recommended, therefore, that preliminary studies be carried out on the promotion of extensionists, with details on requirements, qualities and characteristics necessary for transferring new technology to artisanal fishermen. It also recommended that arrangements be made for organizing courses, seminars and other training activities with local support, through the regional technical cooperation networks.
48. The Director of the Project “Support to regional aquaculture activities in Latin America and the Caribbean” - AQUILA, made a brief statement on the objectives and main activities carried out by the Project, and informed the Working Party on some experiences carried out in cultivation of shellfish and algae by artisanal fishermen in Brazil and Chile. He also expressed the willingness of the Project to collaborate with the members of the Working Party, through the distribution of information obtained in these experiences.
49. The Working Party mentioned that, although there are regional cooperation projects executed by FAO or by other international agencies that provide support to other activities of the sector, continental fisheries and artisanal fishermen's communities in general, were receiving little regional assistance. On the basis of this premise, it recommended that the ‘AQUILA’ Project and other horizontal cooperation mechanisms -such as the Technical Cooperation Networks on Aquaculture and Artisanal Fisheries - expand their programmes when possible, in order to provide support also to activities concerning research, training and dissemination of information on artisanal fishing, fishermen organizations and the development of fishing communities.
50. In order to implement future actions that will make up for the lack of information on socio-economic, organizational and technological aspects of small-scale fisheries, the participants identified a series of activities to be carried out during the intersessional period. These are given in Appendix 4.
51. Mr. Oscar Mendoza Uriarte, from the non-governmental organization Group on Fisheries Studies (GEP) of Chile, made a brief presentation on the objectives and work of this non governmental organization. He explained the process for seeking of funds, the implementation and the evaluation of projects for development of artisanal fisheries, working with artisanal fisheries unions and cooperatives. Its programme is based on the economic productive areas, quality of life and organizational development.
52. The participant from El Salvador gave detailed information on the work that is being carried out in his country in fish skin tanning, with a view to create alternative sources of employment for the fishing communities. In this respect, the Working Party recommended that a survey be made through the Technical Cooperation Networks on Aquaculture and Artisanal Fisheries in order to find out the experiences and interest of the countries of the region in the use of tanned skins and of other fish residues as an employment alternative for women and youth in artisanal fishing communities.
53. Upon the kind invitation of the Director of IFOP, Dr. Patricio Bernal, the Working Party visited the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) in Santiago. The participants also visited in Valparaiso the School of Marine Sciences of the Catholic University of Valparaiso, where they were received by the Director, Mr. Teofilo Melo, the National Council of Artisanal Fishermen of Chile and the Cooperative of Artisanal Fishermen of Caleta Portales, invited by its President Mr. Humberto Chamorro. These visits permitted an exchange of valuable opinions and experiences on various aspects of fisheries research, the formation of fishery technicians, the functioning of fishermen's organizations and the fishing methods and technologies of the host country. The Working Party greatly acknowledged the kind invitation made by the fishery authorities of the host country.
54. The participants from Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador and Dominican Republic expressed the possible interest of their respective governments in hosting the Fourth Session of the Working Party, which has been provisionally planned for May 1992. Interested countries should officially confirm their offer to the COPESCAL Secretariat as soon as possible.
55. The Working Party adopted the Report on 11 May 1990.
