THE VENEZiEUN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIBS 



OPERATING SCHSffiS 



As contemplated in this section all local activities such as production, collection, 

 processing, handling, transportation and warehousing would be handled by local companies. 

 Interested United States agencies would aake appropriate arrangements with present or pro- 

 jected companies to buy, at fixed prices, FAS Venezuelan port, exportable surjaLuses of fish- 

 ery products of specified types and quality, packaged according to specifications, over 

 a given period of time. 



SECTION B 



WITH OVER-ALL ORGANIZATION, GRADUAL MODERNIZATION OF EXISTING FACILITIES 



AND METHODS, DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FISHERY AREAS, AND THE ADDITION C? 



NEW FACILITIES AND PRODUCING METHODS 



PRODUCTION 



The present needs of Veneauela for fishery products are calculated to be about 100 

 million pounds in the round as landed. With the changes aivi development set forth in this 

 section a potential total catch of about 400 million pounds is possible. The increase, 

 approximately 300 million pounds as landed, would be more or less equivalent to 75 million 

 pounds of processed fish, chiefly as dry salt-fish. 



To reach the upper limit of the above potential in production, however, will require 

 at least several years and possibly longer, depending upon such factors as the continued 

 abundance of fish, producing costs and selling prices, market demands, ability of Vene- 

 zuelan fishermen to assimilate new techniques, management, technical direction, availability 

 of machinery and supplies, and on other factors. 



It is calculated that the Isla Margarita - Gulf of Cariaco area can contribute about 

 150 million pounds of this total; the Gulf of Venezuela - Goajira, and Lake Maracaibo areas, 

 approximately 100 inillion pounds, offshore fisheries outside and around Los Roques and other 

 off-lying islands, about 50 million pounds; the Gulf of Paria and Orinoco Delta region, 

 about 50 million pounds, and other now under-developed areas, lagoons and the Central Zone 

 altogether, about 50 million pounds. It is emphasized, however, that while these produc- 

 tion figures may be reached or even surpassed, they represent a very optimistic view in 

 the Judgment of the mission and as stated above, would be dependent, on the favorable out- 

 come of a series of interdependent factors. 



CONVSISION OF FISHING GEAR AND CRAFT 



To attain the production contemplated rather sweeping changes wil]. be necessary, both 

 in fishing gear and in boats. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that introduction of 

 new methods and equipownt oust be gradual and that the effect on the over-all economy of 

 the fishing comnunities must always be taken into serious consideration. 



Fishing Gear . — In the Eastern Zone the way is already prepared for the introduction 

 of the simpler and smaller types of pelagic seines— the lampara, ring-net, and purse-seine. 

 At least three individual attempts have been made to operate such gear; and, in spite of 

 generally inefficient nets, techniques, and- boats, results have been uniformly promising. 

 That they have not been continued in operation has not been due to failures of the method, 

 but rather to extraneous circumstances including lack of a market demand sufficiently large 

 and organized. The traditional method of fishing chinchorros has produced enough fish to 

 supply tht market and there has been no great stimulus to adopt other methods. Also, dif- 

 ficulties in financing and obtaining the necessary engines and other equipment for boats 

 capable of fishing pelagic seines have acted as a deterrent. Finally, lack of knowledge 

 as to the actual construction and operation of such nets and of the boats to fish such nets 

 has been a barrier to their adoption. 



The present fishery is predominantly a chinchorro fishery and this limits the fishable 

 water in the area to a relatively narrow coastal strip, probably not more than 300 to 500 



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