THE CARIBBEAN AREA — COLOMBIA 

 Per-capita Consumption of Fish 



The per capita consumption of fish in Colombia is low compared to many other Latin 

 American areas. The 9,2^40,000 inhabitants consume, normally, not much more than ten million 

 pounds of fishery products. The per capita consunption of fish, therefore, is not greatly 

 in excess of one pound per year. Perhaps the greatest single factor that keeps consumption 

 of fish at a low figure in Colaabia is the abundance of agricultural food crops. In river 

 valleys and plateaus large quantities of root and green vegetables, frxiits, cattle, and 

 poultr - are raised and the individual sections, separated as they are by difficult means 

 of transportation, are fairly self-sufficient in food. The transportation of fishery pro- 

 ducts is relatively costly ( 1.5 cents United States per pound on regular freight from 

 Barranquilla to Bogota) and these items must con^sete with locally-grown food products at 

 all points. In addition, except during several days in the year, there is no ban by the 

 Cataolic Church on the use of meats. Fish usually sells for a higher unit price than meat. 



The ilission was informed that in Colombia and possibly others of the Spanish-American 

 Republics, special Roman Catholic decrees were in force that grant immunity from the usual 

 Church meat restrictions. These decrees (Bull of the Crusades LiOO to 1500 A.D.) specified 

 that the faithful of the Spanish dominions were permitted to eat meat on all the days of 

 Lent and other days of fast and abstinence except Ash Wednesday, the last Friday of Lent, 

 the last four days of Holy Week, and the vigils of the feasts of the Nativity, Pentecost, 

 the Assuji^3tion, and Saints Peter and Paul, 



Church restrictions on meat eating often constitute one of the most important factors 

 affecting fish consumption. In Colombia, the removal of a portion of these restrictions, 

 undoubtedly, contributes to keep consumption of fish very low. 



Prices 



The price of Colombian fish is coiaparatively high in this country of comparatively 

 low wages. Daily wages of 0.85 to 2.03 pesos (50j^ to $1.19 United States currency) do not 

 permit purchase of much fish at 0.50 to 1,40 pesos per kilogram (13.3^ to 37.4-^ United 

 States per pound). In the interior, fresh fish on ice sold at retail for 0.80 to 1.20 

 pesos per kilogram iMiile the price at markets near points of production were 0.50 to 0.60 

 pesos per kilogram. The price of meat v/as quoted widely at 0.50 pesos per kilogram. 

 Salt fish ivas priced at 1.40 pesos per kilogram. 



At the time the survey was made (June, 1942), grocery stores were selling one-poimd 

 cans 01 pink salmon at one peso each and of red salmon at 1,40 pesos. These are the 

 equivalent of 59p and 81^ United States, respectively. 



Fishermen 



A recent estimate of the Colombian Institute de Fomento Industrial places the number 

 of fishermen at 2,116. To this number must be added a considerable body of fishermen who 

 fish- for personal use only and also seme who fish for the market only at irregular intervals. 



Indeed, except in the vicinity of the large cities such as Barranquilla, Santa Marta, 

 and Cartagena, it is coubtful that commercial fishing industries exist. Along vast stretches 

 of coast, fishing is carried on as a subsistence activity in much the same manner today as 

 it v;as centuries ago. Fish famished to the inhabitants of the coastal zone are an easily 

 cau^;ht and usuable food. 



The economic level of the Colombian fisherman is very low and ne lives under almost 

 primitive conditions. i.ost are of mixed blood with negro and Indian strains predominating. 

 On the coasts of the Goajira and Darien the population is almost predominantly Indian. 

 Durin;- recent years, some fishermen of Suropean extraction have made their appearance but 

 usually i-hey gravitate toward other lines of endeavor or go into the marketing aspects of 



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