THE FISHKRIES AND FISHERY RESOURCES OF NICARAGUA 



INTRODUCTION 



The fisheries and fishery industries of Nicaragua were studied as a part of a survey 

 of the entire Caribbean area made by a Mission of the United States Government under a 

 cooperative arrangement between the United States Department of the Interior, Fish and 

 Wildlife Service and the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. The iiission 

 was under the direction of Reginald H. Fiedler, Chief of the Division of Fishery Industries, 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, and the field party in 

 Nicaragua consisted of Kilton J. Lobell, Fishery Engineer and Clarence R. Lucas, Fishery 

 Economist of the Service. During August IQ-W, the iS-ssion visited practically all of the 

 localities in the country where extensive fisheries are conducted, with the objective of 

 determing the extent of present fisheries and fishery industries and to evaluate the possible 

 potential development. 



Nicaragua is the largest of the Central American Republics having a coastline of about 

 300 miles on the Caribbean and about 200 miles on the Pacific. Besides this marine coast- 

 line, there are two large lakes. lake Nicaragua is about 92 miles long by 34- miles wide, 

 and Lake Managua is 32 miles in length and 10 to 16 miles in width. In spite of these con- 

 siderable water areas, Nicaragua produces little fish for its own use or for export. 



Note: The members of the Mission were assisted greatly by the Nicaraguan Inter-American 

 Development Commission under the Chairmanship of Sr. don Rafael A. Huezo. The President of 

 the Republic, General Anastasio Somoza, shov/ed keen interest and made certain facilities 

 available. Col. Dr. Luis Manuel Debayle, iinister of Health, with his great interest in 

 nutrition, aided in planning and carrying out the field work of the Fdssion, The officials of 

 the United States Legation in Managua, headed by the United States Minister, Mr. James B. 

 Stewart, cooperated in many ways and furnished useful background data. Mr. William Jaquiss, 

 interested in the commercial development of certain fisheries, accompanied the Mission on a 

 field trip to the Pacific Coast and assisted in many ways. 



Caribbean Coast ; In general, the coast is low lying with sand beaches on the exposed 

 sections. In isolated places, bluffs or cliffs make their appearance but even here there 

 ai-e usually sand beaches. Seversd large rivers such as the Rio San Juan, Rio Grande, Rio 

 Prinzapolka, and Rio Coco, as well as msny smaller streams, enter the Caribbean along this 

 coast. The outer coast is often surf swept and dangerous with innumerable reefs, cays, and 

 shoals, as well as isolated rocks. 



Many lagoons whidi connect to the open sea through channels are found back from the coast. 

 Tlie principal ones are the lagoons of the Rio San Juan, the Laguna de Blue fields, Laguna de 

 Perlas, Laguna de Wounta or Walpasixa, Laguna de Karata, Laguna Tuapi, Laguna Zambo, Laguna 

 Belanona, Laguna Wana, and Laguna Dakura, Besides these, there are innumerable smaller ones. 

 It is possible to travel for many miles along these coastal lagoons by small boat since many 

 are connected by channels. Nujaerous small streams enter the lagoons, and, in the rainy season, 

 the n\imerous small streams extend the lagoons ever considerably more area tiian they occupy 

 during the dry season. The lagoons are very shallow, have mud bottoms, and are surrounded by 

 mangrove swamps. 



Very few people live onthis coast. The only established tovms of any size are San Juan 

 del Norte (Greytown), Bluefields, and Puerto Cabezas (Bragman's Bluff). A few small settle- 

 ments, isolated except for water transportation, are also found. Indians live in places 

 along the coasts ■srtiere fishing and hunting is possible. 



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