THB CARIBBEAN AREA — GUATEaiAU 



Fishery Resources 



Character of the Coasts ; Guatemala has coastlines both on the Pacific (200 miles) 

 and on the Caribbean (about 70 miles). 



Caribbean Coast ; Tae Caribbean coast of Guatemala extends from Rio Motagua, the 

 coundary with Honduras, to the Sarstoon River which forms the frontier with British Honduras. 

 The configuration of the coast includes a stretch of wave-swept beach from Rio Uotagua to 

 Cape "Oiree Points. Besides the Rio Motagua, the Rio San PVancisco del Mar enters the sea in 

 this area. Frcm Cape Three Points, the coast trends in a southerly direction past Hospital 

 Bight, a small bay, and then to Puerto Bai-rios, the principal town in the region. Near Puerto 

 Barrios is the sanall bay of Santo Tomas. Frcm Palma Point, the northwestern point of Santo 

 Tomas Bay, the coast trends northwestward to Livingston Bay. Tlie small town of Livingston is 

 situated on the western part of the Bay. Entering Livingston Bay is the Dulce River vrtiich 

 connects the Bay with El Golfete, a small lake (about 18 square miles in area). Connected to 

 El Golfete by a channel is the Gulf of Dulce, a body of fresh water with about 200 square 

 miles of area. A number of fresh-water streams enter the Gulf, and the little settlement of 

 Izabal on the south shore is the only population center. From Livingston Bay the coast 

 trends in a northwesterly direction to the Sarstoon River, 



The coastal Tiaters of Guatemala on the Caribbean side are shallow with sandy auid muddy 

 bottoms, inhere the coast is low, impenetrable mangrove swamps are found. Along the coast 

 from Rio Motagua to Cape Three Points, there is often heavy surf. The area of Honduras Bay 

 (from Cape Three Points to the Sarstoon River) is generally well sheltered. Practically 

 none of the area is subject to oceanic currents, the chief influences being the outwash 

 from the rivers, local tides, and wind influences. 



Practically all the available fishing area can be considered as a brackish or fresh- 

 water environment. Salinities vary from fresh in the Gulf of Dulce to almost normal off- 

 shore concentrations on the outer northeast coast. Inshore, the outwash from rains probably 

 reduces the salinity considerably. 



There ai?e sheltered waters and good harbors for fishing craft. Transportation by rail 

 is available from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City, but the population in the coastal area 

 is limited and travel conditions difficult due to heavy rains and infrequency of rail service. 

 There are few, if any, facilities at present for the establishment of large-scale fishing 

 enterprises. 



Pacific Coast ; The Pacific coast of Guatemala extends in a westerly direction froa the 

 boundary with El Salvador (Rio La Paz) to the Rio Suchiate, the boundary with Mexico. Prac- 

 tically the entire length of the coast is sand beach interrupted only be ilver mouths which 

 break through in the wet season. Two ports, Champerico and San Jose, exist but these are 

 both open roadsteads with no protection from storms or heavy seas. There are a few very 

 small settlements such as Istapa scattered at intervals along the coast. Behind the sand 

 beaches and extending for practically the entire coast is a series of lagoons. One of the 

 largest of these is the Chuquimulilla Lagoon. Into these flow the rivers which have their 

 sources in the mountains. There is constant shifting of the location and extent of the 

 lagoons depending on the season, surf, and other conditions. In the wet seasons, the la- 

 goons overflow through gaps in the sand-barrier beaches. Lining the lagoons are mangrove 

 swau^JS. The lagoons have an enormous variation in salinity and, therefore, fish survival 

 is based on ability to withstand these changes. Offshore from the beaches, the bottom 

 slopes gradually to the 100- fathom cuirve which lies 30 to AO miles offshore. The bottom 

 is generally of fine sand, but there are seme muddy patches. There are no islands along 

 the coasts or deep indentations. 



Species and Distribution 



Most of the species of fish to be found on the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala are those 

 which have a high tolerance to changes in the salinity of the waters. Thus, on much of the 



159 



