THE CARIBBEAN AREA -— GUATEMALA 



Boats 



The only boats used for fishing are small cayucos which are used not only for fishing 

 but for transportation and other tasks as well, Ihe total number of fishing craft is probably 

 less than 100. It was reported that several small fishing boats were constructed on the Pacific 

 coast during 19-42 but that thest were wrecked soon after ccaipletion. 



Fishing Gear 



Small haul seines are used to some extent, particularly on the sandy beaches of the 

 lagoons. Castnets, \ised to capture mullet and shrimp are found mostly on the Atlantic Coast. 

 Hook and line fishing is carried on most extensively, and practically all the coastal natives 

 use this form of gear. Spears and harpoons are used for the larger fish. 



All of the equipment is handmade and does not represent any great outlay of cash. 



Fish in the Economy of Guatemala 



Guatemala probably has made less use of its fishery resources than any other Central 

 American Republic, No doubt, this is due to the fact that the econcmy of the country is agri- 

 cultural, and foods not raised on the land are imparted. 



Imported fishery pixjducts normaU-y provide from J to 1 million pounds of food. These 

 imports, converted to whole, fresh-fish weights and combined with the productioi of local 

 fresh and salt fish, indicate that the 3-1/4 million people of Guatemala consume less than 

 1 pound of fish per f)erson per year. 



Thei^ is no organized system of fresh-fish production and distribution in Guatemala. 

 Limited quantities of fresh fish, caught by a few native fishenaen operating simple fishing 

 gear, reach inland communities at irregular intervals. These conditions result in high-unit 

 prices for products and the marketing of fish of questionable quality. The limited public 

 demand for such fish has not encouraged the enlargement of the fishery industry. 



Potential Fishery Industries 



The fishery resources on the Pacific coast of Guatemala have the greater promise for 

 development. There, mass-production methods can probably provide products at sufficiently 

 low-unit cost so that they can be marketed at low prices widely throughout the country. 

 Considerable quantities of iced and frozen high-grade fish, whole, filleted, and steaked 

 can be marketed in Guatemala City and perhaps other points; but, for the outlying communities, 

 a hard dry-salt pixxhict would probably be necessary to meet the limitations in price and 

 facilities for marketing. Canned fish could also be prepared and distributed in some quantity. 



Because of very low wage rates and lew per-capita income in Guatemala, food products must 

 be very low priced to be adaptable to wide-spread trade in iniral areas. It may be possible 

 that some of the Pacific fish could be prepared for use by these low-inco.ne people if profits 

 were confined to an absolute minimum and taxes and transportation rates reduced to favorable 

 levels.. If low-priced and nutritive sailt-vrater fish products could be added to the diet of 

 the rural population, it would greatly in^srove the health of these people. 



Since little factual evidence regarding the abundance and extent of Guatemada's marine 

 resources is to be foxind, it is difficult to make precise statements regarding the potential- 

 ities. Enough information is at hand, hov;ever, to indicate that there are fairly extensive 

 resources yet unused. On the Atlantic coast there are, doubtless, considerable supplies of 

 mullet, snook, shrimp, oysters, mojarra, groupers, and other species. On the offshore reefs, 

 spiny lobsters could be taken in fair numbers. 



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