EL SALVADOR ^i/ 



El Salvadoi' produces about jOO,000 pounds 

 of shrimp, heads-on v;eight, a year. Almost all of 

 this amount is consumed within the coui\try. The 

 available supply of shrimp can probably sustain an 

 annual production of one to three million pounds, 

 heads-on. The trawling grounds extend from the Gulf 

 of Fonseca to a little west of the mouth of the Lempa 

 River. Only boats of Salvadoran registry can fish for 

 shrimp. To operate in El Salvador, fishing companies 

 must be at least $0 percent Salvadoran-ov;ned. Six 

 trai>rlers are operating in El Salvador catching both 

 shrimp and fish for local markets. Shore facilities 

 are poor, but improving. Trawlers go to Puntarenas, 

 Costa Rica, for haul -outs. There are import, but no 

 export, duties on shrimp. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES AHQ FISHING GROUIJDS 



The shrimp -trawling grounds of El Salvador extend along the 

 coast from about the mouth of the Lempa lUver eastward into the Gulf 

 of Fonseca. In this area large shriiap, mostly Penaeus stylirostris 

 with some P. occidentalis and P. vaimamei, are taken. About 50 percent 

 of the trawl catch of these species average under l5 to the pound, 

 headless. The trawlers also take Trachypeneus byrdi , T. faoe , and 

 Xiphopeneus riveti , which are species of smaller size. The best 

 trawling season is from November to Juno in depths of less than 10 

 fathoms . 



The young of several of these species are caught in some of 

 the lagoons, principally near the Lempa. mouth, and in the Gulf of 

 Fonseca. Cast nets and dugout canoes are used for catching the young 

 shrimp. The best fishing in the lagoons is during the rainy season 

 from June to November, In one lagoon near the mouth of the Lempa small 

 shrimp are caught during the rainy season and corn is frequently grown 

 during the dry season. 



All small shrirap, irrespective of species, are called "chacalin," 

 and all large shrimp are given the common name "camaron." 



21/ The sui-vey of El Salvador vjas made during February 1956, and this 

 date is iraplied when current events or prices are alluded to. 



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