NICARAGUA -^ 



The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua now produces 

 about 100,000 pounds annually, heads-on basis. This 

 coast nay possibly produce at some time in the future 2 

 to 3 million pounds or more a year. The shrimp perhaps 

 scatter for long periods of time, a factor which has a 

 bearing on the probability of commercial activities. 

 Feeding grounds for adult white shrijiip, it is presumed, 

 are not plentiful. An exclusive contract has been let 

 for fisliing in a 100-mile section of the Caribbean 

 coast. 



The prospect for a shrimp fishery on the 

 Pacific coast of Nicaragua is unfavorable because 

 of the scarcity of nursery grounds. At best this area 

 might produce 200,000 poundu annually. 



GOIflEHCIAL SPECIES MID 7ISHIKG GROUlfDS 



At present, tiisre are no shrimp fisheries along the Pacific 

 coast of Nicaragua. The wliite or blue sru^irro, Penaeus st ylirostris 

 and P. occidentalism are knoxm to occur in the Galf of Fonseca but 

 apparently'" are not fished by t!:i2 Nicarag-uans . 



Along tlia Caribbaan coast about 100,000 pounds, heads-on 

 ^■reight, of shrimp are talven each year. The principal fishing areas 

 are the lagoons near Blue fields and the Pearl Lagoon, x/here men fish 

 with cast nets from dugouts. The young of the wliite shrimp, probably 

 Penaeus schmitti, and perhaps Penaous setifeinis, are caught in the 

 lagoons. Reports fi^om Puerto Cabeaas Indicate that occasionally large 

 white shrimp appear in sizeable schools virtually on tiffi beach. When 

 tliis occurs, the inhabitaiits catch than iijith sacks, screens, and 

 buckets. Such incidents happen infrequently. 



Various traxrling operators have i'ej)orted pinlc shriinp, Penaeus 

 duora rum, all along the Caribbean coast. These shrimp appear to be 

 dispersed and not concentrated in aggregations. 



Ii8/ The survey of Kicara^^a ims made during; Febraajry, 19^6, and this 

 cTate is implied when current events or prices are alluded to. 



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