Development of Artisanal Fishery in Rama Cay community, Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua INTRODUCTION:

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1 Development of Artisanal Fishery in Rama Cay community, Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua INTRODUCTION: The Atlantic coast of Nicaragua has a mixture of different ethnic communities who depend mainly on the fishing sector. All the indigenous communities in Nicaragua are seeking development. The Rama as other indigenous communities has suffered prosecution by other indigenous groups, reduction of population size during the war, loss of languages, culture and communal land and water. At the same time in addition to economic development, these indigenous peoples are concerned also about the conservation of culture, language and without control of communal land it is difficult to have any development at all.

2 The Island of Rama Cay, is located in southern part of Bluefields Lagoon, fifteen (15) kilometers south of Bluefields. It extended from Rio Escondido to Rio San Juan. Extension surface of 1 km2 (1.000 m2). Principla activity: Artisanal fishing, There are more than 10,000 marine and fresh water artisanal fishermen operating along the coats. Type of gears: combination of gears such as surface gill nets, cast nets and hand lines. Fishermen and women have traditionally utilized the marine resources for family consumption. Since 1958 industrial companies (Casacruz Nicaragua) started processing shrimps

3 OBJECTIVES General Objective: The aim of my study is to identify alternative ways of developing the fishery activities in the community of Rama Cay, in an appropriate manner to improve their economic situation for the present and future generations. Specific Objectives: Describe the nature of fishing in the community of Rama Cay on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. Assess the potential for the development of fish processing, storage and transport facilities for the community (application of the HACCP system). Assess the potential market for their fish products in Bluefields and other areas, by visiting fish processing companies to see in what way they can support the Rama fish cooperative by buying more diverse. Investigate if there was any project before related to fisheries development in the community. If there was, what happened? Identify different commercial species in the area, if data is available. To find out what the Ramas have experienced and learned through previous development projects in the community.

4 FISHERY DEVELOPMENT DISADVANTAGES Distance from different zone to Processing plants. Lack of knowledge of proper fish handling and possible greater difficulties in reaching fishermen with training programs. The use of gill nets resulting in poor quality fish. The possibility of producing salted, dried and smoked fish has not been investigated.

5 METHODOLOGY In order to obtain information the following methodology was used. 1. Combines secondary sources of information along with fieldwork notes. 2. Interviews 3. Discussions with community leaders, representatives of the fish cooperative, women organizations in the community, and the owner of a fish processing company in Bluefields. 4. Seminars held within the community members. (HACCP). Given by Karen Joseph, Darlene Downs and Emy Cash. 5. The community was stratified in four different groups (Fishermen, fisherwomen, fisherman and women and community leaders.

6 RESULTS Fishing gears In total there are 321 gears, gill net, cast nets, long line and lobster traps. The community possesses 60 cast nets. There are approximately 133 gill nets. There are 15 long lines in total, in regular condition. They were 113 lobster traps owned by only four families. Fishing boats The people of the community construct these canoes that have a length between (5-9) five and nine yards long and fifty to eighty centimeters wide. In the community they were 73 canoes. Out these seventy-three canoes only two to three of these are equipped with an out board engine to make the transportation easier. Shell-fishing Shrimps (Penaeus spp) are gathered during the dry season (March to May) and they are an important commercial item in Bluefields. Gathering oyster (Crassostrea rhizophora) is another essential sustenance activity for the Rama. Oyster shell mounds on Rama Cay provide evidence of this.

7 Marketing Rama Women and kids washing and cleaning the fish in the Bay. After the fish is caught, most of the product is sold to the cooperative leaders. responsible for buying the product from the fishermen; they also have the responsibility to wash, clean, ice and storage the fish in small containers and transport it to Bluefields, where the selling takes place. The washing and cleaning is done in the Bay, where the contamination is really high. Principal buyers Pesca Fresca fish processing company. Consejo de Iglesias Evangelicas Pro Alianza Dominacional (CEPAD). Small buyers in the market and some people in Bluefields. These processing companies sometimes provide ice to the cooperative in Rama Cay.

8 Most important species consumed by the Rama

9 Price of species in and out the community of Rama Cay Total profit per month of the fishing cooperative. (June 12- August 17) 2001

10 Projects in Rama Cay URACCAN with support from SAIH: Funding education for students in Bluefields by giving them food and a place to live. Teach children (girls) and women how to embroider. Supports the building of a cultural house in community. URACCAN and the University of Tromsø, Norway, with IREMADES/IPILC (Financed by NUFU): Cultural revitalization and Natural Resources of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. PROCODEFOR: Strengthen the women cooperative Accion Medica Cristiana (AMC): Create unity, self-esteem and educating women and men of how to live in a healthy ambient.

11 RECOMENDATION Improve quality lines and the more basic introduction of HACCP principles. Enhancing the market channels and potentials Fisheries development projects need to be broadened to incorporate more than harvesting, processing and marketing of fish. Fishery development projects should not use males as the main responsible for the development. Development of the community should not depend only on the fishery as the only resource (agriculture and forestry). A CO-MANAGEMENT PLAN First and foremost there is a need to establish a plan or program to strengthen the overall management of the fisheries at Rama Cays. They should be developed in close co-operation with the fishermen and women themselves. The following elements are essential to be taken in account: Continue the strengthening of the co-operatives and (solidarity groups). Strengthen the contacts to the regional and central of fisheries authorities. Strengthen the relationships to essential buyers like the fishing enterprises and intermediaries.