WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2018 23 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 24) intensify production through biofloc technology to develop a more environmentally friendly aquaculture, particularly in the north of the country. The farms that apply this technology use geomembranelined tanks of 100-200 m3 capacity and produce maximum crop densities that range between 20 and 25 kg/m3. In some cases, alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind, are used to reduce production costs. New aquaculture initiatives have recently been implemented in regions previously affected by the armed conflict in Colombia. Groups of victims and ex-combatants are developing fish production projects financed with government resources or international cooperation. Fish farming also plays an important role as an activity for the substitution of illicit crops in the country. Strategies to Increase Production and Competitiveness in Aquaculture In 2016, the Sectoral Business Plan for Fish Farming in Colombia (FEDEACUA 2015) was completed with a prospective vision and a strategic plan to the year 2032. Also in 2016, the participation of the national fish farming sector was consolidated in the planning matrix of the National Strategic Interest Plan (PINES) led by the president of the country under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and for 2017 its execution progressed with several lines of action. An important variable of productivity and competitiveness in the aquaculture sector is the functionality of fish processing plants, with HACCP certification granted by the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA). This certification provides the opportunity to export fish and meets rigorous safety standards that allows presentation of a high-quality product to the national market in accordance with current regulations. There are 13 processing plants certified to export to markets in the United States and Canada and 8 of these are also certified to export to the European market. For Latin American markets (e.g. Peru, Mexico and Chile), a special procedure is carried out before INVIMA. During 2016, primary production was certified at a greater volume than that destined for export under the ecolabelling standards of BAP, ASC and GlobalGAP. The fish farming sector in 2017 had an increase in employment of 6 percent. All jobs that are part of the export chain are formal, with 36,609 direct jobs and 108,207 indirect jobs generated (Bonilla 2018). Training of Human Resources and Research in Aquaculture Since its beginning, aquaculture in Colombia has been accompanied by different government entities. Among them, public universities have been dedicated to training and generation of knowledge to accompany and support productive development. The main public universities and their lines of research are: Universidad de Córdoba was a pioneer in studies with the native bocachico fish and the first higher education institution to offer training specific to aquaculture. In fish reproduction, the university seeks to identify early predictors of spawning quality, produce fingerlings and raise broodstock with biofloc technology; LEFT AND RIGHT: Intensive tilapia farming in cages in Betania reservoir. LEFT AND RIGHT: Red and Nile tilapia produced in cages in Betania reservoir.
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