WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2019 27 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 28) Training of Human Resources and Research In Costa Rica, the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA) and the Universidad Técnica Nacional (UTN) stand out for orienting their efforts towards training and development of human resources. The UNA has made contributions to this sector since the 1980s and has trained professionals in marine and freshwater biology, as well as graduates in aquaculture. Its School of Biological Sciences has research laboratories on biotechnology, genomics, histology, freshwater aquaculture, marine shrimp reproductive biology and water quality, among others, which has resulted in the generation of varied knowledge related to aquaculture (Alfaro-Montoya et al. 2017; Jiménez-Montealegre et al. 2016, Ulloa 1997, ValverdeChavarría et al. 2016). In Puntarenas Province, the UNA has two stations, the Marine Biology Station (EBM), where research is carried out on reproduction and larval culture of marine fish and oyster production (Alfaro et al. 2017) and the Marine Science Station (ECMAR), located in Punta Morales, where the new laboratory for the mass production of oyster seed is located. The integrated rural development program of the Gulf of Nicoya, which offers support for the development and strengthening of organizations related to fisheries and aquaculture, is also based at ECMAR (Pacheco-Urpí and Ulate-Garita 2016). In addition, the UNA is a founding partner of the Parque Marino del Pacífico, an institution that contributes to the generation of productive alternatives for the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (Herrera-Ulloa et al. 2009). Since its creation in 2008, the UTN has been developing research and extension programs for improvement of aquaculture production and development of social enterprises that promote community growth in the country. There is also an experimental aquaculture farm of more than 5 ha dedicated to the production of tilapia seed and research on catfish, pangasius and freshwater prawn. It has an aquaculture pathology laboratory that provides disease diagnostic support to the production sector. The main investigations are related to the diagnosis and control of diseases, the search for alternatives that improve the shrimp production sector, genetics of species and quality of broodstock of commercial species. In addition, UTN has promoted implementation of social programs and offers a degree program in aquaculture engineering, with the objective of training professionals in the aquaculture sector. Others state universities that have made efforts to develop the country’s aquaculture sector are the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), which is currently developing a pilot mussel farming project with fishing communities in the Gulf of Nicoya (Jiron-Fajardo and Chan-Castillo 2016), and the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), which has made contributions to aquaculture through several investigations on different topics (Vargas-Cordero and Quirós-Arias 2016, Radulovich 2006). INCOPESCA has an aquaculture department and two juvenile production stations. The Los Diamantes aquaculture station is located in Guapiles, in Limón Province in the Caribbean area, specializing in production of tilapia fingerlings. The Truchícola Ojo de Agua station is located in Dota, San José Province, in the central volcanic mountain range, and specializes in production of rainbow trout fry. In addition, it has qualified professional staff and its main priority is development of this activity through long- and medium-term work programs that support annual operational plans. Another state agency that provides human resources to the sector is the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), which conducts technical training, arranges apprenticeships, and gives organizational and business support to producers through its small- and medium-size enterprises program. Outlook for Aquaculture in Costa Rica Traditional aquaculture in Costa Rica, especially tilapia and shrimp farming, has remained stable and it is expected that production levels of these key species in the coming years will be similar to those of the present. Also, it is expected that emerging species such as marine finfish, oysters and pangasius catfish will contribute to increased aquaculture production. Artisanal fishing has weakened in recent years, which is why the oyster industry, together with the small-scale marine fish farming sector, play a strategic role that should be promoted as it can benefit many families that are economically and socially marginalized (FAO 2016). There is interest by universities to develop aquaculture production technology, generate new information and create research networks that promote knowledge production. The creation of new academic training programs in aquaculture and the need to develop productive alternatives to reduce levels of unemployment and poverty in rural areas will encourage the expansion of aquaculture. In addition, national policies are expected to support development of this sector and favor the generation of new projects and the introduction of foreign capital. Notes Nelson Peña Navarro, Director de la Carrera de Ingeniería en Acuicultura, Universidad Técnica Nacional, Sede del Pacifico, Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Corresponding author email: npena@ utn.ac.cr Jonathan Chacón Guzmán, Biólogo Marino, Coordinador de la Programa de Acuicultura y Biotecnología Marina, Parque Marino del Pacífico, Puntarenas, Costa Rica FIGURE 13. Berrugate (Pacific tripletail) Lobotes pacificus broodfish.
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