24 DECEMBER 2022 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S .ORG ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 2 7 ) financing and the decrease in international shrimp prices worldwide precipitated a prolonged lethargy in the aquaculture sector, and which affected the association, for more than nine years. This disease marked a before-and-after moment in the development of the aquaculture sector. Parallel to everything that was happening, and without a doubt one of the most relevant achievements, was the active participation of ASPAC in the establishment of Law 58 of 1995, which gives aquaculture the status of an agricultural activity. Other projects have been under development since 2000. The national government carried out feasibility studies to recommend exploitation of species of high commercial value and that are endemic to the area, including mariculture of fish or other species in cage systems that may be far from the coast. The main requirement was that the biological cycle of the species was closed, that is, that they can be reproduced in captivity and in a controlled way so as not to take the species from the wild populations. It was also required that the farming systems are developed in the open sea and not on dry land. In this sense, the international aquaculture community has its eyes on aquaculture that take place in Panama, due to the high potential that exists in the country. Several companies have entered, mainly in the production of fish that are exported to international markets. The generation and transfer of technology and the inclusion of new species with high potential has expanded the scope of Panamanian aquaculture. After all the problems mentioned previously, ASPAC restarted in 2019, consolidating the lessons learned and strengthening the union. In addition, participation in the Aquaculture Commission was reactivated, which was established as a consultative and advisory body for ARAP. Currently, seafood products of the aquaculture sector of Panama are one of the main export items of the country. Aquaculture in Panama began in the 1970s, focused mainly on solving nutritional needs by providing a source of low-cost protein. The national government directed community development projects in marginalized areas of the country that contributed to improving the quality of life of rural people. Construction of the first ponds occurred at a small fish farm at the National Institute of Agriculture located in Divisa, Veraguas province, about 213 km from the capital. In addition, a fish farming project was established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), now known as the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). With creation of the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) in 2006, all government functions involving aquaculture went to this institution. This action was significantly complemented by investments made by private companies in the cultivation of marine shrimp on the Pacific coastal areas of the country. Starting operations in 1974, the first private farm had about 34 ha of ponds in Aguadulce, Coclé province, and a post-larvae production hatchery in Veracruz, Panama province. This company focused on farming of Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei and blue shrimp Penaeus stylirostris. Subsequently, a group of visionary businessmen joined forces in 1981 to strengthen the shrimp farming sector, which at that time was the only aquaculture activity in the country. Today, the Panamanian Aquaculture Association (ASPAC) has 35 affiliated companies, including shrimp farming companies, independent shrimp producers, producers of freshwater and marine fish, echinoderms, marine ornamental species and others with related activities. The ASPAC functioned without major setbacks for almost 18 years, until 1999, when the white spot virus disease arrived. This disease had a profound negative effect on farms in the area and generated major economic problems. In addition, a lack of Aquaculture in Panama: Background, Challenges and Limitations Roberto Chamorro and Darío López FIGURE 1. Shrimp exports from 2014 to 2021. Source: National Directorate of Exports of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Comptroller General of the Republic. FIGURE 2. Aquaculture production for shrimp, cobia, pompano and tilapia. Source: Comptroller of the Republic of Panama 2021.
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