22 JUNE 2018 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG reach the current world average consumption of 19.8 kg/yr (Bonilla 2018). In Colombia, reservoirs for electricity generation have been used for aquaculture, as in the case of Betania and Prado reservoirs. Huila state is the main producer of tilapia in Colombia and a large proportion of tilapia is produced in large cages in Betania reservoir. This reservoir was built for the generation of electric power and began operation in 1987 with a capacity of 510 MW, later expanded to 540 MW, and has an area of 7,400 ha. Of the total area of the reservoir, about 2,700 ha corresponds to the most viable area (40 percent of the total) and 89 percent of the fish projects are installed in these areas. Aquaculture started in Betania reservoir during the 1980s with the farming of red tilapia in floating cages. Initially high-volume, low-density cages were used (6 × 6 × 1.5 m), but then high-volume cages of approximately 22-25 m in diameter and 3-4 m in depth were implemented, with useful volumes up to 2,000 m3. Densities vary depending on the volume of the cages and the stage of the crop, ranging from 600 fish/m3 in the nursery phase and from 150250 fish/m3 in the last period of growth. Production from Betania in 2012 was 23,991 t (Merino et al. 2013), representing an increase over the period of 2003-2012 of 5.2 times. The maximum carrying capacity of the reservoir was estimated to be around 33,000 t/yr (Pinzón-Ramírez and Assmus 2003), however at present this level is considered to be too high and uncertain. When carrying capacity is exceeded, problems of water quality in the cages and surrounding areas become frequent, as well as sudden and large fish kills, accentuated in the dry season. Given the importance of Betania reservoir for tilapia production and the losses that have occurred in the past, today producers and government entities are joining efforts to organize the sector without affecting other producers or the supporting ecosystem. In this context, reducing the impacts of aquaculture and conflicts generated by the use of water and soil with other agricultural activities is a priority. Some producers have opted to Aquaculture production in Colombia in 2017 grew by 10.2 percent compared to 2016, with 120,230 t produced (AUNAP 2014). In the last decade aquaculture production grew at an average annual rate of 8.5 percent (Fig. 1). However, over the last decade, shrimp production decreased by 11.9 percent due to disease and market factors. In 2017 fish production by species was: 73,641 t of hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (61 percent of total), 22,455 t of cachamas (Piaractus brachypomus and Colossoma macropomum) (19 percent of total), 20,226 t of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (17 percent of total) and 3,907 t of other species (native fish such as piracucu Arapaima gigas, bocachico Prochilodus magdalenae and yamu Brycon amazonicus) (3 percent of total). Huila department (state) is the main national producer with 46 percent of national production, mainly of red and Nile tilapia. In second place is Meta state with 13 percent, followed by the states of Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Boyacá and Tolima, each with 5 percent (FEDEACUA 2018). In 2017, 7,953 t of fresh and frozen fillets with a value of US$ 56.5 million were exported from Colombia, representing an increase of 4 percent compared to the previous year (87 percent tilapia and 13 percent trout; Fig. 2). The strengthening of exports of fresh fish to the United States and Canada continues in 2018. Production dynamics continue to specialize in crops destined for foreign markets with the export of fresh fillets (93 percent) and frozen special cuts (7 percent). Of the national production, 24 percent is destined for the export market and 76 percent is marketed domestically. In Betania, Nile tilapia are produced for the export market and red tilapia are produced for the domestic market. The domestic market has the challenge of increasing domestic consumption as indicated by the Sectorial Business Plan for Fish Farming in Colombia (FEDEACUA 2015). In 2017 the per capita consumption was 7.1 kg/yr and promotional activities are being taken to expand consumption rate to the Latin American average (11.5 kg/yr). By 2032, the target is to Aquaculture in Colombia Sandra Pardo Carrasco, Adriana Patricia Muñoz Ramírez, Victor J Atencio García and Sara Patricia Bonilla FIGURE 1. Aquaculture production in Colombia, 2007-2017. Source: Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural - MADR - Analysis FEDEACUA 2018. FIGURE 2. Production (t) and value (US$) of fresh and frozen fillets (tilapia and trout) exported from Colombia, 2007-2017. Source: USDA, PTP, SICEX – Análisis FEDEACUA 2018.
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