AQUACULTURE AND FISHING EXPLOITATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE

Abstract

The increase of exploitation of natural fishing stocks, actually close to their self-sustainable limits, and the differences among the quantities of captured fisheries and the consumption demand, turned on Aquaculture as one of the most viable alternatives at world level for the production of food with high protein value for human consumption. The estimates indicate that in 2000 the world aquaculture production will reach 22.2 million mt (the double of 1983 production) and it will represent 25% of total fishery production. The ocidental countries willrepresent an important role in aquaculture expantion, specially in the tropics and subtropics, where ecological conditions are well favorable. Thus in the future this situation could modify the predominant position of the oriental countries, which at the moment represent approximatelly 80% of the world seafood production. Brazil, and particularly the Northeast region, have a serie of favorable conditions for the exploitation of aquaculture, such as: exceptional climatic conditions, which are responsable for the highest productivities founded in the whole country, disponibility of land and water appropriate for the culture of several aquatic species, abundant labor work and taxes incentives. In addition, the implantation of fish and/or crustacean culture projects at the Northeast will allow their consortiation with the agriculture and cattle breeding, which will contribute significativelly for the development of the Northeast semi-arid region, through the generation of economical and social resources, due to the establishment of many poles for generation of food and jobs, as well as it will increase the demand for specialized services in technical consultance, pond constructions, labor training, ration plants, and production of shrimp post-larvae and fish fry. The Rio Grande do Norte State is one of the few Brazilian states which has a serie of favorable conditions for the development of Aquaculture through the exploitation of the marine, estuarine, and mostly the fresh water ecosystem, which in the semi-arid region has a volume of acumulated water superior to 3,5 billion m3 (only for the water sources with more than 1 million m3). The absence of a fishing policy in Brazil to promote a R&D program has affected directelly the activity, causing the worse results at the last years, pushing Brazil from the second to the fourth place in production of protein. Therefore Brazil is now the biggest importer of fish in Latin America, which means a nonsense due to the existing potential for fishing exploitation all over the country. This situation could be changed if adequate and urgent initiatives were undertaken, with the objective to promote the regional development for the fishing and aquaculture businesses. So, the establishment of a national R&D program for these priority areas is needed, taking into consideration the particularities of each region and the impact on the environment.