Abstract

In order to diversify the traditional fishing activity, to increase the exploitation of the resources and to improve the standard of living of the traditional fishermen in the Department of Atlantico, the Colombian Caribbean, a first experience on the use of fishnets Honduran type to capture thorny lobster Panulirus argus as an alternative for traditional fishing. The initiative answered to the fact that there was not any fishing directed to the lobster resource, since these were incidentally captured with trammel net and in occasions with skin-diving sports. In addition, the fishermen were not qualified to sail with the electronic equipments so to reach new fishing areas. This experience allowed us to establish other productive alternative, due to the decrease of fish, also to innovate the fishing activity in changing the art of traditional fishing such as hand fishing and trammel net for a more efficient fishing art as the fishnet. The results of this project showed that: (1) the fishermen showed the skill to efficiently operate the fishnets and the pulling device; (2) the decrease of the physical effort with the installation of the hydraulic system; (3) The fishermen were trained in coastal navigation and in the management of electronic equipment; (4) a significant increase in their income; (5) fishnets are a very selective fishing art which let out small lobsters and the size of the mouth does not let in bigger lobsters with greater reproductive capacity; (6) training on the importance of sustainable management of the resources.

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