INFOPESCA Internacional 35

“There hardly is a noblest cause than supplying humanity with quality foods”
Interview with Jorge González de la Rocha
When techniques and passion are put together, a professional work will surely be fruitful in good results. Jorge González de la Rocha, current Senior Fisheries Officer in the FAO Regional Latin American Office (in Santiago de Chile), is a front-line player in the Latin American fishery and aquaculture sector. Supported by wide background and a deep passion for his work, he exposes his opinions about the current needs for technical assistance in the region, as well as the future role of the international technical organizations.

Venezuela
A new institutional and legal framework for fisheries and aquaculture
By Santiago Caro
Last March 14th, 2008, the Goverment of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela released Decree Number 5.930 “with Range, Value and Force of Law” related to Fisheries and Aquaculture. The spirit of this new legal instrument is to deepen the changes in this sector and to adapt them to the ongoing revolutionary process. The article is a summary of the Decree’s preamble, as well as the main transformations in the current regime.

Sanitary audits of the European Union: An authentic challenge
By Enrique Bertullo
Latin American and Caribbean countries have received sanitary audits from the EU inspectos for a long time. In the past, it used to be something traditional and rather continuous in the case of the meat industry that exported to the European markets. The new reality of continuous inspection on the seafood processing industry, has created difficulties in some countries; there have even been some stops to the normal accesso to the international markets.

Patagonian species for small-scale fisheries
By Edgardo E. Di Giácomo and María R. Perier
In general, small-scale fisheries support regional-scale economies which sustainability needs to be assured. Thus, any crisis that these fisheries might face, will have negative effects locally. In order to assure sustainability, the bio-ecological features of exploited resurces must be considered, as well as its socio-economic aspects. This article gathers research undertaken for 30 years, and describes the historical development and current status of a small-scale fishery in Gulf of San Matias, Patagonia.

Bivalve culture in Sao Paulo state, Brasil
By Fausto Silvestri, I. Bordon, R. Stojanov Bueno, A. Turra and H. de A. Marques
During the world aquaculture conference held last year in Qingdao, China, bivalve farming was included among the “five succesful aquaculture stories”. Bivalve farming is relatively easy as also is its transport; its feeding costs are practically nil and its current market demand is strong. All these factors explain such a success. In the long Brazilian coastline there are many sites that can be well adapted to this activity. The Northern part of Sao Paulo state is one of them.

Tanning of “pirarara” catfish skin by using both syntetic and Amazone natural products.
By M. P. S. S. da Rocha, R. S. de Jesus, M. L. R. de Souza, J. J. da S. Rebello
This research was funded by FAPEAM (Support Fund for Research in the Amazonas state). Its objective was to develop a tanning process for Amazonic pirara skin, using chromium basic sulphate and syntethic tannin, to compare the mechanical resistance of the skins obtained. Pirara is a large-sized catfish, which can reach one meter long and 50 kg weight. Its natural color enhances the value of its skin.