Training course on aquaculture zoning and carrying capacity

During a meeting of the Network of Aquaculture of the Americas (RAA), in Cancun, Mexico, in March 2011, RAA's technical committee identified 'Aquaculture zoning and carrying capacity' as one of the priority themes for the network because most countries in the region lack the capacity to zone and regulate aquaculture activities. The delegates of the member countries indicated the importance of providing training in the areas of aquaculture zoning and carrying capacity in the region to limit, control and regulate maximum production at any site to ensure ecological and socio- economic sustainability. Within the framework of the project GCP/RLA/190/ BRA and as part of RAA's biennial work programme for 2011-2012, the RAA and FAO organized the training course on 'Aquaculture zoning and carrying capacity' (7-8 November 2011 and 9-11 November 2011) which targeted 19 government aquaculture technical personnel from 13 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Argentina, Belize, Bolivia [Plurinational State of], Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay). Country presentations confirmed that most countries in the region lack the capacity to zone and regulate aquaculture activities. However, there are a number of interesting initiatives in each country (e.g. Uruguay is in the initial planning phase of zoning, while other countries such as Brazil, Chile and Peru have developed aquaculture zoning projects, Web sites and/or tools. The participants agreed that zoning requires: 1) clear and concrete objectives, 2) full understanding of the needs of the study area and country priorities and capacities, and 3) voice and opinion on the demands and expectations of the communities that are involved and/or affected by zoning. The course also concluded that zoning is an essential tool to ensure the sustainable management of aquaculture, and the process should be multisectoral, participatory and transparent supported by a legal basis to become effective. Key recommendations include: creation of instruments and/or tools to facilitate information exchange; guidance to zoning processes and initiatives; support to aquaculture zoning projects in the region; longer-term and more in-depth training courses; and preparation of aquaculture zoning 'facts sheets' to summarize and share the experiences and knowledge on aquaculture zoning from each country for research, seed and feed production and dissemination, capacity building and