304
J.E. Conde . G. Rodriguez
(Cynoscion) (Rodriguez 1984). This area also functions as a two-compartment system
for the large shrimp trawl fishery that unfolds at the Gulf of Venezuela (Ewald 1967),
which is based mostly on shrimps (Penaeus schmitti, Penaeus notialis, Penaeus subtilis,
Penaeus brasiliensis and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) and a few species of demersal fishes.
Overall, landings represent roughly one-third of ilie national yield. In 1984 the fishing sector
in this area engaged some 8500 persons, while the oil industry enrolled 18 000 employees. In 1995, a total of 92892 t were landed in this zone, which amounted to 18.6% of
the national yield. In monetary terms, it represented 24.3% of the overall Venezuelan
fisheries production. Approximately 71 600 t correspond to catches in the lake, while
11500 t were harvested in the Gulf of Venezuela by the trawling fleet. The rest is provided by artisanal fishermen registered in the State of Falcon.
Fishing activities in the lake itself are mainly artisanal, although during the last years
a ,canning industry based on blue crabs has thriven. In 1995 there were 5581 artisanal
fishermen, who used 3 448 boats, in the lacustrine sector of the Maracaibo System. They
represented 25% of the country's maritime artisanal fisher community. Also, in 1995
there were 915 artisanal fishermen, based on the western coast of Falcon (SARPA 1996).
In the rivers and creeks that drain into the lake, 116 species and subspecies of fishes
have been totallized (Taphorn and Lilyestrom 1984), although just a few have a commercial bearing. These include Potamorhina laticeps (5148 t in 1995), Prochilodus
reticulatus (3079 t), Plecostomus watwata (390 t), and Mylossoma acanthogaster (3 t).
Needlefishes, mainly Farlowella curtirostra, also represent a substantial staple, reaching 11 tin 1995 (SARPA 1996). Some catfishes probably contribute significantly to the
total harvest, but data are not available for these habitats.
Coastal and shelf trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Venezuela started in 1948 with just
one Italian-type boat (Cadima et al. 1972). From 1961 on all the boats were converted
to the Florida-type standard. In 1971 there were two fleets. One, made up of small boats
(15-20 m length), was based on the port of Maracaibo and mostly fished white shrimps
in the Ensenada de Calabozo, while the other fleet, with larger boats, was based on Punto
Fijo (State of Falcon) and operated offshore at the Gulf of Venezuela (Gines 1982). Currently, the only fleet left docks at Punto Fijo; its fishing grounds span an area of more
than 23000 km>, ranging from the Paraguami Peninsula to the Guajira Peninsula, and
from Los Monjes Archipelago to the inlets of Lake Maracaibo. At the beginning of the
'80S the trawl fleet peaked at almost 200 ships. From 1956, when 4000 t were landed,
catches increased steadily, reaching 12000 t during the early '70S. From then on, landings diminished and part of the fleet moved to the eastern region of Venezuela to exploit new fishing grounds, although in 1995, a total of 11565 t were harvested. Also a
shift in the composition of catches has occurred. At the beginning of the '70S, shrimps
represented 40% of the catches, while presently the shrimp share is less than 30%. Several species of demersal fishes are harvested, but the most important are Micropogon
furnieri (2047 t), Orthopristis ruber (1954 t), and Trichurus lepturus (1723 t). Regarding shrimp landings, this fishery is currently being managed at sustainable optimal
levels. In 1989 shrimps catches (4546 t) were very close to the estimated Maximum
Sustainable Yield for this fishery (4478 t) (Gimenez et al. 1993). Similarly, the present
fishing effort (32109 days fished) is next to the estimated optimum effort (33761).
Clashing of artisanal and industrial fisheries is one of the most remarkable conflicts of
use in the coastal zone of the Maracaibo System. For years these conflicts have attracted
the interest of mass media, environmentalist,groups, local politicians and fishermen
J.E. Conde . G. Rodriguez
(Cynoscion) (Rodriguez 1984). This area also functions as a two-compartment system
for the large shrimp trawl fishery that unfolds at the Gulf of Venezuela (Ewald 1967),
which is based mostly on shrimps (Penaeus schmitti, Penaeus notialis, Penaeus subtilis,
Penaeus brasiliensis and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) and a few species of demersal fishes.
Overall, landings represent roughly one-third of ilie national yield. In 1984 the fishing sector
in this area engaged some 8500 persons, while the oil industry enrolled 18 000 employees. In 1995, a total of 92892 t were landed in this zone, which amounted to 18.6% of
the national yield. In monetary terms, it represented 24.3% of the overall Venezuelan
fisheries production. Approximately 71 600 t correspond to catches in the lake, while
11500 t were harvested in the Gulf of Venezuela by the trawling fleet. The rest is provided by artisanal fishermen registered in the State of Falcon.
Fishing activities in the lake itself are mainly artisanal, although during the last years
a ,canning industry based on blue crabs has thriven. In 1995 there were 5581 artisanal
fishermen, who used 3 448 boats, in the lacustrine sector of the Maracaibo System. They
represented 25% of the country's maritime artisanal fisher community. Also, in 1995
there were 915 artisanal fishermen, based on the western coast of Falcon (SARPA 1996).
In the rivers and creeks that drain into the lake, 116 species and subspecies of fishes
have been totallized (Taphorn and Lilyestrom 1984), although just a few have a commercial bearing. These include Potamorhina laticeps (5148 t in 1995), Prochilodus
reticulatus (3079 t), Plecostomus watwata (390 t), and Mylossoma acanthogaster (3 t).
Needlefishes, mainly Farlowella curtirostra, also represent a substantial staple, reaching 11 tin 1995 (SARPA 1996). Some catfishes probably contribute significantly to the
total harvest, but data are not available for these habitats.
Coastal and shelf trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Venezuela started in 1948 with just
one Italian-type boat (Cadima et al. 1972). From 1961 on all the boats were converted
to the Florida-type standard. In 1971 there were two fleets. One, made up of small boats
(15-20 m length), was based on the port of Maracaibo and mostly fished white shrimps
in the Ensenada de Calabozo, while the other fleet, with larger boats, was based on Punto
Fijo (State of Falcon) and operated offshore at the Gulf of Venezuela (Gines 1982). Currently, the only fleet left docks at Punto Fijo; its fishing grounds span an area of more
than 23000 km>, ranging from the Paraguami Peninsula to the Guajira Peninsula, and
from Los Monjes Archipelago to the inlets of Lake Maracaibo. At the beginning of the
'80S the trawl fleet peaked at almost 200 ships. From 1956, when 4000 t were landed,
catches increased steadily, reaching 12000 t during the early '70S. From then on, landings diminished and part of the fleet moved to the eastern region of Venezuela to exploit new fishing grounds, although in 1995, a total of 11565 t were harvested. Also a
shift in the composition of catches has occurred. At the beginning of the '70S, shrimps
represented 40% of the catches, while presently the shrimp share is less than 30%. Several species of demersal fishes are harvested, but the most important are Micropogon
furnieri (2047 t), Orthopristis ruber (1954 t), and Trichurus lepturus (1723 t). Regarding shrimp landings, this fishery is currently being managed at sustainable optimal
levels. In 1989 shrimps catches (4546 t) were very close to the estimated Maximum
Sustainable Yield for this fishery (4478 t) (Gimenez et al. 1993). Similarly, the present
fishing effort (32109 days fished) is next to the estimated optimum effort (33761).
Clashing of artisanal and industrial fisheries is one of the most remarkable conflicts of
use in the coastal zone of the Maracaibo System. For years these conflicts have attracted
the interest of mass media, environmentalist,groups, local politicians and fishermen