CHAPTER 16 • Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Venezuela: The Maracaibo System
305
unions. The main problem, which has important social and economic consequences,
is the interference between trawl and artisanal fisheries and the alleged heavy fishing
by trawl boats. Antagonism mainly arises from the interference for fishing grounds and
destruction or losses of artisanal fishing gears. It is believed that these sectors are not
antagonistic in themselves and can flourish side-by-side if some practices are enforced.
In a spatial scale, the conflict can be defused by reserving coastal zones exclusively
for artisanal fisheries, whereas in a temporal scale the establishment of closed seasons
to the industrial fisheries might be an effective measure. In 1992, a decree was promulgated (N° 2,227; 23.04.1992; "Ecological Technical Norms for Controlling Fishing Activities") banning the activities of trawl boats within a 3-mile limit from the line of
meal low water. Closed seasons have also been utilized as a means to placate this particular conflict. In 1989 resolution MAC-DGSPA 215 was enacted, establishing a two-month
moratotium (11.05.1989-01.04.1990). The results of this type of action are promising,
since the yields obtained after implementing closed seasons have been higher than
those observed over the same period in previous years (Davila et al. 1994).
16.7
Navigation
The Maracaibo Channel has a two-fold importance: as a route for vessels that carry
out the trade between several cities located on the perimeter of the lake, and, perhaps
a more important role, as a waterway for tankers that carry the main Venezuelan export commodity. This passage is a strategic nautical route, not only for Venezuela, but
also for the world economy. In 1996 more than 1 million barrels of crude oil, carried by
1307 tankers, were exported daily through the channel. The total oil transported in 1995
was 53.2 million t (approximately 380 MM bbl.
The two main oil terminals are Puerto Miranda, situated by Puertos de Altagracia,
and La Salina, located at Cabimas. In 1993, 152 million barrels of crude were exported
from Puerto Miranda, while 4.7 MM bb were aimed at cabotage. This loading terminal
started its operations in 1960 and over the ensuing 31 years it had supplied 9 000 MM bb
of crude to 28 000 tankers. In 1992, La Salina processed 110 MM bb. Both terminals have
facilities to discharge ballast waters from tankers. Smaller terminals are La Arriaga on
the southern coast of Lake Maracaibo, La Estacada at Puertos de Altagracia; and the
lacustrin.!:! terminals Lagunillas and San Lorenzo. In addition, since the beginning of
the '90S the channel is also the main route for the exportation of coal extracted from
the Guasare mines.
During 1996, 732 freighters and merchant ships navigated through the channel; in
1995, 8504000 t of cargo were transported - which is 6% of the total for Venezuela
(MTC 1997). The traffic of ships to and from the port of Maracaibo is also considerable. In 1996,432 foreign vessels and 341 cabotage ships docked at this port (MTC 1997).
16.8
Oil Exploitation and Petrochemical· Industries
Most of the petroleum-related activities in Venezuela orbits around the state-owned
Petr6leos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA), a gigantic holding of three vertically-integrated
operating subsidiaries (CORPOVEN, LAGOVEN a~d MARAVEN) that deal with oil
305
unions. The main problem, which has important social and economic consequences,
is the interference between trawl and artisanal fisheries and the alleged heavy fishing
by trawl boats. Antagonism mainly arises from the interference for fishing grounds and
destruction or losses of artisanal fishing gears. It is believed that these sectors are not
antagonistic in themselves and can flourish side-by-side if some practices are enforced.
In a spatial scale, the conflict can be defused by reserving coastal zones exclusively
for artisanal fisheries, whereas in a temporal scale the establishment of closed seasons
to the industrial fisheries might be an effective measure. In 1992, a decree was promulgated (N° 2,227; 23.04.1992; "Ecological Technical Norms for Controlling Fishing Activities") banning the activities of trawl boats within a 3-mile limit from the line of
meal low water. Closed seasons have also been utilized as a means to placate this particular conflict. In 1989 resolution MAC-DGSPA 215 was enacted, establishing a two-month
moratotium (11.05.1989-01.04.1990). The results of this type of action are promising,
since the yields obtained after implementing closed seasons have been higher than
those observed over the same period in previous years (Davila et al. 1994).
16.7
Navigation
The Maracaibo Channel has a two-fold importance: as a route for vessels that carry
out the trade between several cities located on the perimeter of the lake, and, perhaps
a more important role, as a waterway for tankers that carry the main Venezuelan export commodity. This passage is a strategic nautical route, not only for Venezuela, but
also for the world economy. In 1996 more than 1 million barrels of crude oil, carried by
1307 tankers, were exported daily through the channel. The total oil transported in 1995
was 53.2 million t (approximately 380 MM bbl.
The two main oil terminals are Puerto Miranda, situated by Puertos de Altagracia,
and La Salina, located at Cabimas. In 1993, 152 million barrels of crude were exported
from Puerto Miranda, while 4.7 MM bb were aimed at cabotage. This loading terminal
started its operations in 1960 and over the ensuing 31 years it had supplied 9 000 MM bb
of crude to 28 000 tankers. In 1992, La Salina processed 110 MM bb. Both terminals have
facilities to discharge ballast waters from tankers. Smaller terminals are La Arriaga on
the southern coast of Lake Maracaibo, La Estacada at Puertos de Altagracia; and the
lacustrin.!:! terminals Lagunillas and San Lorenzo. In addition, since the beginning of
the '90S the channel is also the main route for the exportation of coal extracted from
the Guasare mines.
During 1996, 732 freighters and merchant ships navigated through the channel; in
1995, 8504000 t of cargo were transported - which is 6% of the total for Venezuela
(MTC 1997). The traffic of ships to and from the port of Maracaibo is also considerable. In 1996,432 foreign vessels and 341 cabotage ships docked at this port (MTC 1997).
16.8
Oil Exploitation and Petrochemical· Industries
Most of the petroleum-related activities in Venezuela orbits around the state-owned
Petr6leos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA), a gigantic holding of three vertically-integrated
operating subsidiaries (CORPOVEN, LAGOVEN a~d MARAVEN) that deal with oil