278
J.R. Cantera and J.F. Blanco
1995) and clear-cut areas have been identified as the main disturbance for
their development (Blanco et al. 1998). Although data on fishery landings
in Buenaventura Bay are lacking, local fishermen catch significant quantities of commercially valuable fish (Arius spp., Centropomus spp., Mugil
spp. ), crustaceans ( Callinectes toxotes, C. arcuatus, Cardissoma crass urn,
Panulirus sp., penaeid shrimps), and mollusks (Anadara tuberculosa, A.
grandis, Striostrea prismatica, Muricanthus radix). Owing to highly efficient but hardly selective fishing gear, some of these species already show
signs of overfishing.
18.6 Management Needs
Most environmental issues of Buenaventura Bay are related to land reclamation, activities in the watershed, dredging, and pollution. Despite the
prohibition of commercial timber exploitation of any mangrove species
until the year 2000 by the Regional Board for the Protection of the Environment ( CVC), the growth of Buenaventura City and expanding aquaculture and agriculture have imposed increasing pressure, mainly on the
mangroves in the bay. Dredging activities have altered natural hydrodynamic processes and sedimentation/erosion rates while contamination is
seriously effecting benthic and pelagic communities and even local human
populations. About 7% of the sewage (601 s- 1 ) and 30% of solid wastes
(85 tons) are discharged daily to Buenaventura Bay by the rivers. Furthermore, mining and deforestation in the watershed add high concentrations
of TSS and cause increased sedimentation in the bay.
It is clear that sustainable management needs to integrate environmental issues of the bay and the watershed of rivers. The national and
regional government should establish a permanent monitoring network of
oceanographic conditions and of the water quality in the bay. They should
promote joint research between environmental agencies and universities/research institutes, initiate a program of environmental education, and
enhance the participation of the local population in problem identification, decision making, and protection measures. The plan for "Wetland
Management and the Integrated Management of the Coastal Zone" by the
Regional Bureau for the Protection of the Environment will significantly
contribute to protection, research, education and management issues.
Furthermore, zones of preservation, recovery, and multiple use (SanchezPaez and Alvarez-Leon 1998) recently established by the Colombian Ministry of the Environment have included Buenaventura Bay as a zone of
preservation.
J.R. Cantera and J.F. Blanco
1995) and clear-cut areas have been identified as the main disturbance for
their development (Blanco et al. 1998). Although data on fishery landings
in Buenaventura Bay are lacking, local fishermen catch significant quantities of commercially valuable fish (Arius spp., Centropomus spp., Mugil
spp. ), crustaceans ( Callinectes toxotes, C. arcuatus, Cardissoma crass urn,
Panulirus sp., penaeid shrimps), and mollusks (Anadara tuberculosa, A.
grandis, Striostrea prismatica, Muricanthus radix). Owing to highly efficient but hardly selective fishing gear, some of these species already show
signs of overfishing.
18.6 Management Needs
Most environmental issues of Buenaventura Bay are related to land reclamation, activities in the watershed, dredging, and pollution. Despite the
prohibition of commercial timber exploitation of any mangrove species
until the year 2000 by the Regional Board for the Protection of the Environment ( CVC), the growth of Buenaventura City and expanding aquaculture and agriculture have imposed increasing pressure, mainly on the
mangroves in the bay. Dredging activities have altered natural hydrodynamic processes and sedimentation/erosion rates while contamination is
seriously effecting benthic and pelagic communities and even local human
populations. About 7% of the sewage (601 s- 1 ) and 30% of solid wastes
(85 tons) are discharged daily to Buenaventura Bay by the rivers. Furthermore, mining and deforestation in the watershed add high concentrations
of TSS and cause increased sedimentation in the bay.
It is clear that sustainable management needs to integrate environmental issues of the bay and the watershed of rivers. The national and
regional government should establish a permanent monitoring network of
oceanographic conditions and of the water quality in the bay. They should
promote joint research between environmental agencies and universities/research institutes, initiate a program of environmental education, and
enhance the participation of the local population in problem identification, decision making, and protection measures. The plan for "Wetland
Management and the Integrated Management of the Coastal Zone" by the
Regional Bureau for the Protection of the Environment will significantly
contribute to protection, research, education and management issues.
Furthermore, zones of preservation, recovery, and multiple use (SanchezPaez and Alvarez-Leon 1998) recently established by the Colombian Ministry of the Environment have included Buenaventura Bay as a zone of
preservation.