56
8.6
6.7
GULF OF I
VENEZUELA .
(/)
w
I
(/)
u:::
w (/)
2
w
i2 I
(/J
:E u:::
w
2
i2
::::>
(/)
1(/J
w
w
I
LAKE
w
(/J
u:::
MARACAIBO
2
i2
a:::
w
:E
1~
I
(/J
w
a:::
u.
34.8
(/J
a..
:E
i2
I
(/)
0
iU
z
w
(/)
a..
w
I
(/J
u:::
w
2
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::::>
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5.0
cc
~
u
w
::::>
..J
cc
G. Rodriguez
Fig. 3.2. Fishery production (x 1000 tons) in the
Maracaibo System
the southwestern corner (Rodriguez 1973). At the center of the lake zooplankton concentration tends to be low (159 ind.l- 1 ) while higher concentrations are usually associated with large river discharge at the southwest
corner (345 ind.l- 1 ) and with phytoplankton-rich waters near the northeastern coast (753 ind.l- 1 ; Battelle 1974; Gines 1982; Escam 1991).
3.5 Environmental Issues
Annual fisheries in the Maracaibo System represent about 18% of the total
Venezuelan catch. Artisanal fisheries in the lake account for 71,700 tons,