58
G. Rodriguez
logical flow", the reduction of river flow has created barriers for the migration of fishes. Urban sewage (34m 3 day- 1 ) is transported with tides from the
strait into the lake and nutrients are added through runoff from agricultural areas. The nutrients are trapped in denser saline waters at the base of the
cone-shaped hypolimnion and cause anoxic conditions near the bottom, initiating a process of eutrophication. The addition of sewage and agricultural
runoff also give rise to elevated bacterial and organochloride pesticide contamination (Escam 1991) with particular concern for the shellfish industry.
Heavy metals, like mercury leaching from sedimentation lagoons of a petrochemical complex between 1975 and 1982, are of major concern. Additional
environmental hazards arise from the production of oil (10,000 wells), distribution through pipelines (about 40,000km) at the bottom of the lake,
transport by tankers, dump sites of crude oil and solid wastes, gas processing, and petrochemical industries.
3.6 Management Considerations
Environmental management consideration in the lake has focused on the
availability of freshwater resources for human and agricultural use as well
as on water quality standards appropriate for urban and industrial use,
fisheries, navigation, and recreation (Conde and Rodriguez 2000). Although stringent laws regulate potential environmental hazards and present petroleum operations are in line with new regulations, vital economic
activities like petroleum exploitation, estuarine fisheries, and navigation
will continue to pose environmental problems. Since 1981, the Institute for
the Control and Conservation of the Lake Maracaibo Basin (ICLAM) is
addressing management issues of the lake. Furthermore, the Colombian
and Venezuelan Governments have established a "Commission for Shared
Basins" because 15% of the Lake Maracaibo Basin is part of Colombian territory. Environmental problems, like oil spills following guerrilla attacks
on pipelines in the Catatumbo River Basin, can now be controlled by oil
companies of both countries in the upper reaches of the river to prevent oil
pollution of important nursery grounds for fish in lowland swamps
(Rodriguez-Miranda et al. 1996).
G. Rodriguez
logical flow", the reduction of river flow has created barriers for the migration of fishes. Urban sewage (34m 3 day- 1 ) is transported with tides from the
strait into the lake and nutrients are added through runoff from agricultural areas. The nutrients are trapped in denser saline waters at the base of the
cone-shaped hypolimnion and cause anoxic conditions near the bottom, initiating a process of eutrophication. The addition of sewage and agricultural
runoff also give rise to elevated bacterial and organochloride pesticide contamination (Escam 1991) with particular concern for the shellfish industry.
Heavy metals, like mercury leaching from sedimentation lagoons of a petrochemical complex between 1975 and 1982, are of major concern. Additional
environmental hazards arise from the production of oil (10,000 wells), distribution through pipelines (about 40,000km) at the bottom of the lake,
transport by tankers, dump sites of crude oil and solid wastes, gas processing, and petrochemical industries.
3.6 Management Considerations
Environmental management consideration in the lake has focused on the
availability of freshwater resources for human and agricultural use as well
as on water quality standards appropriate for urban and industrial use,
fisheries, navigation, and recreation (Conde and Rodriguez 2000). Although stringent laws regulate potential environmental hazards and present petroleum operations are in line with new regulations, vital economic
activities like petroleum exploitation, estuarine fisheries, and navigation
will continue to pose environmental problems. Since 1981, the Institute for
the Control and Conservation of the Lake Maracaibo Basin (ICLAM) is
addressing management issues of the lake. Furthermore, the Colombian
and Venezuelan Governments have established a "Commission for Shared
Basins" because 15% of the Lake Maracaibo Basin is part of Colombian territory. Environmental problems, like oil spills following guerrilla attacks
on pipelines in the Catatumbo River Basin, can now be controlled by oil
companies of both countries in the upper reaches of the river to prevent oil
pollution of important nursery grounds for fish in lowland swamps
(Rodriguez-Miranda et al. 1996).