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INTRODUCTION
THE PRINCIPAL GOAL of the Aubum University-USAID fisheries project with INDERENA
is to devise means of increasing protein in the diets of Colombians, especially
the poorer segments of the population. An implicit secondary goal is to increase
the well-being of the rural population through improved income. These two
goals are not necessarily in conflict, and both seem to fit well in the National
Development Plan of Colombia which was to be made available around the
latter part of March 1978.
Colombia has several advantages over some countries with respect
to the creation of a fish culture program and development of an improved program
of inland fisheries in continental waters. First, Colombia has a fishery tradition
in a large part of the country, largely because of the effect of the expansive
Magdalena River and its tributaries. Second, Colombia has a large amount of
complementary resources which are amenable to the creation of aquaculture
and other inland fisheries
programs. Third, the country has a well-developed technical base in its overall
economy, which aids the implementation of new technology in fisheries. Fourth,
the country has several universities with capacity to continue research and
supplement biological training for ultimate extension services to the potential
users of new information on fisheries. Fifth, Colombia has well developed
market and transportation infrastructures on which new programs can be built.