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INTRODUCTION
IN FEBRUARY 1971, at the request of USAID Mission/El Salvador, Dr. Donovan
D. Moss, of the International Center for Aquaculture at Auburn University,
conducted a survey of the inland fisheries of El Salvador. He was assisted
by personnel of the Fisheries Section, Department of Forestry and Fisheries,
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), El Salvador. Purpose of the survey
was to review facilities and activities of the Fisheries Section and to determine
if sufficient potential and need existed to justify accelerated development
of inland fisheries and, if so, to recommend a program of inland fisheries
development for El Salvador, Concluding that increased fish production could
offer an abundance of relatively inexpensive, high quality animal protein
to diets known to be deficient in animal protein, Mossl recom mended the following:
1. Improvement and expansion of research facilities at the Fisheries
Station located at Santa Cruz Porrillo so that an effective research program
could be launched.
2. USAID Mission financial support for the purchase of laboratory and
field equipment.
3. USAID Mission support in obtaining technical services from the International
Center for Aquaculture in the form of a full-time resident fisheries advisor
and short-term technical assistance.
Mission and USAID/Washington acceptance of these recommendations
resulted in Contract No. AID/la-688, under which the author was employed as
the resident fisheries advisor beginning January 1, 1972. Following Washington
and on-campus orientation and Spanish language training in El Salvador, all
efforts were devoted to coordinating and advising in the development of an
effective inland fisheries program. Efforts were concentrated in the following
work areas:
1. Renovation and expansion of research and supporting facilities at
the Fisheries Station, Santa Cruz Porrillo.
2. Aquacultural research.
3. Aquacultural extension.
4. Investigations of the fisheries resources of major lakes and other
natural waters of El Salvador.