Cuba promotes fish farms
Like 0 Dislike 0 Published on 21 Jul 2015
(11 May 2009)
Havana, Cuba - April 17, 2009
1. Wide shot small fishing boats anchored in Havana with Morro Castle in background
2. Medium shot fishermen on boat returning to Havana
3. Zoom out fishermen tying boat with Morro Castle in background
4.Pan right Mamposton Aquaculture Center breeding tanks
5.Medium shot man starting pump
6.Medium shot pumps aerating breeding tanks
7.Wide shot water pumping into tank and worker feeding fish in background
8.Close up catfish jumping in tank while being fed
9.Medium shot worker feeding catfish
10.Wide shot net-covered breeding pools
11.Medium shot worker opening water spigot
12.Medium shot catfish in tank
13.Close up same
14.SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Julio Baisre, Cuban Ministry of Fisheries:
"Our ocean fishing resources are exploited to the maximum. It is not possible to continue exploiting them because we run the risk of over-exploiting them. So we must move toward aquaculture. Between both types of aquaculture, the freshwater kind and the ocean variety, the freshwater one has a precedent, more advanced technology and it is easier."
15. Close up workers getting Tilapia fish from cage in tank
16. Medium same
17. Medium shot workers skimming indoor pools containing young catfish offspring
18. Close up workers using skimmers in pools
19. Close up young catfish
20. Medium shot water pipe dripping into tank
21. Close up small catfish in tank
22. Wide shot workers and scientists walking outside near large breeding tanks
LEAD IN :
Cuba is famous for its coastline and beautiful sea.
But concern about the island's ability to feed its population in the future has led to the authorities investing in developing aquaculture with freshwater species, to replace imported fish.
STORYLINE:
The "Mamposton Aquaculture Center", consisting of 17 hectares in San Jose de las Lajas (30 kilometres outside of Havana) is a centre of excellence for fish farming, especially the catfish and the tilapia.
"Mamposton" produces 300 metric tons of fish yearly.
Of the 26 fish farms on the island, it is the largest.
Authorities are hoping to save millions of dollars by replacing costly imports with locally produced fish.
So why cultivate freshwater fish in reservoirs and tanks when approximately 6-thousand kilometres (3728 miles) of coastline surround the island?
It may seem paradoxical, but local authorities assured AP that it is all "part of a strategy".
According to Julio Baisre, special assistant to the recently restructured Fisheries Ministry of Cuba, the Cuban coastline is rich in beauty but poor as a food source.
The ocean's greatest fish reserves are limited to four specific zones: South America, southern Africa, the Mediterranean, and the coast of California.
More than 50% of the world's catch comes from those specific areas that amount to only 1% of the world's bodies of water.
According to the last official numbers available from 2008, the volume of capture in Cuba for the year was 60,900 metric tons of fish (both freshwater and saltwater) and seafood (lobster and shrimp).
In addition another 30,500 tons, came from freshwater fish farms.
Cuba buys 30,000 additional tons on the international market to satisfy the country's needs.
Authorities indicated that in 2007 Cuba spent 48-million U.S. dollars importing fish mostly destined for sale in the locally subsidised market.
According to a recent report from the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation, F.A.O., Cuba lacks "sufficient infrastructure and qualified personnel" to work towards the promotion of aquaculture in the future.
Cuba exports 81-million U.S. dollars in fish products, primarily lobster and shrimp.
The island cultivates 3.6 tons of farmed shrimp destined for Europe.
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