Evaluación del potencial económico del aprovechamiento ornamental de la familia Characidae en el río Acacias

Abstract

This research allowed us to determine the economic potential of five species of the Characidae family, following the commercialization route: fishermen, local vendors, and exporters. First, fish were collected in three tributaries, the Acacias River, Orotoy River and Cola de Pato stream, where photographs were recorded and used to create an inventory with their respective descriptions based on pigmentation, diagnosis and morphology, in addition, the images of the ichthyofauna were included in the semi-structured surveys, to know the interest of the actors involved. It was identified that there is ornamental potential at the international level for Astyanax integer, Astyanax venezuelae, Knodus alpha and Knodus deuterodonoides; these native organisms have the characteristics for ornamental use; however, exporters did not express a feasible demand for Hemibrycon metae. At the local level, there is no clarity regarding the use of specimens; in Villavicencio and Acacias, the sale of cultivated ornamentals is superimposed on those of natural origin. Once the possibility of marketing the captured specimens has been established, sustainable management practices are proposed for those who make up the value chain, considering appropriate extraction, storage and transportation strategies that contribute to the conservation of the fishery resource and increase trade, and therefore the income of each link. Finally, in order to achieve sustainability, a basis is laid to venture into ornamental aquaculture, thus reducing fishing pressure; a challenge that would favor responsible production and national economic development.