The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is taking steps to enhance aquaculture practices in Bolivia by training local technicians and investing over USD 1.8 million. This funding aims to address major challenges, including the development of essential infrastructure, ensuring the availability of high-quality biological materials, and securing inputs for balanced diets crucial for shrimp cultivation.

Commitment to High-Quality Shrimp Production

The FAO’s initiative is focused on the production of whiteleg shrimp, which is known for its adaptability to diverse climates. Technicians, universities, and professionals from the aquaculture sector are being equipped with the knowledge necessary to cultivate this commercially viable species in the saline environments of the Oruro and Potosí salt flats. The training encompasses the adoption of innovative technologies in aquaculture practices, aimed at delivering shrimp with high sanitary standards.

Prominent biologist María Lourdes Cobo has been brought in as part of the FAO’s assistance program. Cobo’s expertise will provide local technicians with comprehensive training on modern shrimp cultivation techniques as well as the use of live foods for the larval stages of shrimp. This initiative is tailored to ensure that technicians from various institutions—including Iniaf, IPD-PACÚ, Emapa, and Senasag—have access to cutting-edge knowledge in brine shrimp farming, which is vital for the timely nourishment of shrimp.

Harnessing Natural Resources

The unique environmental conditions found in the salt flats of Oruro and Potosí, along with the shores of Lake Poopó, are highly favorable for shrimp farming. The saline concentration and temperature are ideal for breeding and feeding systems. This region has the potential for hatching and reproducing brine shrimp cysts, which serve as a primary food source for the shrimp, laying a robust foundation for aquaculture.

While shrimp production predominantly occurs in Asia and Latin America for export, establishing this industry locally could diversify aquaculture and positively impact the economy. In contrast to the limited aquaculture activity currently present in Oruro and Potosí, the introduction of shrimp farming could create new job opportunities and enhance the livelihoods of local residents.

Aiming for Food Security

The training initiative is part of a broader FAO project aimed at promoting sustainable fishing and aquaculture as viable solutions in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. By elevating shrimp farming practices, Bolivia can leverage its valuable aquatic resources across its three continental hydrographic basins—the Amazon, the Altiplano, and the Plata—offering a diverse range of aquatic life suitable for cultivation.