Peces para la Vida (Amazon Fish for Food) is the first multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Bolivia. It provides technical and social information, creates opportunities for exchange, facilitates access to micro-credits, and helps strengthen artisanal fisheries and small-scale fish farming and their value chains in the Bolivian Amazon.

•Peces para la Vida II: A year of activities!..........1, 3

Fish Farming•Baseline: the reality of the aquaculture sector.4•Climatic risks in aquaculture .............................6•EMBRAPA expert in fish food and nutrition visits Bolivia....................................................................7

Sustainable Fisheries•Fisheries in rural and indigenous communities..8•Abundance of paiche in four indigenous territories of the Northern Amazon......................9•Fishers strengthen their capacities...................10•African – South American Exchange.................11

Value Chain•The fish farming sector platform continues to advance...............................................................12•The fisheries platform is consolidated in the Northern Amazon...............................................13•Working with health authorities......................14•Business models for the fish farming sector, an innovative approach...........................................15

Financial Services•Financial products for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.............................................16•International forums on microfinance and sustainable development....................................17

To read, to follow...•News in Brief, recent publications.....................18

Celebrating one year supporting the fisheries and aquaculture

sectors in Bolivia!

INDEX

Improving Food Security in Bolivia

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The Peces para la Vida II Project is finding solutions aimed at improving food security and livelihoods in Amazonian Bolivia through technical and organizational support and facilitated access to financial services. The fish farming sector benefits from various experiences and training and, thanks to the contribution of the Project, the fisheries sector in the Northern Amazon, particularly in indigenous communities, improved its paiche management capacity. The creation of multi-stakeholder platforms, with an increased involvement by public stakeholders, demonstrated the effectiveness of dialogue in improving the entire fish value chain.

Bulletin n°02 Second semester, March 2016

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The Peces para la Vida II Project aims to improve the contribution of fish to food security and poverty reduction in the Bolivian Amazon, particularly for women, children and indigenous families.

Peces para la Vida II is being implemented by six institutions from Bolivia and Canada: CEPAC, Centro de Promoción Agropecuaria Campesina (Bolivia) FAUNAGUA, Instituto de Investigaciones Aplicadas de los Recursos del Agua (Bolivia)WFT, World Fisheries Trust (Canada)IMG, Ingeniería Marketing Gestión Consulting (Bolivia)CIDRE, Institución Financiera de Desarrollo (Bolivia)UVIC, University of Victoria (Canada)...collaborating with more than 20 stakeholders and institutions from the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), a program of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Peces para la Vida II Editorial Comittee:Widen Abastoflor, CEPACPaul A. Van Damme, FAUNAGUA Joachim Carolsfeld, WFTLuis Enrique Badani, IMGJulio Alem, CIDREMark Flaherty, UVIC

Coordination:Rodrigo Daza

Editing and design:Elisabeth Leciak

Authors: Mónica McIsaac, Tiffanie Rainville, Luz Mejía, Álvaro Céspedes, Verónica Hinojosa, José Zubieta, Fernando Carvajal, Alison Macnaughton, Sergio Villafán, Roxana Salas

www.pecesvida.org LINKcontact: info@pecesvida.org

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Peces para la Vida II has so far surveyed approximately 1,500 producers and fishers, and more than 1,000 other stakeholders in the fisheries and fish farming sectors in Bolivia, as well as mapping aquaculture activities in much of the Amazonian plain. Through various interventions, such as training, workshops, technical access and exchanges, to date it has reached 3,200 direct beneficiaries, 38% of which are women.

Peces para la Vida II direct beneficiaries (March 2015-March 2016)

Project Scope

Contacts: Rodrigo Daza, rodrigo.daza@pecesvida.org Tiffanie Rainville, WFT, tiffanie@worldfish.org

Public Stakeholders

(110)Civil Society

Stakeholders (41)

Private Stakeholders

(63)

Aquaculture

Extension Workers (53)

Academics(54)

Producers(1 335)

Civil Society Stakeholders

(511)

Fishers(890)

Academics(8)

Private Stakeholders(63)

Fisheries Extension Workers

(27)

Public Stakeholders(103)

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Fish Aquaculture

Baseline: the reality of the fish farming sector The baseline study in the Project’s five key municipalities of work (Yapacani, San Carlos, San Juan, Puerto Villarroel and Entre Rios) has characterized the current state of aquaculture (fish farming) in this area and provided information for defining strategies for the sector’s development and sustainable growth. The results show that the main weaknesses are in human capital (skills and knowledge) and social capital (social resources, networks, trust, and access to institutions).

With the “Household Livelihood” approach, the study documents the current state of small-scale fish farming and provides data for assessing the needs and capacity for micro-financing.

In the study area, 530 rural and indigenous families out of 8,966 are fish farmers, with a significant number of the remaining families also interested in starting this activity. However, productivity remains low. In the Tropic of Cochabamba, for example, productivity is only 0.5 kg / m², while well-managed, profitable pacu farming should be able to produce more than 0.8 kg / m². The main problems identified by producers are disease (mentioned by 29% of people), low water quality (by 22%) and poor quality of fingerlings (by 18%).

The results show that the greatest weakness is the lack of adequate skills and mechanisms to use “best fish farming practices.” Deficient social capital, especially a low level of management by producer organizations, and poor coordination with state programs at the different levels - national, departmental and municipal, reduce competitiveness of the aquaculture chain.

With regard to financial capital, 72% of families raising fish have received loans in the past, at an annual interest rate of up to 25%, though averaging 13%. Loans specifically for the fish farming sector did not exist in Bolivia before 2015.

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Household Livelihood Approach

“A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (stores, resources, claims and access) and activities required for a means of living: a livelihood is sustainable which can cope with and recover from stress and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation.”

Livelihoods approaches compared, DFID 1999.

A total of 8,966 rural and indigenous families live in communities of the core fish farming region of this project. Thirty fish farmers in each of three of the municipalities and 11 in the other two municipalities (the total number of fish farmers in these two municipalities) were surveyed. In addition, 30 non- fish farming families were surveyed in each of the five municipalities for a total of 251 surveys.

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Contacts: Widen Abastoflor, CEPAC, widen@cepac.org.boVerónica Hinojosa, CEPAC, vhinojosa@cepac.org.bo

The results of the study provide important quantitative and qualitative information to inform the Project’s strategies and to make a series of recommendations for the sector:

Develop technical capacities of local extension workers and fish farming families through specialized training in fish culture and mass technological diffusion mechanisms.

Strengthen producer associations, improve their associative management and participation in public-private multi-stakeholder platforms, facilitate links with suppliers of fingerlings, feed, equipment and technology, and develop other effective services for their members.

Support participatory analysis of the economic viability of fish farms, oriented towards decision-making on access to financial resources to solve major bottlenecks and improve the profitability of fish farming.

!

!

!

8 966 rural and indigenous families

of the Project area thatengage in fish farming

530 families engaged in fish farming

32%

are women

68% of households believe that they are knowledgeable about fish farming.However, only 38% have demonstrated skills,and only 15% of households receive some form of technical assistance.

Trópico de

Cochabamba Santa Cruz

ponds with

Total farmed fish

882 tons/year

per family/year1.2 t

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Climatic risks for fish farming in the Bolivian AmazonPublic stakeholders, financial agencies and producers are interested in identifying success and/or risk factors to plan for the development of fish farming in specific areas. Using geographic tools (GIS), the Peces para la Vida II Project assessed and mapped factors affecting aquaculture potential and risks, including climate-related risks. This approach can be used to prioritize new projects or consolidate existing ones, and to verify feasibility of aquaculture in terms of economic and environmental sustainability.

In recent decades, fish farming in Bolivia has been identified as an activity that has the potential to play an important role in rural areas, diversifying livelihoods and improving food security. However, this activity is still generally incipient. It is growing in some regions of the country (as in Yapacani), and is stagnant in others, suggesting that there are local and/or regional factors that regulate its development.

Climatic factors can be decisive. Availability of water in ponds and maintaining optimal temperature for fish growth are both climate-dependent. This study looked at risks attributed to long drought periods, flooding and low water temperature during periods of prolonged cold fronts that slow growth and/or cause mortality.

The resulting maps show that there is no relation between the estimated climatic risks and the number of current fish ponds in a municipality. This suggests that producers do not take into account risk factors due to climate in the decision to engage in fish farming.

This leads to two important alternatives currently being explored: climatic risk is lower than expected or existing fish farming is vulnerable to climatic factors.

Climatic Risk

Very high

High

Moderately High

None

Ponds

Contacts: José Zubieta, FAUNAGUA, pp_zubiet@yahoo.comFelipe L. Lobo, UVIC, lobo@uvic.ca

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“Your water is your gold”, says expert in fish farming

Dr. de Freitas was pleased to see first-hand how fish farming is done in the Bolivian Amazon basin, as people show much enthusiasm and are “doing what they can with what they have.” He felt that the sector is entering a critical stage due to declining water quality in ponds that will create new problems and undoubtedly losses to fish farmers.

The balanced fish feed that is available in Bolivia is not of the best quality. However, Dr. De Freitas says that “much can be improved by changing just a few things.” Farming families can demand improvement in feed quality and also take advantage of partnerships created by the Peces para la Vida II Project through the creation of platforms (“roundtables”) with fish feed factory owners.

Dr. Freitas taught a module on Fish Food and Nutrition in the Fish Culture Technical Assistant course being presented by the Integrated Faculty of Ichilo (UAGRM) and the Project. During the course, he taught the 38 male and female technicians and leading producers that “good water management is also about good feed management. If fish

During his visit to Bolivia from January 10 to 31, 2016, Dr. Luiz Eduardo de Freitas, an expert in fish food and nutrition from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) emphasized the importance of water management and quality fish feed.

do not consume their feed ration in the span of 20 minutes, the excess feed must be removed to prevent it from sinking and contaminating the water.“

Dr. de Freitas accompanied the Peces para la Vida II team to strategic meetings with governmental and non-governmental institutions such as CAOR*, SENASAG*, IPD PACU* and HOYAM* to identify common ground and opportunities for collaboration. The development of fish farming depends on the entire production chain, including producers, suppliers of goods, juveniles, feed and equipment, fish sellers, and consumers, as well as related supporting institutions that can provide technological and governmental support.

During his visit Dr. de Freitas was able to identify problems and opportunities stating that “the potential for fish farming in Bolivia is enormous. It’s just a matter of time for it to become one of the highest fish producing countries in South America, but for this to be possible, it’s important that the government consider policies for farming families and for mid and large business owners”.

Brazil has much experience in tropical fish farming, offering a great opportunity to take advantage of the lessons learned there to assist in developing a strong tropical fish culture industry in Bolivia.

Thanks to the coordination of WFT with EMBRAPA, Dr. de Freitas is the second Brazilian Aquaculture Specialist to visit Bolivia with Peces para la Vida II. His experience helped male and female Bolivian fish farmers respond to a series of problems which were identified in a participatory way with Dr. Paulo C. Cecarelli, of Brazil’s ICMBio in June 2015 (See Critical Factors in Aquaculture Report). LINK

Contacts: Widen Abastoflor, CEPAC, widen@cepac.org.boTiffanie Rainville, WFT, tiffanie@worldfish.orgÁlvaro Céspedes, IMG, lorcespedes@gmail.com

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*CAOR Association of larger scale fish farmers of Santa Cruz*SENASAG National Service for Food and Agriculture Safety*IPD PACU Public Decentralized Institution for Fisheries and Aquaculture*HOYAM Fish Culture and Anthropology NGO in Trinidad

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Sustainable Fisheries

Fisheries in indigenous and rural communities In Cachuela Esperanza, Rosario del Yata and 10 communities distributed in four indigenous territories (TCO), the Peces para la Vida II team completed research to characterize the fishery and its importance for these communities.

Until recently, Bolivian fisheries have been poorly understood and documented. Their sensitivity to environmental and socio-economic changes is unknown, as is their contribution to livelihoods and food security. The indigenous fisheries are the least described, studied and strengthened, despite the important role they play in the livelihoods and subsistence of indigenous groups who have been fishing since ancient times.

In an effort to generate information on the sensibility of fisheries in Bolivia’s Northern Amazon, and to effectively direct Project interventions, an evaluation of the fisheries

took place. In coordination and collaboration with CIRA, (Autonomous University of Beni) data was collected on the fishing fleet, fisheries production, consumption, and other aspects during a 60-day period in Cachuela Esperanza and Rosario del Yata (traditional, non-indigenous fishing communities).

Community workshops took place in the indigenous and nearby communities, including participation of 100 women and 152 men. Collectively, participants identified different historical, organizational, social, and productive aspects. For example, people described their communities’ history, and how they began fishing, their first experiences with paiche, and local perspectives on its potential. This information was complemented by 127 individual interviews.

Contacts: Fernando Carvajal, FAUNAGUA, fernando.carvajal@faunagua.orgAlison Macnaughton, UVIC, alimacna@gmail.com

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Opinions by fishers

“Paiche is good because it sells and helps economic income” Lago Buena Vista community

“Paiche is bad because it diminishes the amount of native species we sell; it eats the smaller fish” San José community

“If we take out all the fish [native species] (...)what will our children eat after? I know if we fish everything, the fish in the river disappear (...) it would be better to sell paiche for subsistence (…) so we can have an income for the family” Baketi community

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Conteo paicheRío Orthon

Río Beni

Río Mamoré

Río Madre de Dios

TCOCAVINEÑO

TCOCHACOBO

PACAHUARA

TCOMULTIETNICO II

TCOTAKANA

CAVINEÑO

Abundance of paiche in four indigenous territories of Bolivia’s Northern AmazonIn coordination with the Central Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIRABO), the Peces para la Vida II Project completed a participatory evaluation of paiche abundance and distribution in rivers and lagoons in four indigenous territories (TCOs) of the Beni Department.

Paiche abundance is variable: between 21 fish per hectare (in the TCO Chácobo-Pacahura) and three fish per hectare (in the TCO TIM II). To better understand this species’ distribution and potential in different aquatic systems, indigenous fishers performed their first paiche counts, using methods developed for paiche and river dolphins when they emerge to breathe at the surface (paiche are an air-breathing fish). The Peces para la Vida II team also completed an ecological characterization of water bodies inhabited by paiche.

The team included two indigenous fishers with experience in paiche fisheries, and a research technician. During the 47-day period, they visited 35 lagoons, and five rivers in 16 communities, benefitting from the support and guidance of 19 indigenous fishers.

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Contacts: Fernando Carvajal, FAUNAGUA, fernando.carvajal@faunagua.orgSergio Villafán Coca, FAUNAGUA, sergiovillafancoca@gmail.com

Participatory paiche counting was co-financed by the “National Institute for Fisheries and Forestry Innovation” (INIAF), of Bolivia’s Ministry of Land and Rural Development, through the Project “Technical bases for the sustainable exploitation of paiche fish (Arapaima gigas)”.

Preliminary conclusions indicate that paiche abundance in these TCOs depends on factors such as the size of the water system and fishing pressure. These factors, among others, have an impact on the fishers’ economy. Fishers have the potential to improve their quality of life by adopting a paiche exploitation plan, taking into account equitable market conditions, and a national program for paiche fisheries in indigenous territories.

Paiche count

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Fishers strengthen their capacity in management and public policy influence

The FEUPECOPINAB (Unified Federation of Fishers, Vendors, Fish Farmers of the Northern Amazon of Bolivia) met on three occasions to plan actions, build capacity, and develop a strategic plan for the development and strengthening of the Northern Amazon fisheries sector.

Contact: Roxana Salas, FAUNAGUA, roxana.salas@faunagua.org

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In the northern Amazon region of Bolivia, approximately 2,500 families depend on the fisheries resource and on fish value chains. However, the importance of this sector, its contribution to food security, and its role in helping meet the growing demand for protein-rich food in the local, regional, and national markets is still under-recognized.

In fact, the fisheries sector is facing an absence of regulations for permits and access to fishing, leading to a poorly defined role of government authorities at the local, departmental and national levels in terms of the control and monitoring of extraction of the resource.

To remove these bottlenecks, which impede the equitable development of the fisheries sector, the FEUPECOPINAB Board of Directors (including representatives from 14 associations of male and female fishers from Beni and Pando departments) met on three occasions in the last six months to plan actions and improve their capacities. Conclusions from this meeting consist of an affirmed need to elaborate a strategic plan to develop and and strengthen the Northern Amazon fisheries sector, including strategies of unification, legality and legitimacy, the incorporation of their demands in Municipal and Departmental Plans for Productive Development, and a requirement of capacity-building for FEUPECOPINAB in terms of organizational, managerial, and public lobbying capabilities.

Considering this important demand, through the Peces para la Vida II Project and co-financed by the “National Institute for Fisheries and Forestry Innovation” (INIAF) project “Technical basis for the sustainable exploitation of paiche fish (Arapaima gigas)”, Faunagua will create a Strategic Development and Strengthening Plan for FEUPECOPINAB, in a participatory manner. The plan will have a five-year duration, and will include all of the associations of indigenous, rural, and urban fishers of the Northern Amazon of Bolivia.

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Africa-South America Exchange: recognizing the global importance of freshwater fisheries To explore international strategies for strengthening the small-scale fisheries sector, an event was organized in May 2016 to bring together professionals and specialists from Africa (Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina).

The exchange of experiences among fishers and experts from Arica and South America demonstrated the desire to take action to support the artisanal fisheries sector, and to consolidate its contribution to the global food supply, to reducing poverty, and to the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. Four priority actions were identified:

a) Support the artisanal, small-scale fisheries through adequate legislation and effective policies.

b) Value the role of artisanal fisheries in the sustainable management of aquatic resources

c) Strengthen fisheries organizations

d) Focus on artisanal fisheries issues in border zones.

Following this exchange, and as an initial step, an information brochure was published to create awareness among stakeholders from the public sector and the general public about the importance of freshwater fisheries. LINK

Global importance of Artisanal Fisheries

Artisanal freshwater fisheries contribute significantly to food security. They provide nutritious food for family consumption and to local, national and international

markets. They generate jobs and income for thousands of rural families.

Worldwide, freshwater fisheries production exceeds 11 million tons per year.

Between 7% and 10% of fish consumed in the world comes from freshwater; but in some countries, inland fisheries contribute more than 50% of animal protein.

Artisanal fishing is an economic and social engine.

Freshwater fisheries are mostly small-scale and involves a large number of male and female fishers:

Approximately 50 million people live directly or indirectly from fisheries, of which more than half are women.

Contact: Paul Van Damme, FAUNAGUA, paul.vandamme@faunagua.org

For food

security

For the sustainable and fair use of lakes and

rivers

Support artisanal fishing!

Fishers from Africa and South America united for sustainable development

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Value chain

Aquaculture Platform continues to move forward From September 2015 to February 2016, the development of aquaculture sector “platforms” continued with high levels of acceptance by municipal authorities, organizations of producers, and public and private institutions in the focal areas of the Peces para la Vida II Project.

Between September 2015 and February 2016 Peces para la Vida II Project continued coordinating activities to create platforms in the aquaculture sector. After preparatory meetings with the Municipal Directors of Productive Development, contacts with leaders of organizations of producers and briefings with key regional authorities (mayors and municipal councils), project staff shared information on the features, advantages, functions, and mission of these spaces of dialogue. Platforms are being developed in the municipalities of San Carlos and Yapacaní (Santa Cruz Department) and Entre Rios and Puerto Villarroel (Cochabamba Department).

Most recently, thanks to the cooperation and active participation of the Municipality of Yapacaní, an information meeting was held with the leaders of the Federation of Yapacaní Fish Farmers, the only organization that had not yet participated in the process of building the platform. The meeting included the Intercultural Federation, an organization with influence and advocacy capacity in the region. After seeing the similarities in the objectives of the various stakeholders, the combination of efforts through the platform was proposed and accepted by both the Federation of Yapacani Fish Farmers and the Intercultural Federation Board. Likewise, an important communication on the application submitted by the Municipality of Puerto Villarroel for the formation of its own platform was officially received. Due to the large number of producers present, this request will result in the construction of three platforms, thus expanding on the two originally planned in these areas.

Contacts: Álvaro Céspedes, IMG, lorcespedes@gmail.comEulogio Vargas, IMG, eulyvar@yahoo.es

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5423

51

Visits to project areas and municipalities involved in the formation of platforms

Coordination meetings with representatives of Municipal Governments, Organizations of Producers, Technical Assistance organizations, etc.

Information meetings with Mayors and Councils from Municipalities of Yapacaní, San Carlos, Entre Ríos and Puerto Villarroel

Producer Development Units contacted in Municipalities of Yapacaní, San Carlos, San Juan de Yapacaní, Entre Ríos, Puerto Villarroel, Mancommunity of Municipalities from the Tropic of Cochabamba

Extended Information Workshop for initial development of the bi-municipal fish farming Platform of Yapacaní and San Carlos and formation of the Steering Committee

Aquaculture organizations directly related to participants of the Aquaculture Platform

105others

(7)

27% 73%

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The fisheries sector platform (roundtable) is consolidated in the Northern AmazonTo develop partnerships and strategic alliances in the fisheries sector, Peces para la Vida II promoted a series of meetings between fishers, vendors, entrepreneurs, public institutions and indigenous and rural organizations in an enabling environment that stimulates concerted action.

Five meetings were held as Social Training modules for Local Development (FSDL). Three key elements that are necessary for the formation of platforms were addressed: contextualization of the local framework, management tools for platforms, and the skills and abilities of its members.

Each working meeting in Riberalta was attended by important sector institutions and associations. Public sector participants included IPD PACU*, INIAF*, SEDAG* Beni, Sub-Gobernación de la Provincia Vaca Diez, the Township and Autonomous Municipal Government of Riberalta. Participants from the private sector included FEUPECOPINAB, ASOPRYC, ASOPESAR, ARAPAIMA* (all from Riberalta), the Fisheries Center of Rosario del Yata (Guayamerín) and the Fishers Associations of Tahuamanu and Puerto Rico (the first from the town of Porvenir and the latter from Puerto Rico, both in Pando).

Contacts: Álvaro Céspedes, IMG, lorcespedes@gmail.comRoberto Castro, IMG, castro.rob81@gmail.com

FEUPECOPINAB (9/9/2015)

Auditorium Hotel Avenida(21/10/2015)

Auditorium Sub-Gobernación (01/12/2015)

Auditorium Municipal Council(10/11/2015)

Auditorium Sub-Gobernación(07/01/2016)

33% 67%43 fishers

and 50 Public Stakeholders

*IPD PACU Public Decentralized Institution for Fisheries and Aquaculture*INIAF National Institute for Fisheries and Forestry Innovation*SEDAG Departmental Agriculture Secretary *FEUPECOPINAB, ASOPRYC, ASOPESAR, ARAPAIMA - fishing and fish seller associations of Riberalta

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Working with Bolivia’s Health Authority (SENASAG)Ensuring the safety and quality of fish in Bolivian markets is essential for the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the country. Peces para la Vida II obtained the official participation of health authorities for the development of tools, procedures and regulations and for cooperatively planning future activities.

One of the main goals of the Peces para la Vida Project is to develop specific instruments that regulate hygiene and handling standards of fish and any inherent environmental aspects. For this purpose, the scope, components and objectives of the Project were presented to the national health authority (SENASAG), resulting in the identification and coordination of four working areas of common interested that are currently being formalized in an agreement of mutual support and cooperation.

Contacts: Rodrigo Daza, rodrigo.daza@pecesvida.org Álvaro Céspedes, IMG, lorcespedes@gmail.com

1 2 3 4Active participation by SENASAG in the

construction of multi-stakeholder platforms as a venue for sharing,

validating and/or developing standards related to the sectors

The contribution of Peces para la Vida II in developing regulations

specific to animal health and food safety for

fishery and aquaculture products

Exchange and technical contributions, in addition to preparing documents

of interest to the fisheries and fish farming

sectors

Exchange and contributions in the

development of sanitary regulations for fish

farms (sanitary registry) as required by the

Productive Development Bank (BDP) for granting

loans

This agreement will also generate the space and conditions for drafting a technical manual on hygiene and fish handling, setting quality standards with the Bolivian Authority, building awareness and providing training to vendors, and improving hygiene practices and handling of fish at major markets.

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Business models for the aquaculture sector, an innovative approachHow to create successful business models? The Peces para la Vida Project addresses this question with the Bolivian fish farming sector, supported by the Canadian fish expert Dr. Brian Davy. The Project is exploring proposals to create and strengthen clusters, or inclusive conglomerates for small producers, bring together suppliers and entrepreneurs, diversify and add value.

Contact: Álvaro Céspedes, IMG, lorcespedes@gmail.com

Clusters of 10 to 20 small producer families

Insured clients

Create a formalized strategic alliance

Associated in a single business for primary processing

EntrepreneursFish farmers

FISH FRY/FINGERLINGS

TECH

NICAL ASSISTANCE TECH

NICAL INNOVATION

BA

LANCED FISH FEED

Insured providers

Fresh

Frozen

VALUE ADDED $

Guaranteed access to supplies and technology

$

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Financial Services

In its first year of implementation, Peces para la Vida II disbursed 80% of the target placement of its own resources thanks to a diversified range of financial services and to the addition of new financial service centres.

Financial products for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors

Contact: Julio Alem, CIDRE, jalem@cidre.org.bo

The Project, through CIDRE, allocated CAD $ 200,000 from its loans portfolio, along with funds from a public Trust, for a total of CAD $ 2,000,000 to scale up fish production. The Project’s strategy provides innovative service mechanisms for the population engaged in fisheries (mainly indigenous) and fish farming (with an emphasis on women), creating “a diversified financial services platform for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.”

The strategy also aims at “consolidating permanent financial service locations for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors”, thus expanding the number of CIDRE agencies with permanent locations in Yapacaní (November 2015), Cobija and Riberalta (March 2016).

The amount disbursed during the first year of the Project’s implementation is 80% of the target amount of its own funds that are committed to the project.

Credit Allocation

4%

18%

61%

18%

Services related to fisheries

Freshwater fisheries

Establishments serving food products derived from Fishing

Fish hatcheries and fish farms

Credit

Savings Products

Financial leasing

Comprehensive insurance

Credit insurance

Fish farming under contract

Investment Risk

4Womenclients

20 credits$119,637 USD

average credit$6,000 USD

6 credits$22,157 USD

average credit$3,690 USD

CHIMORÉ

3 credits$50,000 USD

average credit$8,300 USD

ENTRE RIOS

4 credits$28,265 USD

average credit$7,000 USD

IVIRGARZAMA

7 credits$19,215 USD

average credit$2,750 USD

YAPACANÍ

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During the Bolivia-Canada exchange in November 2015, the University of Victoria and World Fisheries Trust (WFT) hosted two workshops focused on aspects of microcredit and sustainable development. Sharing experiences and knowledge, participants from both countries contributed to the project’s strategies and discussed the application of microfinance tools for sustainable development and food security.

International forums on financial tools, microfinance and sustainable development

A first round table entitled “Financial tools for Poverty Alleviation, Sustainable Livelihoods, Food Security and Social Justice - Canadian and Bolivian Experiences” was attended by several Canadian institutions experienced in microfinance: Vancity Credit Union, Transformations International, Skwin’ang’eth Se’las Development Company, Stephen Whipp Investments and Oikocredit, among others. This experience showed that:

• Although both countries have similar challenges, these are strongly marked by the local cultural context.

• Organizations applying microloans for development should re-evaluate their loan requirements to better meet the needs of their beneficiaries.

• Financial education, development of innovative collateral, and flexibility in planning are needed in both countries.

• Micro-finance organizations tend to choose social indicators of interest to investors. However, in Bolivia, social and financial balance, technical competence, and value in loans to producers are more important than loans to consumers.

• The field of “Indigenomics” in Canada recognizes the value of indigenous peoples’ knowledge, making decisions from the bottom up, setting priorities for the benefit of the community, and the integration of all related components; these are lessons relevant to development work in other parts of the world, including Bolivia.

The second forum on “Sustainable Development and Microfinance” provided an opportunity to present the Peces para la Vida II Project to the Canadian audience of male and female students, academics and investors. CIDRE presented its role in inclusive finance for sustainable development in Bolivia, and Oikocredit International shared its plans to increase investment in food security. The exchange provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between CIDRE and social impact and microfinance investment organizations such as Oikocredit Canada, CESO-SACO and KIVA.

Contact: Mónica McIsaac, UVIC, monicamci@shaw.ca

The visit to Canada by the Peces para la Vida Bolivian delegation also resulted in significant knowledge exchange in the area of multi-stakeholder platforms, demonstrating the value of including the public and private sectors, indigenous communities and non-governmental organizations in working towards sustainable development.

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WWW.PECESVIDA.ORGImplemented by: With the support of:

Resources• Updated Website Peces para la Vida LINK

• Collection of “fact sheets” on information from the first phase of the project: see the first two (in Spanish)N°1: Las cualidades nutricionales del pescado amazónico LINKN°2: Economía pesquera en el Norte Amazónico de Bolivia LINK

In the Press• Fish and Food Security26/12/2015 CORREO DEL SUR LINK

• Exploring ways to get fish on the table in Bolivia21/04/2016 Canadian Geographic LINK

Market research in Bolivian urban centersA market survey was initiated in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Tarija, in addition to Project’s intervention area around Yapacani, to better understand the fish handling practices, fish quality, and fish consumption habits of these areas.

Lastest publications

News in BriefThe Argentine Chef Vicente Cuevas back in BoliviaWith the support of the Peces para la Vida II Project the first course on fish handling, deboning, and cooking with pacu was presented by Argentinian Chef, Vicente Cuevas to restaurant owners that include this delicious and nutritious food as part of their menu. The event brought together 31 participants (16 women and 15 men) from Yapacaní and Chapare.

Fish Farming Technical Assistant course in YapacaniTraining courses are well underway with the support of Peces para la Vida II, in partnership with the Facultad Integral of Ichilo of the Instituto de Capacitación Popular of UAGRM with the goal of training specialists in tropical fish farming. During the first intake, (2016) 38 students are participating (40% women and 60% men).

Social Networks• Follow the Peces para la Vida II’s many activities and receive news about the fisheries and aquaculture sectors at:facebook.com/pecesparalavida LINKtwitter.com/Peces_Vida LINKSubscribe to our newsletter LINK

Beni fisheries and fish farming regulationAs part of the public-private spaces for dialogue supported by the Peces para la Vida Project, the Departmental Agricultural Service under the Autonomous Departmental Government of Beni formed a Technical Committee among fishing and fish-farming associations, public universities and technical support institutions to update and amend the Regulation for fisheries and marketing of fish species in the department of Beni.