Aquaculture America 2021

August 11 - 14, 2021

San Antonio, Texas

#SalvemosNuestraLagunaMadre, A NEW MODEL TO POSITION AQUACULTURE AS A KEY INSTRUMENT TO DEVELOP VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN COASTAL AREAS

Antonio Garza de Yta
Aquaculture without Frontiers, Latin America
agarza@crm-agc.com

The Laguna Madre, located in the state of Tamaulipas, is the largest body of water in México. Its area surpasses 225 thousand hectares and has a coastline of more than 225 km . The Laguna Madre fisheries  production exceeds 44,000 tons and is the source of livelihood for more than 10,000 families.

Over the last few years, the lagoon has fallen into a progressive process of environmental and fisheries resources deterioration that threatens to seriously damage its biodiversity. For this matter the State's Fisheries and Aquaculture Secretary of Tamaulipas has launched the initiative #SalvemosNuestraLagunaMadre. Its key objective is to increase the quality of life of the numerous fishing communities in the area . The initiative  seeks to  manage, protect and restore  the ecosystem in the lagoon , and achieve sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development.

The initiative seeks  to promote balanced progress based in the  three  fundamental aspects of sustainability : Social, Economic and Environment development. To implement this initiative, it will require  the combined  efforts of all stakeholder, including fishermen , aquaculture producers, government agencies , NGOs , and funding agencies; between others.

#SalvemosNuestraLagunaMadre is one of the largest initiatives for environmental conservation, fisheries and aquaculture development in Mexico ,  with the potential to become a model that could be applied anywhere in the world .  The objectives and scope of the initiative will be described .