20 YEARS OF CYPRINID CULTURE PROMOTION IN SANTA-CATARINA, BRAZIL - AN ANALYSIS OF GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Since 1973, several initiatives have been taken by ACARPESC (State Fisheries Extension Association of Santa Catarina) to promote warmwater fish culture including: (a) direct technical assistance to producers, (b) subsidizing fry prices, (c) promoting fresh fish markets, (d) encouraging the formation of producer's associations, (e) offering short courses on fish meat preservation and cooking, (f) introducing basic fish culture lessons to agricultural high schools. While obtaining shy responses in the 1970s, fish culture promotion initiatives allied to local favorable conditions had an impressive impact in the 1980s. It is estimated that almost 10% of Santa Catarina's total number of small and medium operation farmers are involved in fish production in earthen ponds. In the 1990s, while government significantly decreased rural extension efforts, Santa Catarina's fish culture sector now experiences a welcome autonomous growth. Applied research intensification and environmental constraints on animal manure use are foreseeable challenges in the coming years.