Most days here start and/or end with the lake...either an early morning stroll or ride around it's beautiful shores or just a visit to see the vistas.
Lago at Sunrise
Fco. at Sunrise
And sometimes I even take pictures of myself...mostly whimsical shots...at arms length...even before my first morning cup of coffee.
Luz de Malla
Humble yet effective display table
Objective is to create a balance
between ecology and economy in the lakeside fishermen community.
First project is to instill sustainable fishing
practices at Lake Chapala. Poverty invites overfishing. Our lake must not be depleted of fish.
Here's the problem...our local fishermen have been progressively fishing smaller and smaller fish, as the number and size of the lake's fish diminishes. Now they are fishing pre-reproductive size fish, not allowing for the lake fish to replenish themselves. By using floating fish farm cages, the fishermen can harvest full size, healthy, reproductive capable fish in 4 month cycles. The first harvest yielded 2 tons of fish from our 6 floating cages and was sold at market for a competitive price.
This new at lakeside fishing method will allow for the return of a portion of the reproductive capable fish harvest into the lake to replenish the fish population, an income for local fishermen who tend to the floating cages and sell the harvest, and is a sustanable alternative to traditional fishing methods lakeside.
Here's the problem...our local fishermen have been progressively fishing smaller and smaller fish, as the number and size of the lake's fish diminishes. Now they are fishing pre-reproductive size fish, not allowing for the lake fish to replenish themselves. By using floating fish farm cages, the fishermen can harvest full size, healthy, reproductive capable fish in 4 month cycles. The first harvest yielded 2 tons of fish from our 6 floating cages and was sold at market for a competitive price.
This new at lakeside fishing method will allow for the return of a portion of the reproductive capable fish harvest into the lake to replenish the fish population, an income for local fishermen who tend to the floating cages and sell the harvest, and is a sustanable alternative to traditional fishing methods lakeside.
6 floating fish farm cages off the coast of Mezcala Island
Fish
Farming is the cultivation and harvesting of fish in a controlled environment,
for an increasingly demanding world population.
The proposed new fishing model consists of growing fish inside floating cages, allowing for full maturation of the farmed fish. This new paradigm in fishing, which presently supplies 50% of the world's fish, yet only 2% of the fish consumed in Mexico, is the future of fishing.
It is time for Mexico and Lake Chapala to catch up to the rest of the fishing world by incorporating and proliferative floating cage fish farming.
Francisco Happily At Work
Luz de Malla - First Year Results:
- Involved the government in a vital long-term program aimed at rescuing the lake from overfishing.
- Completed successfully the first aquaculture fish harvest.
- Educated and graduated 25 traditional fishermen as aquaculture fish farmers.
- Conducted tours in Mezcala which benefited the local economy with over 300 visitors interested in fish farming.
Fingerlings...This Is Where We Start
Fco. Explaining How and Why We Believe In This Sustainable Fishing Method
Luz de Malla - Objectives for 2013:
- To grow from a 6 to a 20 cage self sufficient operation.
- To create the first fish farming school at lakeside.
- To limit fish farming at the lake to a maximum of 1% of its
surface area, through lobbying efforts.
- To create a fish hatchery.
- To prioritize rural projects over commercial enterprises.
- To harvest for profit in 2013.
Mature Tilapia
The first 25 graduates, certified aquaculture fish farmers
from the traditional, local fishing community of Mezcala
Bert and Domingo Waiting For Curious Customers
Karuna, Domingo,Aurora y Domingo's Daughter
Aurora y Baby
We start the job
The Farmers by Ivan