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Section 1: Project Objective
The purpose of this project is to establish a delimited area in the mangrove known as a "Nursery" for the use of black conch, developing activities such as: awareness-raising, protection and monitoring of the resource under study, planting, harvesting, management, and presentation of the final product, enabling the recovery of populations and contributing to improving the quality of life for approximately 150 people (direct and indirect beneficiaries) in El Salado de Aguadulce.
Section 2: Needs Assessment
Approximately four discussions were held with the President of the Fishermen's Cooperative of the community of El Salado de Aguadulce (COOPAES, RL) to seek to improve the living conditions of the members of this group and the needs of their community. She told us that they required technical support from ARAP and that they would explore the possibility of receiving assistance through the Aguadulce Rotary Club to start a black conch nursery.
Two on-site assessments were conducted with some members of the Cooperative, where they explained the status of the black conch resource and the location where a community project could be developed to save this resource.
A coordination meeting was then held to empower the project "Development of a black conch nursery in El Salado de Aguadulce" with the members of the El Salado Artisanal Fishermen and Conch Extractors Cooperative. This group is very diverse and includes fishermen, shell collectors, and craft and food vendors.
Section 3: Project Design
1. Theoretical and practical training for the group on the rational management of the black conch resource.
Workshops will be held for the following activities: awareness raising, protection, and monitoring of the resource.
Workshops will be held for nursery construction, planting, and harvesting of the product.
2. Workshops will be held for the preparation of the swaths, construction, and installation of the nursery.
Nursery delimited
3. Collection of water, soil, and black conch samples for analysis.
Important information will be obtained by monitoring the growth of the specimens planted in the nursery, as well as by conducting microbiological analysis of the product and understanding the sexual maturation periods of the conch in the nursery.
Section 4: Beneficiaries
At least 25 direct beneficiaries will be trained in the following activities: awareness-raising, protection and monitoring of the resource under study, planting, harvesting, handling, and presentation of the final product.
125 indirect beneficiaries of the project.
Section 5: Theory of Change
Black conch is a key resource for the economy of coastal communities, especially for the Fishermen's Cooperative of the community of El Salado de Aguadulce (COOPAES, RL.) in the province of Coclé.
1. At least 25 people will be trained in the following activities: awareness-raising, protection, and monitoring of the resource under study, planting, harvesting, management, and presentation of the final product.
2. Construction of a demarcated nursery divided into plots. This will have a positive impact, contributing to the protection of the mangrove ecosystem and promoting an increase in black conch populations.
3. There will be a permanent stock of spawning broodstock, allowing for natural repopulation from the nurseries to the outside world.
4. The nursery will house conchs that reach small sizes during the fishing process. These conchs will be protected and, once they reach sexual maturity, will contribute gametes (male and female) to the environment for natural repopulation.
5. Women and young people will be part of the project's activities and will be included in the various workshops held to coordinate the collection activities of the organisms. Their opinions will be considered, as most of them have extensive experience in harvesting, which will help us ensure the project's effectiveness at its various stages.
6. The nursery will enable sustainable marketing, ensuring the minimum sale size (47 mm).
7. The development of this project will impact the ecosystem by establishing strategic aquaculture and fisheries management for juveniles.
Section 6: Sustainability
The support of the group's members (COOPAES, RL) and the community is essential to achieving project sustainability.
Through this project, good practices for black conch extraction will be implemented through the constant planting of black conch specimens collected by the extractors in the mangroves during their extraction operations, with a minimum size of 3 mm. These specimens will be planted in the nursery. This will aid in the natural repopulation of the areas and growth to achieve their commercially recommended size (50 mm), ensuring the sustainability of the resource, ensuring market supply and generating income.
Section 7: Collaborators
ARAP Research and Development Technician, Vacamonte Pacific Mariculture Station.
Audubon, Wetlands International (among other NGOs that join), IPACOOP, universities, local authorities: the mayor of Aguadulce, representatives of the Barrios Unidos district, and government institutions such as: MEDUCA, MIAMBIENTE, the Ministry of Tourism, AMPYME, Universities, INADEH, ARAP, the Red Cross, SINAPROC, and the Rotaract, Rotary, and Cadres Clubs.
Section 8: Budget
Categories may include: Infrastructure, equipment, training, housing, equipment, monitoring/evaluation, operations, personnel, project management, advertising, signage, supplies, travel.
Category Activity Cost in USD
Refractometer Evaluate and periodically monitor salinity levels (within acceptable ranges) 100.00
Thermometer (2) Evaluate and periodically monitor temperature levels (within acceptable ranges) 25.00
Scale (capacity between 1 to 5 lbs) To weigh organisms (when their meat is commercialized) 50.00
Freezer To maintain the product in optimal zoosanitary conditions (harvested and processed) 300.00
15' Boat
Used for transportation to the project site and juvenile collection sites (livestock) that will be planted in the nursery. 4,000.00
Outboard motor with its respective fuel tank (40Hp) Used for transportation to the project site and juvenile collection sites (livestock) that will be planted in the nursery. 3,600.00
Supplies
Polyethylene rope roll ¼" Ø Construction of the upper and lower lines of the nursery panels. 20.00
Tuna thread roll 1½ mm Ø To sew the nets on the upper and lower lines, creating the nursery panels. 15.00
4 Calipers
To measure organisms (height-length-thickness) 10.00
Nets (mesh size approximately 1cm) To make four panels of 10 linear meters each 300.00
Work supplies Fieldwork (boots, gloves, buckets, hose, raincoats, etc.) 800.00
Training and Accommodation Theory and practice for members on nursery assembly. 3,000.00
Signage 500.00
Advertising 1,000.00
Advertising 1,000.00
Operations 1,000.00
Staff 7,400
Unforeseen expenses 10% 1,342.00
Total= 23,337.00
Section 9: Local Funding
Detail whether your project has local funding, meaning whether your club, clubs in your district, or your district will contribute.
# Source Details Cost (USD)
1 Cash from club Rotary Club XXXX 2.000
2 District Designated Fund (DDF) XXXX 400.00
3 Tourism Authority, INADEH - SENADIS, MINSA, Universities, RED CROSS, SINAPROC, AMPYME, IPACOOP, ARAP, MIAMBIENTE, NGOs, Municipal Authorities, universities. provincial
7,337.00
Total= 9,737.00
MINSA: National Ministry of Health
INADEH: National Institute for Vocational Training and Capacity Building for Human Development
SENADIS: National Secretariat for Disability
IPACOOP: Panamanian Autonomous Cooperative Institute
ARAP: Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama
AMPYME: Micro, Medium, and Small Enterprise Authority
SINAPROC: National Civil Protection System
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