Asociación Calidris

La Bocana de Iscuandé is located in the municipality of Santa Barbara de Iscuandé and belongs to the CC Esfuerzo Pescador, around 3000 people inhabit nine small fishing villages ( Juanchillo, El Cuerval, Ensenada, Las Varas, Soledad Pesquera, Soledad Pueblito, Macharal, Estero Largo and Bocas de Guaba). Fishing is the main economic activity in the area, but in recent years catches have declined and the fishermen have to go farther to get their product, proceeds from the sale of fish product does not cover the operating cost as a (fuel, food, equipment, etc.). It is expected through the Conservation Agreement to regulate an activity and create conditions of use and management of fisheries in the area, over time, this will be reflected in volumes and sizes more effective in fishing days and finally in higher incomes for families. Ensuring responsible fishing is the first step in accessing fair trade markets or “green markets”, in larger cities in Colombia like Buenaventura, Cali or Bogota. It is being an incentive for fishermen, who will receive an added value for their product, helping to ensure greater community interest and sustainability of the process. // Conservation International has established 70 conservation agreements in different countries (Info: María Claudia Diazgranados m.diazgranados@conservation.org) To ensure the success of the conservation agreement it’s important to ensure community participation, which are the main users of the fishery resources area. Communities of the Pacific Coast are organized under a legal concept in the Constitution Community Council and are to be performed by the administration of territory in accordance with constitutional mandates and rules procedure. The community is the set of Afro Colombian families who have their own culture, share a story and have their own traditions, customs and identify that distinguish them from other ethnic groups Colombian legislation said that Afro Colombian communities have the right to decide their own priorities as it a pertain to the process of development, to the extent that it’s affect their lives, beliefs, and spiritual well, and the lands they occupy or otherwise use and control to the extent possible their own socioeconomic and cultural development We has been working for four years with the CC Esfuerzo Pescador, through environmental education activities, basic sanitation and lately we had been talking with the community about the advanced of the need for conservation action for improvement environmental quality and ensure livelihoods The Community council is coordinated by a board of director, has a legal representative and among them is the articulation with the community and ensures compliance with the conservation agreement