Course – Potential of Molluscs in Colombia for Pearl Production.

Goal

Establish the scientific-technical bases for the development of marine and freshwater mollusc farming with potential for pearl farming (perliculture) in Colombia, as an innovative alternative for regional socioeconomic development.

Several Latin American countries are privileged by the abundant biological resources they possess to support fisheries and promote aquaculture. Among them, the molluscs, and particularly the pearl producers, are of particular importance. Countries like Colombia have several species of marine and freshwater molluscs with potential for use in pearl farming as an activity that promotes social and economic development in some regions. However, this activity is very incipient in the country and this type of biological resource is completely underutilized. Therefore, the implementation of pearl farming in Colombia requires conducting basic research aimed at determining the demographic status of the resource (what is there, where is it, how much is there), as well as the needs and response of the species used for pearl farming. It is also necessary to define serious dissemination actions through courses, theoretical-practical workshops, and continuous training programs for government officials, academics, technicians, producers, and students in relation to relaxation techniques as pre-operative therapy. , implant for the formation of half pearls (mabés), and graft for the formation of spherical pearls and pearls without a nucleus (keshi). All this requires, as a first step, the signing of bilateral collaboration agreements with leading national and international institutions in the field of pearl farming, such as the Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR), Mexico.