What are the key problems in collecting high quality statistical data on aquaculture?
A number of common problems are identified regarding the collection of high quality statistical data on aquaculture in the region. Difficulty in reaching remote areas and farms seems to be the common denominator for voids in the monthly reports of all countries. The lack of an effective on-site data validation mechanism in Brazil, Chile and Mexico, as well as the lack of a legal framework and definition of data collection duties within the federal government of Brazil, makes the quality of the data unreliable in most cases. Strong economic aquaculture sub-sectors such as the shrimp farming sector of Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil, and the salmon farming sector of Chile, are backed by well organized farmers associations whose members are more aware of the importance of trends monitoring, thus devoting efforts and financial resources to such a purpose. Some of these farmers’ organizations possess more detailed, up-to-date, high quality statistics, particularly of their corresponding sub-sect
