Download in PDF Format (0.97 MB) NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI |
In the Andean worldview, everything is alive. The first harvest was followed by a sacred ritual to pay tribute to the Mamacocha (Mother of Waters), the Inca goddess of lakes and the ocean. In this ritual, residents thank and give their strength to the Mamacocha so she can continue creating life. |
Sierra Exportadora foresees that this project will bring about even more success stories. There are plans to increase production when more cages are added. The seeding can be expanded to three additional lagoons," said Aníbal Vásquez, head of Sierra Exportadora Arequipa's Center for Economic Promotion. |
BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES
Mining is an important source of local employment and economic growth in the Peruvian Andes. However, the geographic isolation and high elevation of the region limit sustainable economic development opportunities for communities. To help diversify and expand the local economy of the community of Santa Rosa, Laguna Carhualaca, District of Caylloma, located 15 kilometers from the Caylloma Mine, Fortuna Silver worked alongside local residents and government institutions to help build, finance and operate a commercial-scale trout farm.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Residents of high Andean communities have farmed trout using artisanal methods since the 1930's, populating lagoons and other water sources near their farms with fish for local consumption. More recently, demand in Peru for freshwater fish has grown, with significant demand from Peruvian regional markets. Unfortunately, traditional trout farming methods are not well suited to meet this demand and market access can be difficult for local producers.
As part of its community development activities, Fortuna Silver offered to support local farmers and residents of the community of Santa Rosa in building and operating a commercial trout farm in the Carhualaca Lagoon. The lagoon lies within the Apurímac River basin at an altitude of about 4,800 metres and offers healthy conditions for farming Rainbow trout.
THE CHALLENGES
The trout farm project, however, needed funding, technical assistance and strategic partners to assure its sustainability. In 2012 Fortuna agreed to contribute two-thirds of the project's initial start-up costs and provide staff to direct technical aspects of construction.
In the meantime, 35 producers and their families that hold land surrounding Carhualaca Lagoon and neighbouring areas organized into a cooperative, Special Production Cooperative Aquaculture Caylloma Andes (COPROANDES), to operate the trout farm. As the lagoon was already used by neighbouring communities as a water source for natural livestock pastures, Fortuna and COPROANDES committed to respect and preserve this valuable resource and the local environment.
Although familiar with freshwater fish farming, members of the cooperative needed training in large-scale production methods and assistance gaining market access. On behalf of COPRANDES, Fortuna approached Sierra Exportadora, a Peruvian government agency that develops and fosters sustainable economic activities in the Andes. Sierra Exportadora agreed to provide the necessary training and technical assistance on the strength of a five-year plan for annual production of up to 50 tonnes of high-quality trout. The agency also secured a distribution agreement with two supermarket chains serving regional markets. Additionally, Fortuna helped establish a local market with Aramark, the food service dealer that provides catering services to the Caylloma Mine.
With local support and financing in place, COPRANDES seeded the first production module in September 2012. In June 2013 the cooperative harvested 2,000 kilos of Rainbow trout.
BENEFITS
Based on the initial success of the project, a second production module was added in August 2013. With two production modules in operation, the aquaculture project is expected to produce a total of 35 tonnes of trout in 2014 from three harvest campaigns.
Production is expected to reach 45 to 50 tonnes per year by 2015.
The aquaculture project is providing new jobs and is helping improve the standard of living for local residents, especially the nutritional quality of diets of Caylloma's children and youths. The trout is sold to residents and provides an additional source of protein in the local diet.
MANAGEMENT HEAD OFFICE
Carlos Baca, Investor Relations Manager
T: +51.1.616.6060, ext. 0
F: +51.1.422.9108
Email: info@fortunasilver.com
Legal Notice / Disclaimer: This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. SilverSeek.com, have based this document on information obtained from sources it believes to be reliable but which it has not independently verified; SilverSeek.com makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of SilverSeek.com only and are subject to change without notice. SilverSeek.com assume no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission. Furthermore, we assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information, provided within this Report.
Additional Disclosure: The owner, editor, writer and publisher and their associates are not responsible for errors or omissions. The author of this report is not a registered financial adviser. Readers should not view this material as offering investment related advice. Authors have taken precautions to ensure accuracy of information provided. Information collected and presented are from what is perceived as reliable sources, but since the information source(s) are beyond our control, no representation or guarantee is made that it is complete or accurate. The reader accepts information on the condition that errors or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Any statements non-factual in nature constitute only current opinions, which are subject to change. The information presented in stock reports are not a specific buy or sell recommendation and is presented solely for informational purposes only. The author/publisher may or may not have a position in the securities and/or options relating thereto, & may make purchases and/or sales of these securities relating thereto from time to time in the open market or otherwise outside of the trading timeframe listed above. Nothing contained herein constitutes a representation by the publisher, nor a solicitation for the purchase or sale of securities & therefore information, nor opinions expressed, shall be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any stock, futures or options contract mentioned herein. Investors are advised to obtain the advice of a qualified financial & investment adviser before entering any financial transaction.