Transformación de los medios de vida de los pescadores artesanales, por la puesta en marcha de la central hidroeléctrica Sogamoso : el caso de los pescadores ubicados aguas abajo del río Sogamoso en el departamento de Santander

Artisanal fishing is an economic activity that contributes to local economies, food security, and the income of riverside families at different places in the worid. The fishermen population eams its sustenance from the fish supply, which is one of the ecosystem Services provided by the Sogamoso River for stocking practices. The ccnstruction of dams generates impcrtant changes in the ecosystems that provide fish for the fishermen to make use of, thus it influences their chances of making ends meet. In order to study the effects of hydro-electric power plants on the iivelihood of artisanal fishermen, communities from downstream Sogamoso River were chosen, which comprise several families that live exclusively or partially from artisanal fishing. These artisanal fishermen were affected by the constmction of the Topocoro dam, which belongs to the HIDROSOGAMOSO (ISAGEN) Energy Complex. Therefore, the objective of this research project was to identify the impact of the dam in the Sogamoso River ori the Iivelihood of the artisanal fishermen population living downstream. For its development, a qualitative methodology of unique case study was used, in which interviews with fishermen, ISAGEN and the National Authority of Fishing and Aquaculture (AUNAP) staffs, and inhabitants were carried out. Furthermore, secondary sources were reviewed, and asset assessment instruments within Iivelihood were applied. The analysis showed that both fishing levels and fishermen numbers have decreased during 2011 and 2014. Additionally, since traditional fishing has become more difficuli due to changes in riveF dearness, eourse and depth generated by the hydro-electric ' project the use of iIlegal fishing tricks seems to have increased. These tricks, for instance drift netting, have just worsened the risk status of species like the Catfish and the Colombian Bocachico, which are income sources in critical danger. Moreover it was found that the decrease of quality and number of fish has led to changes in the Iivelihood of pemnanent and temporary artisanal fishermen, making them switch to other economic activities and/or strengthen the workforce in existing ones, reducing the labor force in their actual activity and the fishing outcome itself. These changes in Iivelihood have caused intemal organizational strategies among the fishermen, as well as joint efforts to control iIlegal fishing and the conservaron of the water resource.