Toward a Model for Characterizing the Aquaculture Sector: Integrating Economic, Environmental, Technological, and Commercial Dimensions in Norte de Santander, Colombia

Abstract

The department of Norte de Santander lacks updated studies on the situation of its registered fish-farming units. This work aimed to characterize the departmental fish-farming sector across the economic, environmental, technological, and commercial dimensions, and to identify strategies for improving its development. The study followed a descriptive-analytical mixed-methods approach, combining a systematic literature review with a structured survey administered to 43 production units selected through probabilistic sampling from AUNAP and UMATA records, with data processed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal consolidated basic financial management practices, alongside deficient production margins and unsatisfactory marketing channels, exposing a disconnect between productive effort and actual profitability. The environmental dimension received the lowest rating, particularly regarding waste utilization and renewable energy adoption, while incremental technological innovation emerged as the most favorably rated aspect. The study also identified a market conversion gap, whereby sustainable production attributes fail to translate into differentiated prices. The degree of associative organization was found to positively influence perceived performance across dimensions. The findings indicate that the sector requires coordinated interventions in infrastructure, financing, certification, and associative strengthening to overcome these structural limitations and secure long-term competitiveness.