Ziad H. Shehadeh     NEW FAO PUBLICATIONS

Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of studies and publications related to the cultivation of the new species.

Mediterranean) Workshop on Marine Aquaculture Finfish
Species Diversification held in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 14-17 June 1995 and the International Symposium on New Species for Mediterranean Aquaculture held in Alghero, Italy, 22-24 April 1998, are good examples. This publication presents the results of a survey of marine finfish diversification (for aquaculture) in the Mediterranean region, which was carried out by TECAM as a follow up on the recommendations of the TECAM Workshop mentioned above. The overall objective of the survey and the resulting publication was to foster communication and collaboration in the region on the development of new species, by documenting on-going efforts and the status and constraints of identified new species under investigation (rather than to provide a comprehensive technical review). The survey covered species screening and selection efforts by public institutions

and private firms. The participation of sectors in the survey (the former constituted 34 percent of respondents) opens the door for collaboration between them in tackling main constraints to the commercial culture of promising species.

The survey identifies 26 species and presents a summary of biological characteristics and culture information for each. Another useful item is an annex incorporating the address and contact person for each institution/company that participated in the survey.

NACA/FAO. 1998. Quarterly aquatic animal disease report (Asia and Pacific Region), JulySeptember 1998. Bangkok, NACA. 38 pp.

NACA/FAO. 1998. Quarterly aquatic animal disease report (Asia and Pacific Region), October-December 1998. Bangkok, NACA.. Bangkok, NACA. 41pp.

The establishment of a regional aquatic animal disease reporting system is one of the major components of the FAO/NACA/OIE Regional programme on "Development of Technical Guidelines on Quarantine and Health Certification, and the Establishment of Information Systems for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia"; which is implemented under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme Project, entitled Assistance to Safe Trans-boundary Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia (FAO TCP/RAS/6714).

These two publications, which complement the OIE Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report, represent the first two quarterly aquatic animal disease reports compiled at the national level by the National-Coordinators of the above mentioned FAO/NACA/OIE Regional Project and collated for the region by the NACA Secretariat in Bangkok. The format of the report was agreed and adopted by 21 project member

governments. FAO and NACA believe that this regular reporting mechanism will facilitate international movement of live aquatic animals in Asia-Pacific with reduced risk of introduction and transfer of associated pathogens.

Kapetsky, J.M. & Chakalall, B. 1998. strategic assessment of the potential for freshwater fish farming in the Caribbean Island States. Una evaluación estratégica de la potencialidad para la piscicultura dulceacuicola en los Estadus Insulares sel Caribe. COPESCAL Technical Paper/ Documento Técnico de la COPESCAL. No. 10, Suppl./Supt. Rome/Roma, FAO. 41pp.

The report describes the potential for inland fish farming in the Caribbean Island States based on methods used in an earlier study (°A strategic assessment of the potential for freshwater fish farming in Latin America", COPESCAL Technical Paper, No. 10, 1997) used to estimate freshwater fish farming in Latin America. Four criteria were used to estimate potential

construct small scale and commercial fish farming models on the basis of expert advice. Numbers of crops per year of Nile tilapia and common carp were predicted based on monthly climatic variables, while small-scale and commercial level outputs we simulated by varying feeding levels and size at harvest. Combining the small-scale and commercial models with the simulations of fish production provided overall suitability ratings for each 5 arc minute grid (approximately 9x9 km). Field verifications were carried out in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

The results suggest good potential for freshwater fish farming in the Caribbean Island States with relatively large areas rating very suitable or suitable for the combined criteria, and with relatively high crops/year output of the species considered. The

results of the field verificationsindicated the importance of local knowledge for the interpretation of the predictions.

Hoggarth, D.D.; Cowan, V.,7.; Halls, A. S.; Aeron-Thomas, M.; McGregor, 3.A.; Garaway, C.A.; Payne, A.L.; Welcomme, .L. 1999. Management guidelines for Asian floodplain river fisheries. Part 1. A spatial, hierarchical and integrated strategy for adaptive co-management. FAO Fisheries Technical l Paper. No. 384/1. Rome, FAO, 1999. 63p.

Hoggarth, D.D.; a, cOWAN, v.j.; Halls, A.S.; Aeron-Thomas, M.; McGregor, 7 J. A.; Garaway, C.A.; Payne, A.L.; Welcomme, R.L. 1999. Management guidelines for Asian floodplain river fisheries. Part 2. Summary of DFID research. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 384/2. Rome, FAO. 1999. 117pp

This technical paper provides guidelines for an integrated management strategy for floodplain river fisheries. The paper is written in two separate volumes. Part 1 presents guidelines in a user-friendly' format, to promote their uptake by fishery managers, policy makers and field officers. Recommendations are given both on the alternative technical tools which may be used to manage river fisheries and on the institutional factors required for their success. The highly variable ecological and social characteristics of floodplain rivers demand locally appropriate and adaptive solutions, rather than a single blueprint' approach. The recommended management strategy allocates responsibilities both hierarchically and spatially, and promotes the effective collaboration of government, communities and other stakeholders at appropriate levels.

The more technical Part 2 describes the underlying research work, which provided much of the basis for these management guidelines. Investigations were made during four projects funded by the UK Department For International Development (DFID), in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Thailand between 1992 and 1997. Part 2 describes the floodplain river environments, and the fish stocks and fishing practices found at some of these study sites. Justification is given for a range of technical management tools for river fisheries, including the use of access control and irrigation schemes to give benefits to fishing as well as agriculture. Final chapters in Part 2 describe lessons learnt on the management of enhancement fisheries (e.g. based on fish stocking), and on the prospects and limitations of participatory management for these resources.