Annex 1
Itinerary of the Mission

Annex 2
Persons Met

Guyana

Cde. H. Green, Vice-President and Minister of Agriculture
Cde. J. Maitland Singh, MP and Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture
Cde. J. Browman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
Cde. H.I. Leal, Permanent Secretary (Fisheries), Ministry of Agriculture
Cde. T. Phillips, Senior Fisheries Officer
Cde. J. D'Anju, Fisheries Assistant
Cde. V. Welch, Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Region 7
Cde. R. Trotz, Agricultural Officer, Region 7
Cde. Major Jason, Guyana National Service, Region 7
Cde. T.P. Mahabir, Administrative Manager, Blairmont Estate
Cde. A.A. Sahai, Field Manager, Blairmont Estate
Cde. Dr. P. McEnzie, Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer, Ministry of Agriculture
Cde. T. Hubbard, Chief Agriculture Officer
Dr. I. Dunn, Fisheries Consultant, EDF
Dr. G. Muller, Manager, Other Crops Division (GUYSUCO)
Dr. C. Rajana, ERF, Ministry of Finance
Mr. E. Bolle-Jones, FAO Representative
Mr. H. Blades, Chief, Agricultural Development Section, CARICOM Secretariat
Mr. Bas van Helden, Agricultural Adviser, Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities

Trinidad and Tobago

Mr. F. Rampersaud, Chairman of the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST)
Mr. L. Houzer, Resident Representative of the UNDP, Port of Spain
Ms. P. Austin, UNDP, Port of Spain
Ms. E. Benini, UNDP, Port of Spain
Dr. P. Alleyne, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Port of Spain
Dr. D. Ramsaroop, Deputy Director, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain
Dr. R.B. Linsky, Director, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain
Dr. Wilson, Dean of Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Dr. G. Pollard, Acting Head, Department of Zoology, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Ms. P.M. Gall, Public Relations Assistant, Water and Sewage Authority, Port of Spain
Mr. M.G. LaCroix, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture
Mr. C. Jordan, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture
Mr. S. Bharath, Republic Bank, Port of Spain
Mr. I. Thompson, Caribbean Food Corporation, Port of Spain
Mr. M. Greenwell, National Research Council, Canada
Mr. P. Reeson, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain
Ms. H. Mutunhu, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain
Mr. T. Baseler, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain
Mr. M. Sturm, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain
Mr. R. Bruce, Department of Zoology, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Ms. S. Dass, Institute of Marine Affairs, Port of Spain

Jamaica

Hon. Mr. D. Sangster, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
Mr. R. Moo-Young, Project Manager, USAID/Government of Jamaica Aquaculture Project
Ms. S. Cooke, Chief of Extension/Training, USAID/Government of Jamaica Aquaculture Project
Ms. A. Cooper, Production/Marketing Officer, USAID/Government of Jamaica Aquaculture Proj.
Mr. S. Chambers, Research Officer, USAID/Government of Jamaica Aquaculture Project
Mr. R. Tyson, Regional Extension Officer
Mr. T. Clarke, Chairman/Managing Director, Jamaica Aquaculture Farms Ltd. Mr. E. Royer, Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture Prof. I. Goodbody, Head of the Department of Zoology, University of the West Indies
Dr. T. Popma, USAID
Mr. D.B. Irvine, Ministry of Agriculture
Ms. Y. Laidlaw, Ministry of Agriculture
Mr. C.R. MacCulloch, FAO Representative, Kingston
Mr. Y. Joury, Resident Representative of the UNDP, Kingston
Mr. R. Booth, EEC Delegate, Kingston

Bahamas

Mr. C.C. Deans, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government, Nassau
Mr. R.W. Thompson, Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government, Nassau
Mr. F. Garraway, Deputy Director, Department of Lands and Surveys, Nassau
Mr. W. Thornycroft, Bahamas Agricultural Industries Ltd., Abaco, Bahamas
Mr. K. Spencer, Senior Commissionner, Andros Island, Bahamas
Mr. R. Lightbourne, Farm Manager, Bahamas Agricultural Research Centre, Andros Island, Bahamas
Dr. Oswald A. Roels, President, Proteins Inc. Corpus Christie, Texas
Mr. J.E. Soler, Plant Manager, Diamond Crystal Salt Company, Long Island

Martinique

Mr. Jean Bally, Vice-President, Council Regional Martinique
Mr. F. René, ISTPM, Pointe Fort
Mr. Daniel E. Mesnager, Aquaculture Adviser, SAFEM, Fort de France
Mr. D. Cacroix, CNEXO, c/o SICA AQUACOLE, Fort de France
Mr. Claude Archambault, Regional Centre for Aquaculture for Lesser Antilles and French Guyana, Fort de France

Annex 3
PROJECT PROPOSAL
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Project of the Governments of the Caribbean Region

Title: Establishment of a Caribbean Regional Aquaculture Centre (CRAC)

Primary Function: Aquaculture development

Secondary Function: Direct support to government and private sector development plans, TCDC and upgrading of national capabilities in science and technology

Sector: 05 - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Sub-Sector: 0530 - Fisheries

Government Implementing Agency: Ministry of Agriculture, Jamaica

Executing Agency: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Estimated Starting Date: February 1983

UNDP Contribution: U.S.$   379 400

EEC Contribution:   U.S.$2 155 659

Other donor Contribution: U.S.$ 339 000

Host Government Contribution: U.S.$5 352 500

PART I - LEGAL CONTEXT

This Project Document shall be the instrument referred to as such in Article 1, Paragraph 1, of the Assistance Agreement between the United Nations Development Programme and the Governments of those participating countries which have signed this Agreement. Alternatively, for those participating countries which have not signed this Agreement, this Project Document shall be the instrument (therein referred to as a Plan of Operation) envisaged in Article 1, Paragraph 2, of the Agreement concerning assistance under the Special Fund Sector of the United Nations Development Programme, between the UNDP and the Governments of those other participating countries which have signed this latter Agreement.

PART II - THE PROJECT

II.A Development Objectives

Diversification of economies is a well accepted policy of CARICOM member countries. Increased food production has a major role in this and insofar as the fisheries sector is concerned, aquaculture shows promise of being an important element. Development of small-scale, as well as large commercial aquaculture in marine, brackish and fresh waters offers opportunities for improvement of the economic condition and standard of living of island communities. Through export of high-valued aquafarm products, foreign exchange earnings of many of the countries could be enhanced. The proposed project is intended to provide the basic requirements for development of this sector, viz (a) appropriate technologies through applied research, (b) training of manpower, (c) information exchange and thereby (d) promotion of investment. It will foster technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) of the region and enable the development of regional and national capabilities in science and technology.

II.B Immediate Objectives

The immediate objectives of the project are to:

1. establish the physical facilities required and equip them for technology development, training and information exchange.

2. formulate and implement an appropriate programme of investigations on a limited number of aquafarming systems that have wide application in the region.

3. assist countries in testing of selected aquaculture systems in local environments to determine their technical and economic viability.

4. organize multidisciplinary training courses for senior aquaculturists and for technicians/extension workers.

5. participate in the inter-regional aquaculture information system.

6. provide ad hoc technical assistance to participating countries in the application of culture technologies and implementation of development projects.

II.C Special Considerations

When established, the Caribbean Regional Aquaculture Centre (CRAC) will be the seventh regional aquaculture centre in the inter-regional network of aquaculture centres operating within the framework of the Inter-regional Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (ADCP - INT/81/031) in implementation of a world strategy for aquaculture development formulated through a series of regional planning workshops and adopted by the FAO Technical Conference on Aquaculture held in Kyoto, Japan in 1976.

CRAC will maintain close linkage with the Latin American Regional Aquaculture Centre (CERLA) in Pirassununga in Brazil, particularly in respect of transfer of technologies relevant to the mainland countries of the Caribbean.

II.D Background and Justification

It has been estimated that only 40 percent of the needs for fishery products in the Caribbean countries is produced locally and the rest have to be imported. Fish forms an important item in the diet of most people in the region. However, the imports are decreasing as a result of scarcity of foreign exchange and increase in prices on the international markets. In many countries this has resulted in the reduction of protein intake, particularly among the poorer segments of populations. This, together with the recognized need for diversification of the rather narrowly based economies of the countries, has caused serious consideration being given to the possibilities of increasing fishery production. Aquaculture has been identified as a means of achieving some degree of selfsufficiency and even to enter or expand export trade for high-valued products.

Some countries of the Caribbean have made serious attempts to introduce aquaculture. Culture of tilapia in fresh waters has received the maximum attention. Although the most efficient production system has yet to be determined, culture of tilapia on a commercial scale has been shown to be feasible in Jamaica and Puerto Rico. After years of experimentation, small-scale culture of the freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is now proving to be viable under conditions prevailing in Martinique. Efforts are continuing to make large-scale culture of this prawn profitable in Puerto Rico. Experimental work on the culture of the mangrove oyster and seaweeds in some of the countries has indicated possibilities. Recent experiments in Martinique in the culture of high-valued marine fish like groupers, snappers, pompano and the Mediterranean seabass in floating net cages have been encouraging and pilot scale production is now being attempted there.

Based partly on the results of work done in some countries of the region and largely the success stories elsewhere, private sector is evincing interest in investing in certain types of aquaculture. The lack of (a) appropriate locally tested technologies and (b) adequately trained and experienced personnel, are major constraints to the development of the industry. It is recognized that the industry cannot take root in the absence of these basic requirements.

The Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC) at its third session in Havana, Cuba in November 1980 identified aquaculture as one of the high priority areas for development of fisheries in the region. WECAFC was aware that a Latin American Regional Aquaculture Centre was beginning operation in Brazil. However, the agro-climatic and other environmental conditions covered by that Centre are largely different from those obtaining in the Caribbean islands and the medium of instruction there being Spanish, the training facilities there could not be used satisfactorily by English-speaking Caribbean countries. Because of these reasons separate arrangements for assistance to the region were considered necessary.

In response to WECAFC's request for assistance, the UNDP/FAO Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (ADCP), in cooperation with the Inter-regional Development and Management of Fisheries in the Western Central Atlantic (WECAF) fielded a mission in June-July 1980 to examine aquaculture possibilities in five selected countries (Antigua, Haiti, Jamaica, Monserrat and St. Lucia). The possibilities of aquaculture development in the Bahamas were investigated in great detail by consultants assigned under the Bahamas Fisheries Training and Development Project (BHA/78/001). These studies indicated that in most countries of the Caribbean, there is a need and potential for development of certain types of aquaculture systems, but in view of the limitations of national expertise and adequate facilities for technology development and testing, a regional cooperative effort is essential to produce tested technologies and trained personnel before large-scale investment is made. It was concluded that a regional approach would enable the effective use of scarce national and international resources and would help ensure that sound aquaculture programmes were established.

As a follow-up of these Missions and informal consultations with fishery agencies in the region, ADCP convened a Working Group on the Development of Mariculture in the smaller islands of the Caribbean Region in Freeport, Bahamas, 12–16 October 1981. After a detailed review of the state-of-the-art and development prospects in the region, the Working Group came to the conclusion that there is adequate justification for the development of aquaculture and that this would be true even where the marine resources are not fully utilized because of:

• the need to diversify the narrowly based economies;
• the fact that aquaculture would increase the use of available and not fully utilized natural resources;
• the variety of culture possibilities that present opportunities for development of aquaculture suited both for small holders/fishermen and private entrepreneurs/multinational companies;
• the need to earn foreign exchange;
• the possibility of reducing imports of fish products in several Caribbean islands;
• the need to re-establish fisheries where overfishing seems to be taking place, and
• the strong likelihood that economically viable and appropriate aquaculture systems can be developed within a reasonable period of time.

The Working Group felt that many of the basic activities involved are not strictly location bound and could therefore be more efficiently and economically done on a regional basis. Its final conclusion was that a Caribbean Regional Aquaculture Centre would best serve the needs of the region. An outline project proposal was agreed to by the Group. As a follow-up, the Working Group requested FAO to give wide distribution to the report of its meeting to governments in the region and potential donors, following which a preparatory mission was to be fielded by ADCP/FAO, preferably in cooperation with a regional institution/agency. It was recommended that the Mission visit possible participating countries, consult with governments and interested organizations/agencies, select a suitable site for a regional centre and prepare a detailed project document for submission to potential donors and governments of the region.

In accordance with the above recommendation, a decision was made to field a joint FAO-ADCP/CARICOM mission. Four countries of the region expressed interest in hosting a regional Centre and the mission decided to visit primarily those countries. The Mission's report describes briefly its discussions in the countries and the sites visited. For reasons indicated in the report, Jamaica was recommended as the first choice as host country for the Centre, on the understanding that a satisfactory site could be acquired and the Government would be able to provide the essential physical facilities and local staff for continued operation of the Centre. The project proposal and budget have been formulated on this basis. If these do not materialize, the alternative host country proposed will be approached.

II.E Outputs

1. Establishment of the physical facilities for technology development through applied research and pilot production, training of core personnel for aquaculture development; and an information unit for collection, computer storage and dissemination of information required for development.

2. Formulation and implementation of a programme of applied research for adaptation and improvement of available technologies and/or development of new and appropriate technologies in respect of a small number of aquaculture systems (e.g. cage culture of groupers and snappers; pond culture of freshwater prawns; tilapia culture in freshwater and marine ponds; seaweed and oyster culture in foreshore areas).

3. Training of 20 senior aquaculturists and 40 technicians/extension workers to staff aquaculture services in the participating countries.

4. Pilot production and demonstration projects based on tested technologies in selected countries.

5. Ad hoc technical assistance to participating governments in aquaculture development.

6. Linkage with the Latin American Regional Aquaculture Centre in Brazil and with other regional aquaculture centres in Africa and Asia for exchange of experience and information.

7. Development of an appropriate mechanism for continued operation of the regional centre upon the expiry of the project.

II.G. Inputs

1. Government Inputs

The host government will be required to initiate action to acquire the land adjacent to Twickenham Park Fish Culture Station for the establishment of headquarters of the centre. The land area should be large enough to accomodate the necessary buildings (laboratories, offices, hatchery, classrooms, dormitory, staff quarters, information centre) on the site with adequate utilities; and to construct at least 10 ha of ponds for freshwater fish farm. The government fish farm at Mitchel Town will be upgraded by constructing office space, storage, workshop, staff residences and additional ponds for freshwater aquaculture research, pilot and demonstration work.

For mariculture activities to be carried out at Twickenham Park, the host government will explore the possibilities of obtaining seawater either by drilling wells on the southern boundary of the property or by piping from the nearby sea. In the event that this site proves unsuitable, the host government will build the physical facilities for mariculture on another suitable site. One senior aquaculturist will be seconded to work as the project National Director who will be responsible for the management of the government inputs. The government will also provide professional technical and support-service personnel as shown in the budget for host government inputs.

The participating governments of the region will nominate candidates for training as senior aquaculturists and extension officers. Tuition at the Centre will be free. In the event that an external donor is not found to meet fellowship costs for trainees, the nominating governments will be required to meet the travel and subsistence costs of the trainees.

2. UNDP Inputs

Duty travel

There will be need for frequent duty travel to the participating countries. A travel allocation of US$ 22 000 has been made available for this purpose.

Miscellaneous

Documentation and sundries: A total of US$ 7 000 has been provided.

3. EEC Inputs

EEC through the project executing agency will provide the following inputs for the effective implementation of the project.

Travel

US$ 75 000 is provided to cover the cost of travel of international consultants and duty travel to the participating countries.

Equipment

US$ 600 000 is provided for specialized farm, hatchery, laboratory and training equipment. Allocation of US$ 100 000 has also been made for equipment maintenance and operation.

Miscellaneous

Allocation of US$ 173 500 has been made to cover unforeseen costs during the life of the project, and US$ 248 000 has been provided to cover overhead costs of the executing agency.

4. Inputs of Additional Donor(s)

US$ 339 000 is provided for training costs (stipend and transportation) of Senior Aquaculturists (20) and Technicians/Extension Workers (40) from the participating countries. Provision has also been made for US$ 39 000 to cover the overhead cost of the Executing Agency.

II.H Work Plan

The work plan of the project will closely follow the project activities described in the section on project activities. Investigations will be focused on aquaculture systems that have the widest application in the Caribbean region. Cage culture of finfish appears to be a system that can probably be introduced in most of the islands in protected bays or impoundments. Intensive Macrobrachium farming may prove economically feasible in the region. Although an appropriate system of farming for the region has yet to be developed, there is widespread interest in almost all the countries to introduce marine shrimp farming on a commercial scale. The feasibility of this has to be critically studied to provide sound advice on investments in this sector. The commercial viability of mono sex culture of tilapia has already been demonstrated in Jamaica. While this can easily be transferred to other islands, other systems of tilapia farming such as culture of hybrids and polyculture need to be investigated. Besides these, the Centre will also pay attention to the culture of oysters and of seaweeds as these are expected to have potential in many of the countries. In most cases the investigations will be directed toward adapting existing technologies to make them appropriate under local conditions and to improve their efficiencies. The multi-disciplinary expertise needed for such investigations, includes engineers for design of farms and installations and economists for economical evaluation of techniques. As technologies are tested or developed, the Centre staff will provide assistance to the participating countries to apply them and also help them in planning and executing production programmes.

On the basis of experimental and pilot production work carried out in the Centre and elsewhere with its assistance, general guidelines for the evaluation of technical and economic viability of projects will be prepared for the use of participating governments.

The Centre will train one group of 20 senior aquaculturists during the project period to function as focal points in their countries for development in this sector. They will have a broad-based multi-disciplinary, one year training in all aspects of aquaculture, which should enable them to identify opportunities for development, formulate viable projects and participate in their supervision and implementation. Two groups of 20 each of technicians/extension workers will receive a shorter six months' training with emphasis on the systems of aquaculture that are expected to be developed in Caribbean countries.

A system for collection, processing and storage of relevant aquaculture information will be started with the assistance of the inter-regional Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme. The Centre will receive information from other regional centres on computer tapes, which together with the information it collects from the Caribbean region, will enable it to provide the total available world information on aquaculture to users, including government and private institutions, farmers and industry.

II.I Preparation of the Framework for Effective Participation of National and International Staff in the Project

The activities necessary to produce the indicated outputs and achieve the project's immediate objectives will be carried out jointly by the national and international staff assigned to it. The respective roles of the national and international staff will be determined by their leaders, by mutual discussions and agreements.

II.J Development Support Communication

Aquaculture in the Caribbean region is in its early stages of development. The project will be in a position to encourage and support interaction and cooperation between the countries to accelerate overall development in aquaculture by providing training at various levels, maintaining close liaison with institutions of higher learning and national aquaculture agencies, with a view to facilitating the development and transfer of appropriate technologies and exchange of expertise and experience. The project will train extension officers who will in turn develop appropriate communication systems in the participating countries in order to encourage participation by groups of people such as women, small farmers, fishermen, and rural youths in the aquaculture development. The project objectives, when achieved, will have beneficial effects on the above-mentioned socially and economically disadvantaged groups, both in the long and short terms.

II.K Institutional Framework

The regional centre will be established in Twickenham Park Fish Culture Station in the Parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its Production Unit, will be the sponsoring agency in the country and will be responsible for the provision of host country support. Close cooperation will be maintained with the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Zoology Department of the University of the West Indies.

The regional centre will be linked to the national aquaculture centres of the participating countries and eventually with the global network of centres established and coordinated by the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (ADCP) of FAO.

The physical facilities of the centre will remain the property of the host government. The general administration of the centre will be the responsibility of the Director of the Centre. The training, research and information activities will be carried out under the guidance and with the participation of the international staff and scientists of participating countries assigned to the project.

The organization and operation of the centre will be within the framework of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC). The centre will be headed by a Director provided by the host country. An internationally recruited Senior Aquaculture Adviser/Coordinator will be provided by UNDP. The participating countries with adequately qualified people will be invited to assign scientists to work at the centre as in-service trainees for a period of two or more years. On return to their home countries, they will take leading roles in the development of aquaculture.

The centre will have an Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of the host country and other participating countries, which will review the programmes and progress of work of the centre and provide guidance and assistance in fulfilling its objectives. The Committee will meet at least once a year for this purpose. It will also advise on the continuation of the regional activities after the termination of UNDP assistance. Appropriate consultations with the governments will be started well in advance to enable continuity of activities.

The Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (ADCP) of FAO, in cooperation with the Centre Director, will provide the Secretariat for the Committee and will be responsible for the general coordination of the centre. Besides taking the main responsibility in its planning and establishment, ADCP will provide continuing assistance to the centre in its research training and information activities relating to the strengthening of the centre and assist in linking it to the global network of aquaculture centres.

II.L Prerequisites

The host government will make available on schedule all the staff and other inputs as agreed. In particular, the government will make budgetary provisions for the mobilization and delivery of government's inputs in the required quantities and of the required quality on a timely basis. The participating countries will facilitate the selection and release of national staff requiring training.

UNDP and EEC assistance to the project will be provided subject to the donors being satisfied that the prerequisites listed above have been fulfilled or are likely to be fulfilled. When anticipated fulfillment of one or more prerequisites fails to materialize, the donors may, at their discretion, either suspend or terminate their assistance.

II.M Future Assistance

Needs for future UNDP, EEC and other sources of assistance for the continued operation of the project will be assessed during the course of the project on the basis of its performance and the future requirements of the countries of the region.

II.N Voluntary Contributions

Efforts will be made to obtain voluntary contributions from bilateral and non-government sources to supplement the UNDP, EEC and participating government contributions to the project activities. Particular emphasis will be on:

1. strengthening of the core staff of the project;
2. contribution for construction or expansion of physical facilities at the centre and pilot projects;
3. specialized equipment;
4. fellowships/scholarships for trainees.

Project personnel will also work to strengthen the national aquaculture activities through financial support from other sources, including bilateral or institutional donors and UNDP Country Programmes.

PART III - SCHEDULE OF MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTS

III.A Tripartite Monitoring Reviews, Technical Reviews

The project will be subject to periodic review in accordance with the policies and procedures established for this purpose by UNDP for monitoring project and programme implementation.

III.B Evaluation

The project will be subject to evaluation, in accordance with the policies and procedures established for this purpose by UNDP. The organization, terms of reference and timing of the evaluation will be decided by consultation between the Governments, UNDP and the Executing Agency concerned.

III.C Progress and Terminal Reports

Semi-annual progress reports will be prepared jointly by the Project Director and International Coordinator and submitted at the end of June and December of each year. A Terminal Report will be submitted prior to the termination date of the project.

Project Budget covering EEC Contribution

Country/Region: Caribbean
Project No.:
Project Title: Establishment of a Caribbean Regional Aquaculture Centre

Summary of Host Government Contribution for the Establishment and Operation of the Project

Project Budget Covering Donor Contribution for Fellowships
(Donor to be Identified)

Country/Region: Caribbean
Project No.
Project Title: Establishment of a Caribbean Regional Aquaculture Centre

Project Budget covering UNDP Contribution

Country/Region: Caribbean
Project No.:
Project Title: Establishment of a Caribbean Regional Aquaculture Centre