1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Objectives

(01) The present report is the first in a series dealing with the fisheries and aquaculture component of the UNDP financed “Assistance to the Second Agricultural Research Project”, 1984–1989 (ASARP).

The objectives of the Second Agricultural Research Project are:

• to continue strengthening of the agricultural research systems in Bangladesh;
• to develop a strong research co-ordination, planning and monitoring organization at BARC;
• to bring livestock, fisheries, and forestry more effectively into the research system and to strengthen the national research station network.

(02) The objectives of the fisheries and aquaculture component of ASARP are to assist in:

• establishing and developing an autonomous National Institute for Fisheries Research (NIFR) with five specialized research stations;
• strengthening the institutional research planning and monitoring capacity of NIFR;
• strengthening the research capacity of the specialized research stations;
• preparing research programmes.

(03) The fisheries and aquaculture component of ASARP will be divided into three main activities.

1. Assistance with respect to research planning and monitoring. This work will be done in a number of short-term missions spread over the period 1984–1989. The present report deals with results of the first mission of this series.
2. Detailed planning for the establishment of NIFR. This work will be done in 1985 on the basis of the findings of the present report.
3. Short-term technical assistance in specialized fields of research.

1.2 Terms of Reference

(04) The purpose of the present mission has been to analyse the present research infrastructure and to prepare a preliminary identification of areas of research. In particular, the TOR specified:

1. Visit the existing or projected research stations of NIFR (i.e. Mymensingh, Chandpur, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong) and suggest research activities for each station.
2. Develop preliminary proposals for the overall research and organization programme of NIFR to be finalized as a master plan during the detailed planning mission in 1985.
3. Propose measures to avoid duplication between the existing Coastal Aquaculture Station of Cox's Bazar and the proposed Brackish Water Management Station in Khulna District.
4. To investigate the technical suitability of the proposed site of the Brackish Water Culture Station to enable the government to start the administrative arrangements for land acquisition etc.
5. To agree with the government authorities, the World Bank, and FAO on the composition, TOR and timing of the detailed planning mission for NIFR, which should complete its activities before 30 June 1985, that is the deadline agreed upon for submission of the final plans of the Brackish Water Management Station to IDA.

1.3 Approach

(05) Research programmes should be determined by the needs of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. In order to define the research needs and priorities the following procedure should be followed. First the present status of fisheries and aquaculture should be defined and a master plan for development of the sector prepared. Next an analysis should be prepared of the bottlenecks which hamper the realization of the goals of the projected development so that research programmes and their priorities can be formulated. Research programmes, finally, will determine institutional aspects, such as the organization of the research stations, the physical facilities, staffing and budgeting.

(06) Early in 1985 a master plan for fisheries and aquaculture development will be prepared (FAO/UNDP BGD/81/034). The data of this plan will be used to finalize a Research Master Plan in 1985/86. At the present stage only a preliminary plan will be formulated. To that end, in Chapter 2, a preliminary and global analysis is provided of the present state of fisheries and aquaculture in the country and of the constraints to further development. In Chapter 3, a preliminary analysis is given of research needs and priorities, and global proposals are presented with respect to the research programmes and organization of the NIFR and its five research stations. In Chapter 4, finally, the planning for the fisheries and aquaculture component of ASARP is given. Note: For the sake of illustration and argumentation statistical data have been given in this report. Frequently these are rough estimates, as the various sources consulted are not always fully consistent.