Seminar on Fresh Water Culture
Damascus - Syria, 2 – 4 May 1994

Seminar Report

In the framework of its activities and as a follow up to the recommendations of MEDRAP Steering Committee (Byblos, Lebanon, 3–5 November, 1993) MEDRAP organised a seminar of Fresh Water Culture which was held in Damascus - Syria, from 2 to 4 May, 1994.

Representatives from Algeria, Morocco, Cyprus, Syria, Bulgaria, Libya, Egypt and lecturers from Egypt, Syria, Scotland and Hungary attended this seminar. A namely list of participants is appended (annex 1).

The seminar was addressed by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Syria, Mr. Ahmed Meri. It was opened before by the General Director of Fisheries in Damascus, Mr. Mueen IsmaÔl, who welcomed all participants, presented the capabilities and main concerns of Syria in the field of fresh water culture, then introduced the seminar agenda (annex 2).

On behalf of Mr. H. Akrout, the Project Coordinator, Mr. M. Belkhir, expert and representative of MEDRAP to the seminar, responded to the Deputy Minister and highlighted the MEDRAP organisation and strategy, in particular the future ones.

The participants elected the following bureau:

All MEDRAP countries delegates presented their activities in the field of fresh culture (capabilities, concerns and research.

The main remarks that could be retained are the following:

Egypt

Total production of fresh water culture was 44.000 t, in 1993. There are five state farms and several private ones. Hatcheries (4) have a production capacity of 38 millions fingerlings of carps and tilapia. The biomass is varying according to the procedures used in extensive culture form 2–2,5 t/ha when using fertiliser, and 5–6 t/ha, using supplementary food, to 9–10 t/ha. by increasing stocking rates.

Therefore, the implementation of five new hatcheries at the end of 1994 will increase the fingerlings production to 300 millions.

Morocco

Fresh water culture started in 1987 with two stations for farming carp species. Total production reached 4 millions fingerlings in 1994 while the planned production of commercial carp is 1000 tons for the same period. There are also two other stations producing trout and other species reared for sport fishing mainly. The rearing systems for carps and trout are dams and care was given to safeguard their water quality so to preserve the consumer health and agriculture activities.

Bulgaria

The fresh water potential of the country could produce 15000 to 18000 tons yearly a part to satisfy local consumers demand and a part exported to the European market. To ensure this production, Bulgaria should manage existing hatcheries and ponds and produce 40 to 46 millions fingerlings.

Syria

Fresh water culture is shared by public and private sector and includes two divisions:

-  fish farms, and

-  Dams, lakes and rivers,

Fish farms produced, in 1992, 2881 tons of which 63,9%, by private sector and 34,6% by the public one, the remaining, by joint sector. The production, in Dams, lakes and rivers, was in 1992, 3143 tons also shared by the private sector (45,9%) and joint sector (51,1%).

Algeria

Pisciculture started in 1985 in Cupertino with Hungary which provided Algeria carps fingerlings and assisted in the constitution of hatchery and seeding several water plans without any feasibility studies.

These trials showed that carps had been well adapted to local climate and conditions and that it showed great growth by reaching 15 to 20 kg in 5 years.

While Algeria showed very important potentialities for holding fresh water culture there is need to indicate that this sector needs more and better organised.

Pisciculture could be extended in the 55 Dams (200 millions m3) and in ponds of 500.000 m3 beside the lakes and salt ponds that could be farmed using Tilapia.

Libya

Fresh water culture started in 1976 with the carps species farming. The production was, in 1992, 100 tons, since 1991, Tilapia was introduced in Libya.

While the marine fish culture was promoted by the Authorities, the fresh water culture seemed to be restricted because of the very limited fresh water plans.

Cyprus

Aquaculture is a newly developed sector of fisheries in Cyprus. There are 5 private land based commercial trout farms and 5 private cages units in the reservoirs. Total production is 92 tons of trouts (1993). Sturgeon is of main concern and Cyprus is carrying out research works in the farm of fisheries department activities. Also, 17 species were introduced in 21 reservoirs having a stocking capacity of 270 millions m3 corresponding to 1300 ha.

On Tuesday 3rd of May, 1994, a field trip is organised to a governmental fish farm situated in Mzerib at 100 km from Damascus town. The farm is getting water source from natural fountains at a flow rate approaching 110 liters/second. The total area covered by the farm is 10 ha of which 7 ha is water covered; the temperature varies from 29∞C in summer to 9∞C in winter and farmed fished are the common carp and Tilapia. The total production is 60 tons of commercial fishes and 550.000 fingerling yearly composed of 250.000 carps and 300.000 Tilapia.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

All national reports showed that fresh water aquaculture has potential for further growth and contribution to local economics. However there is a lacks of human resource skills in farms operations and they recommend the following.

1. strengthen national expertise by training trainers:
2. exchange information between interested institutions by publishing newsletter and other publication;
3. improving the managerial skills of the fresh water fish producers;
4. establishment of data bank;
5. exchange materials and experts through the operation of joint research programme.
6. increase understanding of the markets with the outputs of the freshwater aquaculture sector;
7. find ways to add value to fresh water aquaculture output to improve socio-economic benefits;
8. develop undergraduate degree programme for specialists in appropriate aspects of aquaculture.
9. conduct joint research projects in different aspects of fresh water fish farm;
10. make efficient utilisation of different water sources, especially reservoirs, ponds, etc;
11. utilise integrated fish farming methods in order to have two or more corps from the same production unit with a lower production costs;
12. improving the genetic pool of fresh water fish species through the appropriate application of genetic engineering, hybridisation, etc;
13. improving the environmental conditions such as the water quality, nutrition, disease control, etc;
14. enhancing the natural food production to utilise the natural production of the water bodies more efficiently;
15. introducing new fish species which show high potential and prospects for adaptation to available fresh water ecosystems;
16. encouraging the production and availability of supply inputs to the fresh water aquaculture sector including feeding systems, holding systems and other capital equipment;
17. identification of the alternative, and preferred, options for the processing of products from the fresh water aquaculture sector,
18. increase the number of fish species suitable for polyculture pond fish farming or inductialised systems, should be achieved by selection from local species or be introduced from other countries via high productive parental lines of hybrids;

19. introduction and quarantine for the exotic species should be carried out according to national and international regulations.