The possibility and need for regional or inter-regional cooperation were discussed by the Workshop in the light of the external assistance requirements identified in the national aqua-culture development plans and the recommendations of the Symposium on Aquaculture in Latin America, CARPAS and WECAFC. Most of the participants expressed an overwhelming desire on the part of their governments to assist each other and to cooperate in developmental activities. There has already been some cooperation on a bilateral basis between some of the countries but the effectiveness and value of such cooperation will depend on the level of expertise and experience available in the cooperating countries. At the present stage of development of aquaculture in Latin America, there is an immediate need to generate these much more rapidly.
There was unanimous agreement that research, training and information exchange are the three areas in which regional cooperation is required on a high priority basis. It was suggested that early action should be taken to establish the Regional Centre for Aquaculture in Latin America, recommended by the regional fishery bodies. The centre should undertake systems-oriented research on culture systems of regional interest and take a leading part in the transfer of technology from other regions, including adaptive research to modify them to suit local conditions. Such a centre should' organize multidisciplinary training of senior-level aquaculturists in all aspects of aquaculture and also provide in-service training for scientific personnel. Collection, storage and dissemination of information on aquaculture research and development should also form a major activity of the centre. For the effective transfer and application of research results to the participating countries, it will be necessary to strengthen the national centres and establish close linkage with the regional centre to facilitate free exchange of personnel and information.
The Workshop noted that the previous Regional Workshops on Aquaculture Planning in Africa and Asia have recommended the establishment of networks of similar centres in those regions. It will be necessary and beneficial to establish inter-regional linkages and enable global exchange of experience. The Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme should be responsible for the coordination of the activities of the regional networks.
The Workshop recommended that early action be taken to obtain the commitment of funding agencies to support such a centre and an expert team should select a suitable site based on appropriate criteria. Detailed project proposals should then be prepared and negotiations carried out with the host government and funding agencies. Brazil and Mexico were proposed as possible host countries of the Regional Centre in Latin America. The Workshop was informed of the establishment of an Ichthyopathological Laboratory in Colombia and other countries of the region were officially invited by the Colombian participants to make use of the facilities. Mexico and Brazil are organizing national training courses in aquaculture and the neighbouring countries were invited to utilize these on an interim basis. The participant from Ecuador informed the Workshop that his Government would be willing to host a regional training course on shrimp farming.
A proposal was made to organize a Latin American Aquaculture Association to provide a suitable means for scientists in the region to pool their experience and exchange ideas. The CARPAS/WECAFC Working Party on Aquaculture and the new FAO regional inland fisheries body shortly to be established would also provide similar opportunities. The regional cooperation required for preventing uncontrolled introduction of exotic species, the spread of communicable diseases of cultivated species and the prevention of environmental pollution, could also be promoted through such agencies.
The major external assistance required by a good many of the countries of the region is in the form of technical assistance and pre-investment studies. Others would need both technical assistance and finance for production programmes. Even in countries where finance is readily available through development banks or other sources, continued support would depend on the success of the projects they are financing at present. This underlines the need for sound feasibility studies before large-scale investments are undertaken. Assistance of a multidisciplinary team is needed for carrying out such studies and the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme should provide this as mentioned earlier, until the necessary expertise is developed locally.
The national development plans prepared by the participants should be used as the basis for the formulation of requests for aid from bilateral and multilateral sources. Future assistance from UNDP sources should be included in the country programmes for the 1977-81 cycle, which will be formulated shortly. As there are many demands on available sources of UNDP funds, fishery administrations should take early action to prepare individual requests based on the country's development plans.
