7.1 International Foundation for Science (IFS)
7.2 United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
7.3 Sea Grant Programme, U.S.A.
7.4 German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
7.5 International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
7.6 International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources (ICLARM)
7.7 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
7.8 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The International Foundation for Science (IFS), founded in 1972, is a non-governmental organization based on scientific academies and research councils in 42 countries, of which two-thirds are in developing countries. Its objects are to promote and support research in natural and social sciences and in technology for the benefit of developing countries. The Foundation provides young scientists and technologists of outstanding merit with financial and other support for their work. The main criteria for a grant are the scientific quality and promise of the proposed research and its relevance to the country concerned. In addition, IFS sponsors seminars and workshops of a regional or international character. The first regional meeting on aquaculture is to be held 28 September - 1 October 1978 in Malaysia in cooperation with the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Fifty-three grants for aquaculture were approved by IFS in 1974-77 (see list in Annex III). This is 21 percent of all IFS grants in the period, and aquaculture ranks in number of projects as the third of the six IFS priority areas. Some of the projects supported are at a stage where extensions into pilot production projects can be foreseen.
Table I
|
|
Africa |
Asia |
Latin America |
Total |
|
Universities |
8 |
25 |
7 |
40 |
|
National Research Institutes |
7 |
4 |
2 |
13 |
|
Total |
15 |
29 |
9 |
53 |
Table I shows that three-quarters of the projects are carried out at universities, and in Asia the ratio is as high as four-fifths. But good extension services are vital for the practical application of aquaculture research, particularly in small-scale rural programmes, and here national research institutes often have an advantage over universities. While maintaining its interest in support to university research, IFS would encourage more applications from national research institutes (or from agricultural universities).
The following table shows the classification of projects based on subject and ecological coverage.
Table II
|
|
Freshwater |
Brackish and Marine Waters |
Others |
|
Fish |
24 |
16 |
2 |
|
Shellfish |
6 |
1 |
|
|
Algae |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Others |
1 |
|
|
|
Total |
32 |
19 |
2 |
The most important species studied are mullet (9 projects), tilapia (8 projects), catfish (5 projects) and carp (4 projects). In addition, there is one project of groupers in floating cages, one on ectoparasites on milkfish, one on the agricultural by-products for trout breeding and nine on local fish fauna.
Mullet (9 projects)
The species of mullet studied by IFS grantees are mainly Mugil spp. and particularly Mugil cephalus. Three grants have been awarded to Indian scientists to carry out bio-systematic analysis of grey mullet and to investigate the influence of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen on the survival, energy utilization and growth of the mullet species, Rhinomugil corsula. One grantee in Sri Lanka is investigating the possible polyculture of the grey mullet (M. cephalus) with prawns. In Turkey, a project was started in 1975 on the rearing of grey mullet fry, including work in artificial and natural feeding and induced spawning. This last project was terminated after one year because the grantee left the country. In Egypt, where mullet is already extensively cultured in fish farms, a grant has been given to a research project on induced spawning in order to satisfy the great need for fry. A project was initiated in Sierra Leone on the feeding biology and feed requirements of the grey mullet in relation to productivity. The intention is to continue this project with aquaculture experiments of grey mullet in ponds of both fresh and brackish water. Finally, two grants have been recently approved for two projects in Colombia and Cuba, respectively, to study fish farming of mullet, including induced spawning experiments.
Tilapia (8 projects)
Five of the eight projects on tilapia relate to controlling their reproduction in ponds by various methods, including hybridization, and use of predators for reducing fry populations.
In addition, there is one project on artificial feeding and consequent growth rate and one on the testing of different types of fertilizers and different fish feeds to determine the most productive and economic combinations.
Catfish (5 projects)
Two projects are concerned with Chrysichthys spp., which are limited to West Africa and have not before been used for aquaculture. One of the main obstacles has been to obtain fry through artificial spawning. Growth and reproduction patterns of these species under different feeding conditions are also currently being investigated.
Three projects are concerned with the following catfish species: Pimelodus clarias (nicuro). Clarias macrocephalus, and air-breathing catfish, Clarias and Anabas spp. Research areas covered by these three projects are controlled breeding and nutritional studies, including the use of inexpensive diets from locally produced feed.
Carp (4 projects)
Three projects are concerned with improvement of cultivation of the common carp in monoculture or in combination with tilapia, through artificial feeding and artificial fry production in Madagascar and in Egypt. The fourth project concerns artificial feeding of three different species of carp, i.e. Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala and fertilization trials in fish ponds.
IFS supports one project on the rearing of Epinephelus tauvina in floating cages in Penang.
Milkfish (1 project)
IFS supports a project on the investigation of milkfish ectoparasites in Indonesia. Another project aims at studying the utilization of waste products of sericulture as feed for local fish farms which cultivate milkfish.
Trout (1 project)
One grant has been awarded to study the utilization of agricultural by-products for trout breeding in Peru.
Local Fish Species (9 projects)
IFS supports nine projects on investigations on the culture of local fish, including the following species: Alestes sp., Osphronemus sp., Prochilodus reticulatus, Petenia umbrifera, Tor tambroides, Polunemus inducus, Eleutheronema tetradactylum, Brycon sp., Colossoma nigricans and Oxyeleotris marmorata.
Crustaceans: Shimps and Prawns (6 projects)
Four projects are carried out in Southeast Asia (three in Thailand and one in Malaysia), one in India and one in Sri Lanka.
The main lines of research developed in the five projects on Macrobrachium are:
- Artificial incubation of Macrobrachium eggs;- Techniques for rearing of larvae up to seedling stage;
- Feeding experiments using locally available feeds;
- The occurrence of osmotic and ionic stress in the prawns during their migration from marine or brackish water into fresh water;
- Tolerance of the prawn to various pollutants by bioassay methods;
- Investigation of the possibilities of Macrobrachium culture in reservoirs.
In addition there is one project aimed at verifying the effect of tea seed used to control predator fish in shrimp ponds.
Mussels (1 project)
Only one project has been initiated in this field (in Malaysia). The work has mainly been focussed on the possible mass farming of the mussel, Mytilus viridis Linnaeus. The spawning season, physiological factors, various culture methods, feeding pattern, induced spawning for laboratory programmed production of seedlings and other related matters, are investigated.
Successful induced spawning of M. viridis was achieved in a seawater medium containing 0.2 percent NH4OH.
Algae (3 projects)
One of the projects supported by IFS aims at studying growth, reproduction, nutrition and ecology of local algae of economic importance as potential sources of food for cattle, poultry and even human beings.
The two remaining projects investigate algae as a potential source of raw material for industry. In Tanzania, studies have been initiated to estimate the content of colloid substance in selected Tanzanian seaweed. The results could serve as a basis for possible seaweed farming in Tanzanian coastal villages. A small pilot plant for local production of gum could also be established in the implementation phase of this project. Another project concerns a study of the ecological factors limiting the growth, biomass production and gel production of Chilean gelidiales (Rhodophyta). The experimental results in the laboratory will be used to start mass cultivation of algae under controlled conditions.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) established in 1976 a Fisheries Division to assist with development of small-scale fisheries, fish processing and other fishery problems as well as with aquaculture. This step reflects a renewed interest in fisheries and aquaculture by that agency. Four people currently are assigned to the Fisheries Division, two fisheries advisors, an aquaculture advisor and an economist. The Fisheries Division serves two broad functions:
(1) managing research and development projects with broad potential application, and(2) serving in a technical advisory role to the regional bureaus and overseas missions of AID to assist with individual country development projects.
AID'S goals and objectives are oriented toward specific impacts on increasing food production and employment, income, and nutrition of the rural poor in developing countries. For this reason most aquaculture activities are limited to small-scale practices with low-priced species and with species for local consumption rather than for export. Emphasis is placed on relatively simple, small-scale production units which can be operated by small land holders with limited resources. AID does not participate in large-scale commercial activities, such as shrimp farming or deep sea fishing because investment money for these activities is available from the business community. While these activities are recognized as being important, AID'S mandate is to assist countries with programmes that impact on poor and disadvantaged people in the LDC's.
Three centrally-funded activities are presently managed by the Fisheries Division. Support for the International Center for Aquaculture at Auburn University has been provided by AID for a period of 7 years to assist in the development of research, training and extension capabilities of the University in the field of aquaculture. This support has enabled Auburn to play an active role in a variety of development projects in the LDC's. The level of support during 1977 was about U.S. $ 350 000 per year. Auburn University has a strong graduate-level educational programme, offers a five-month practical training course in aquaculture each year, and presently has about 30 foreign students involved in on-campus research, as well as both practical and academic training. All aspects of the Auburn programme are intended to be transferred to field projects where Auburn staff serve in a wide range of roles including technology transfer, development of extension and educational programmes and research implementation.
A research project on the artificial propagation of milkfish at the Oceanic Institute in Hawaii is supported by AID. This research is directed toward improving methods of handling, maturing, and spawning milkfish adults in captivity. This research, which is funded at a rate of about U.S. $ 370 000 per year is scheduled to continue for one additional year. Additional work is needed on milkfish reproduction and larval rearing in spite of recent advances, and support to some ongoing activity in this field is planned.
Through a small centrally-funded contract AID has assisted Brazil with the development of research and training capabilities at the aquaculture centre in Pentecoste, Brazil. The annual budget for this activity is about U.S. $ 60 000 per year, and the project will end in early 1979.
A number of AID-supported aquaculture projects are being carried out under contracts managed directly by the USAID Missions in developing countries. A list of presently active projects follows:
Honduras - Small-scale aquaculture demonstration project - U.S. $ 80 000 per year.Indonesia - Brackish water aquaculture - U.S. $ 220 000 per year.
Jamaica - Fisheries programme development - U.S. $ 170 000 per year.
Peru - Trout production - U.S. $ 150 000 per year.
Philippines - Aquaculture research and extension - U.S. $ 130 000 per year.
Colombia - Aquaculture facilities, training and extension - U.S. $ 2 200 000 loan over several year period.
Cameroon, Central African Empire and Zaire - Cooperative assistance with U.S. Peace Corps projects - low-level funding assistance.
In addition AID is interested in the activities of the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), and is considering financial support to this institution. A number of country projects are being planned in the field of aquaculture, and a new programme is being developed to support collaborative research involving U.S. and foreign institutions and related to either small-scale fisheries or fish farming.
The Sea Grant Programme of the National Oceanographic Administration in the U.S.A. has given special emphasis to aquaculture research and development. A new Sea Grant programme will begin this year, which will provide support for programmes to enhance the research and development capability of foreign nations in aquatic sciences (including aquaculture).
Proposals for such support are accepted from United States universities (or other research groups). A U.S. university applying should have created an association with a university or other partner (a fishery agency, or a research laboratory) in the foreign country.
The amount of funds available for this new programme is U.S. $ 900 000 for fiscal year 1979 (FY 79) beginning 1 October 1978. At least this same amount will probably be available in FY 80; for subsequent years funding has not yet been arranged.
Foreign research groups which have or can establish partnership arrangements with an American university can suggest research and development projects in aquaculture (or other aquatic science subjects) to the U.S. institution. If that institution agrees to do so, it can apply to the Office of Sea Grant for funding.
The FY 79 funds have been committed, in response to a considerable number of applications. And since many of the projects are of a nature that they cannot be completed in one year, a substantial part of the FY 80 money has in effect also been committed. However, there may be some funds available for new projects in FY 80, and if the programme continues past that year applications will be accepted from United States/foreign partnerships. Proposals most likely to be funded are those that have a strong component in training and education. Some of the proposals likely to be funded this year include aquaculture components,
The technical assistance to developing countries provided by the Government of Germany through the Ministry for Economic Cooperation is implemented by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), which is a privately organized company operating under civil law. Its task is to spread know-how in the fields of "food production techniques, education, economics and organized aspects" at the request of governments of developing countries, preference being given to sectors for which high priority is accorded by the governments. About two-thirds of the projects are implemented directly by GTZ staff and the rest by consultants. Formerly the Animal Production Department dealt with fisheries, but a separate Fisheries Department was created in 1975. The Department is at present responsible for the operation of twelve on-going projects and six more are in the pipeline.
Aquaculture is a relatively new activity as far as GTZ is concerned. Interest is at present mainly concentrated on the transfer of well-known technologies, mainly semi-intensive culture of trout and carp with emphasis on hatcheries. Due to the lack of expertise it has not been possible to implement any aquaculture projects so far but two projects, one in Egypt and another in Turkey, are now in the pipeline and are expected to be implemented shortly. The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation would welcome properly prepared project proposals in the field of aquaculture for technical support and implementation.
The observer from IDRC briefly outlined its aquaculture programme which involved 10 projects in six countries of Asia, seven projects in five countries of Africa, and two projects in two countries of Latin America. There were three additional supporting projects in Canada and more than 12 projects in the pipeline. The programme provided assistance to self-managed projects involving equipment training, operational costs and, where necessary, expatriate personnel. Though financed by the Canadian treasury, the Centre's staffing, or provision of equipment, training or services, were obtained wherever the recipient country had to be endorsed by the economic planning ministries of the countries concerned, indicating its priority significance for food or rural employment. Most projects are applicable beyond the borders of the country and exchange their findings at regional workshops held by the project.
Apart from training of national researchers on-the-job, in effective aquaculture experimentation, the projects have so far succeeded in the breeding of Chinese carps in Malaysia in every month of the year; the breeding and larval rearing of milkfish in SEAFDEC in the Philippines; the demonstration of the effective field application of the research results obtained by CIFRI, India; the production of pituitary extracts from 260 000 spawning Pacific salmon for breeding of tropical indigenous species, and the rearing of tropical oysters to market size in Sierra Leone and Sabah. Linkages have been established with many institutions outside the project countries in regional workshops to discuss results. Many project researchers take formal courses overseas and do their practical thesis research on the project at home. While projects are increasing in number it is intended to limit the funding at no more than U.S. $ 3 million per year though host countries contributions generally far exceed the "seed" money of IDRC.
The projects are largely concentrated in South and South East Asia as they arose from the formulating and planning workshop held in 1973 in Malaysia when the major constraints and target species were identified and the convenient or logical countries of the project operations were agreed upon. Subsequently, in association with the aquaculture subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, a regional network for aquaculture research was suggested. IDRC has endeavoured to follow this up. Subsequently, in response to a request from the South East Asia Fishery Development Centre and the approval of the TAC, a mission has just concluded, in April 1978, a comprehensive study of countries of south and southeast Asian countries and has now provided a report of a recommended network for the underpinning research programme required for aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific. This report is available from TAC.
In the absence of a representative of ICLARM, the representative of USAID presented a brief report on the Centre's activities and future plans. ICLARM, an autonomous, non-profit, international scientific and technical centre, has been organized to conduct and accelerate research on all aspects of fisheries and other living aquatic resources. Although its interests are world-wide, initially the organization's primary attention is being directed to problems in South East Asia and the South West Pacific.
ICLARM's basic strategy is to take initiatives in research, identifying and attacking critical problems in aquaculture, traditional fisheries, resource development and management, marine affairs, and education and training, in order to lay a sound foundation for production and management programmes. A fundamental programme feature is that primary attention is given to the interplay among various disciplines of fisheries. That is, all areas of fisheries are considered and not just one, such as aquaculture of traditional fisheries. This is considered critical, since developments in one area often have considerable impact on other areas. In addition, events completely outside fisheries (e.g., increased energy costs) may have completely different effects in different fishery areas.
The organization has no physical research infrastructure and instead undertakes cooperative programmes with existing institutions when research facilities are required.
The most critical problem in aquaculture is considered to be the lack of a consistent and adequate supply of fry or "seed". So one of ICLARM's major program thrusts will be in the area of controlled breeding and mass production of fry and related nutritional problems. To this end, in the past year ICLARM has begun the establishment of an international network of institutions which are currently engaged in aquacultural research and can be linked together by collaborative projects. Initially centres are planned in the Philippines, Thailand and Egypt.
Recognizing the importance of information dissemination, ICLARM has developed a publications programme which will provide a selective flow of information into and out of the southeast Asian region and which will carry out projects for collating and translating information, especially in local languages. In addition to a quarterly newsletter, ICLARM will publish a Report Series carrying scientific and technical papers as well as an Information Series covering interpretive articles and non-technical information.
In 1969, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) undertook an analysis of the possibilities and significance of fishery development in Latin America formulating guidelines for a promotional action and outlining strategies and means for its implementation.
The initial strategy guidelines favours integrated projects involving port infrastructure, fishing fleet, plants and marketing systems; training and research programmes may also be included. The purpose of this approach was to avoid the development of subsectorial bottlenecks.
The second approach was to create, on the basis of these projects, new development oriented institutions, since the fishery administration in most countries has been limited to small scientific and statistical units.
The third element of the strategy was to provide preferential support to projects with the greatest socio-economic impact, despite the difficulties they involve for rapid execution and the less attractiveness they represent to the private sector. That is the case of coastal fisheries for the supply of domestic or regional markets. Finally, the fourth guideline was to design institutional structures for project implementation that could be used for expanding the project goals merely by adding new investment units to the basic scheme.
Depending on the fishing industry status of each country, projects could be initiated either through cooperatives or through private corporations, whereas in other cases they would have to be set up through state corporations until the sector becomes stable enough for private investments.
Intermediate technologies were carefully selected so as to make the best use of the local resources tending to yield a low-cost final product that would make food stuffs accessible to the majority of consumers.
The sixteen fishery projects prepared with IDB assistance during the last 7 years represent a total investment of U.S. $ 560 million and may require international financing to the tune of U.S. $ 320 million. Projected production is 671 000 tons per year (1.0 percent of world production), which would represent a 10 percent increase over the current regional catches and an increase of over 31 percent in the supply of fish for human consumption. The average productivity of the 21 000 fishermen who will benefit from these projects is estimated at 32 tons per caput, i.e., 10 times more than the present average productivity of the region.
A rational target for the contribution of fisheries in the supply of animal protein for Latin America, has been considered at some 5 million additional tons per year. Of this figure 3.5 million could come from marine fisheries and some 1.5 million from aqua-culture. Some 750 000 ha of ponds and lagoons will have to be brought under production for this and this would require an investment cost close to U.S. $ 750 million.
As regards aquaculture the Bank has prepared, in cooperation with FAO, a first report on the general situation of the sub-sector in each country of the region. The report contains basic information on the potential, limitations and nature of future development. The Bank has partially financed, in the last two years, two aquaculture projects: one in Colombia, as part of a Regional Rural Development Programme; and the other in El Salvador, as part of the National Fishery Development Programme.
The United Nations Development Programme and FAO have been engaged in the provision of technical assistance for aquaculture development for over two decades. Initially the projects mainly consisted of the assignment of one or two specialists to make feasibility studies or conduct experiments or demonstrations. In the course of time, the scope and size of projects have increased. Currently the number of operational projects executed by FAO is 28, with a total funding of U.S. $ 21.6 million, plus more than double that amount in governmental counterpart contributions. In addition, there are some nine pipeline projects in various stages of negotiation with external funding of U.S. $ 7.7 million. As shown below, a good proportion of these projects are solely devoted to aquaculture and the others have aquaculture as a major activity.
|
|
Projects devoted solely to aquaculture |
Projects including aquaculture as a major activity | ||
|
|
No. |
U.S.$ ('000) |
No. |
U.S.$ ('000) |
|
Operational |
17 |
8 930 |
11 |
12 735 |
|
Pipeline |
7 |
5 660 |
2 |
2 076 |
|
|
24 |
14 590 |
13 |
14 811 |
Seventy-five percent of these projects are financed by UNDP, 11 percent through multi-bilateral arrangements and 8 percent by FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme. The others are supported by FAO's Freedom from Hunger Campaign or the United Nations Sahelian Office.
UNDP has been, and continues to be, the main funding agency for FAO-executed aqua-culture projects. FAO, besides contributing funds for certain types of small-scale projects, provides the support services required for the implementation of the field projects, including technical backstopping. FAO, under its Regular Programme, organizes short-term technical advice and assistance, organization of training courses, seminars, workshops, etc., provides for international forums for pooling of experience, dissemination of information, technical servicing of regional fishery bodies, etc.
Inter-regional and regional projects
A list of the on-going and pipeline projects is given below.
A. UNDP-funded projects
Inter-regional
Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (INT/76/016)
Regional
Establishment of a Latin American Regional Centre for Aquaculture, Brazil (RLA/76/010)
South China Sea Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme, The Philippines (RAS/74/013)
Preparation of an Integrated Plan for the Development of the Inland Fisheries of the Sahel Zone (TF-RAF.104.UNSO)
Fisheries Development of Lake Chad (RAF/71/273)
Regional Aquaculture Training and Research in Africa, Nigeria (RAF/76/009) (pipeline)
Establishment of a Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia (RAS/76/003) (pipeline)
National
Tuna and Bait Fish Resources Evaluation, Gilbert Island (GIL/75/002)
Brackishwater Shrimp and Milkfish Culture Applied Research and Training, Indonesia (INS/72/003)
Fisheries Development (Aquaculture), Malaysia (MAL/77/007)
Integrated Fisheries and Fish Culture Development, Nepal (NEP/73/025)
Brackishwater Aquaculture Development and Training, The Philippines (PHI/75/005)
Shrimp Culture and Production, Vietnam (SRV/76/007)
Programme for the Expansion of the Freshwater Prawn Farming Industry, Thailand (THA/75/008)
Programme for the Formulation of Pond Management Techniques, Thailand (THA/75/012)
Fish Culture Extension, Central African Empire (CAF/76/007)
Development of Fish Culture and Inland Fisheries, Ivory Coast (INC/77/003)
Development of Coastal Aquaculture, Kenya (KEN/77/014)
Development of Inland Fisheries and Fish Culture, Madagascar (MAG/76/002)
Fishery Expansion Project, Malawi (MAL/75/019)
Inland Water Fishery Development, Colombia (COL/71/552)
Investigation and Integrated Fisheries Development, Mexico (MEX/77/002)
Development of Fisheries, Algeria (ALG/77/001)
Development of Fish Culture, Hungary (HUN/71/512)
Intensification of Freshwater Fish Culture and Training, India (IND/75/031) (pipeline)
Coastal Aquaculture Demonstration and Training, Malaysia (MAL/77/008) (pipeline)
Inland Fisheries Development, Pakistan (PAK/74/021) (pipeline)
Inland Fisheries Training School, Nigeria (NIG/74/019) (pipeline)
Freshwater Fish Culture, Nigeria (NIG/75/059) (pipeline)
B. FAO/TCP-funded projects
Mariculture Development in the Northeast of Brazil (6/BRA/03/M)
Piscicultura como principal fuente proteica en la zona indígena en Panamá (6/PAN/03)
Pilot Project for Intensified Aquaculture Production, Egypt (6/EGY/02/T)
C. Projects funded from multi-bilateral sources
Fisheries Training and Extension, Bangladesh (TF/BGD/5) (NORAD)
Provision of Preserved Fish Pituitary Glands, Nepal (TF/NEP/18 CFH)
Research and Development of Inland Fisheries, Mozambique (TF/MOZ/6) (SIDA)
Recycling of Domestic Wastes through Fish Culture, India (TF/IND/141) (NORAD) (pipeline)
Reservoir Fisheries Development and Fish Culture Extension, Indonesia (TF/INS/34) (Netherlands) (pipeline)
The above list does not include the projects that are being formulated or those that have already been taken up for direct negotiation between funding agencies and the recipient countries. The scope and operation of the inter-regional and regional projects are briefly described below.
The main phase of the inter-regional project, Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme, was launched in 1977, after two years of preparatory work which consisted mainly of:
(i) the organization of three regional planning workshops to prepare national development plans and identify requirements of external assistance;(ii) the organization of a world conference on aquaculture, and;
(iii) the formulation and negotiation of the main phase activities of the Programme.
The initial objectives of the main phase of the Programme are:
(i) strengthening national capabilities in implementing aquaculture development and promoting regional and inter-regional cooperation among developing countries, particularly in the field of research and training;(ii) assisting in the establishment of regional research and training centres in Africa, Asia and Latin America;
(iii) providing multidisciplinary assistance for undertaking feasibility studies and formulating and implementing pilot and large-scale production programmes, and;
(iv) promoting investment in aquaculture through working arrangements with financing agencies, governments and private industry.
Since these activities are to a large extent an expansion of FAO's own Regular Programme and the unification of activities would enable the Organization to give expanded support for field activities, the entire aquaculture activities carried out by FAO, particularly those relating to field projects, have been integrated. The Programme also participates in the execution of the aquaculture elements of other inter-regional projects, viz. International Indian Ocean Fishery Survey and Development Programme, Development of Fisheries in the Eastern Central Atlantic, and Development of Fisheries in the Western Central Atlantic.
The Programme has, during its short span of life, fielded a number of missions to countries requesting assistance for identifying opportunities, formulating projects and implementing them. Special mention may be made of a nation-wide seed production project in India and fish culture development projects in Egypt and Kenya which are now being negotiated for World Bank financing. Pilot projects have been formulated and are being implemented through the Programme in Egypt and Kenya, to prepare for large-scale investment projects.
The three regional projects relating to the establishment of research and training facilities listed, were formulated in implementation of recommendations made by a number of regional and international meetings. The Regional Centre for Aquaculture Research and Training in Latin America is being established in the State of São Paulo in Brazil, with the main Centre in Pirassununga and sub-centres in Cananeia and Campos de Jordão. The construction work is expected to be completed before the end of the year and the Centre would commence work in January 1979. Besides multidisciplinary systems-oriented research on selected aquaculture systems that have immediate application in the region, the Centre will also offer a one-year training course for senior-level aquaculturists in all aspects of aquaculture with special emphasis on practical work. The Centre will have facilities for collection, processing and dissemination of information.
A Regional Centre for Aquaculture Research and Training in Africa is being established in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Pending the completion of necessary construction work, the facilities at an existing institution in the neighbourhood (Rural Development Training Centre in Aluu and the Brackishwater Experimental Station in Buguma) will be used for initiating the Centre's work, particularly training. The general pattern of work of the Centre will be as in the Latin American Centre, but training will be offered both in English and French.
The regional project for the establishment of a network of aquaculture centres in Asia will be initiated with the establishment of three Lead Centres, in The Philippines, Thailand and India. Systems-oriented research on the culture of milkfish, mullets and shrimps will be carried out in the Aquaculture Department of the South East Asia Fishery Development Centre. The Freshwater Research and Training Centre of the Central Inland Fishery Research Institute in Dhauli, State of Orissa, India, will carry out research on culture of Indian and Chinese carps, systems of culture in undrainable freshwater ponds and extensive culture of carps in reservoirs. The National Inland Fisheries Institute in Bangkok will carry out research on pond culture of freshwater prawns, catfish, Puntius, murrels, eels and the culture of oysters and mussels. The Philippine Lead Centre will organize a one-year aqua-culture training course as in the other regional centres and the Centre in India will establish a system of collection, storage and dissemination of information for the benefit of the whole region.
During the second phase of all the three regional projects, a selected number of national centres will be strengthened and closely linked to the regional or lead centres for the testing of technologies developed at the centres and training of extension personnel, ensuring a free exchange of experience and expertise.
The South China Sea Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme, which serves the southeast Asian countries, had a major element of aquaculture work. In its future phase, the emphasis will be on the development of aquaculture as part of small-scale coastal fishery development.
New regional aquaculture projects for the Mediterranean Region and for the Middle East are now in the process of formulation. Similarly, a number of new national projects are also under formulation.
During discussions on the implementation of FAO-executed projects, the question of continuation of activities after the termination of external assistance was raised. Such follow-up activities obviously depend on the nature of the project executed. By citing the example of the regional (group country) project on fish culture research and training implemented in the Central African Empire, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville) and Cameroon, it was explained that often research projects of the type implemented earlier were followed by national extension projects for the application of the results of research undertaken.
The Philippine representative asked for clarification of the procedure that would be followed in the development of the Lead Centre in the Philippines as envisaged in the UNDP/FAO Regional Project for the Establishment of a Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia. It was explained that the project document had already been sent to the participating governments of the region for their comments and endorsement. If the document were endorsed by an adequate number of governments and based on that, UNDP approved the project, a small mission would be sent to the countries involved, including the Philippines, to prepare detailed memoranda of understanding between FAO and the participating institutions. The Philippine representative pointed out that since the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department is a sub-regional institution, the approval of its Council would be required for the Department's participation.
Such approval could be sought only when the final approval of the project by UNDP was assured. He also commented on the relatively small amount of funding available from UNDP sources for this project. In response it was pointed out that even though the funding for regional activities is small, the institutions selected have already benefited from considerable external funding for the development of physical facilities and it is believed that with small additional inputs and a proper programme, very useful work of value to the region as a whole could be carried out. Further, the project is so designed as to attract and utilize additional funding for carrying out expanded activities. This also applies to the strengthening of national aquaculture centres that will participate in the network earlier than anticipated in the project document. As the emphasis in the project is on the execution of specific activities rather than supporting selected institutions, it should be possible to make changes in the institutions to be developed as Lead Centres if it becomes necessary.
In connexion with the establishment of a network of aquaculture centres in Asia, the attention of the meeting was drawn to the recommendations made by the IDRC Mission in its report to the TAC and the view expressed at the last TAC meeting in Nairobi that there is overlap of proposed activities and a need to coordinate and integrate the activities of various bodies engaged in aquaculture research and development in the region. Neither the IDRC Mission report nor the TAC meeting report were available to the meeting for study. Whether there is a real overlap of activities or not, could not be examined, but it was recognized that such an image prevails. It was suggested that efforts should be made to bring together the agencies involved for the purpose of harmonizing various new initiatives and on-going activities.
