Preliminary assessments in crop and fishery sector for the preparation of an FAO component to the Flash Appeal are completed. More detailed technical surveys in Aceh and on Nias Island are underway. On February 5, FAO sponsored a meeting in Medan of the working group on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. More than 70 delegates from ministries, international agencies and NGOs participated. The meeting was followed by a two-day workshop to prepare strategies and detailed recovery plans for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Further workshops are planned in Aceh. A master fisherman and a fisheries advisor are assisting the Government with relief programmes. Two master fishermen, one fisheries advisor, one boat buillder, one aquaculture expert, and one harbour expert have been fielded. One ice/plant cold room specialist has been fielded. Two emergency coordinators and one agronomist have been fielded .An emergency coordination office is being established in Aceh.

Planned activities include emergency provision of seeds and tools; the repair of infrastructure needed for agricultural production; formulation, within an integrated land and coastal ecosystem management plan, of a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of affected forests and mangroves; replacement and repair of fishing material; repair of water fish ponds and technical assistance to the Indonesian authorities to facilitate the provision of agricultural/fishery extension services to 60 000 disaster affected households.