AQUACULTURE COMPONENT ACTIVITIES: FINAL REPORT

1. INTRODUCTION.

Outputs and associated activities that are addressed through the LIBFISH Aquaculture (Aqua) component are shown in the table below according to the immediate objectives they serve, as indicated in the Project Document (ProDoc - UNDP 1990).

1. WORKPLAN, STAFF SUPPORT, AND FACILITIES

1.1 Original Workplan

The first Aqua component workplan was prepared in March 1992, when the Advisor was fulfilling the dual role of Project Manager (PM)/ Aquaculture Specialist. This plan laid emphasis on: rehabilitation of MBRC aquaria and aquaculture facilities (suggested work design including seawater supply); proposals for pilot hatchery and live and pelleted feed production units; investigation of local possibilities for manufacture/supply of aquaculture equipment; field trips related to site assessment and wild broodstock procurement; collaboration on early missions of Project GIS Advisor; and in-service training through practical work and lectures.

Progress was slow for a considerable time due to a number of reasons, as has been detailed in Project Perfomance Evaluation Reports (Reynolds and Dawid 1995; Dawid and Reynolds 1995). In particular, Project management duties demanded virtually full-time attention, and there was a long delay in the recruitment of the Sn. Aquaculture Advisor, who was supposed to assume the lead role in the organisation and implementation of Aqua component activities. The situation began to be resolved in March 1994, when the former PM/Aquaculture Specialist was reappointed as Sn. Aquaculture Advisor and a revised workplan was drafted.

1.2 Revised Workplan

The revised workplan sought to address the aims laid forth in the ProDoc insofar as possible given the new timing and budgetary realities that resulted from decisions taken in the Quadripartite Review held in November 1993, as reflected in Budget Revision ‘F’ of March/April 1994. The new plan was transmitted to the relevant FAO technical division for review and was further updated in July 1994 following a joint meeting in June 1994 between officials of the General Aquaculture Development Authority (GADA, in Khoms), MBRC, and Project LIBFISH.

According to the ProDoc, Aqua-related activities were planned for an execution period of 30 months. Due to time and budget limitations the Senior Aquaculture Advisor's term was defined as 12 months only (March 1994 to February 1995). Furthermore, the amount of consultant support originally allocated for technical backstopping of Aqua activities, 12 person/months, had to be drastically curtailed almost to nil.

As a result of the June 1994 technical consultation between Project and MBRC staff and GADA officials, steps were taken to consolidate links and significantly to strengthen counterpart participation. Under terms of the revised Aqua component workplan, activities were organised in terms of the following major areas:

• hatchery and farm management;
• live feed;
• pelleted feed;
• fish diseases;
• site selection and lagoon management; and

• aquarium management.

1.3 Availability of Counterpart Staff

Both the original and the revised workplans were based on the assumption, consistent with the Project's basic institution-building purpose, that activities would be executed by national staff working in collaboration with the FAO Advisor and, where possible, with the assistance of specialised consultants.

A list of 27 MBRC staff with university degrees is annexed to the LIBFISH ProDoc, and, based on stated areas of specialisation, a total of 8 individuals were originally appointed from this list to collaborate in Aqua component activities. As can be seen from the table below, the working group has been subject to considerable modification over the life of the Project. A number of the original MBRC-based counterpart personnel were replaced in mid-1994, when the revised workplan came into effect.

Although the group was nominally complete by mid-1994, it remained weak in some areas because of continued lack of effective participation by certain counterparts, particularly as regards those from GADA.

1.4 Equipment And Facilities

Certain basic equipment and facilities are fundamental requirements for the Aqua programme. At the MBRC, one room with 1000 liter-fiberglass tanks and the display aquaria and associated service facilities are available for Project activities. As noted in the following sections, these have been used for component activities insofar as practicable. However, their generally poor state of repair imposes inherent limits on what can be done.

The original ProDoc plan anticipated that MBRC aquaculture and related facilities would be rehabilitated and fully available to support component activities from the outset. Indeed, one area of Aqua component concern (Output 2,3) is to assist in the preparation of design for this work and in its supervision. In keeping with this responsibility a comprehensive design for seawater supply and general aquaria/aquaculture facility rehabilation work was prepared by the Advisor in February 1992. Additional design work out for experimental hatchery, live feed production, and pilot farm facilties was also completed during the first half of 1992.

The Advisor furthermore recommended the acquisition of various pieces of specialised equipment for the operation of the experimental and pilot facilities. These were duly ordered through UNESCO and received at Tajura in 1993. They include: automatic feeders and demand feeders; rotary blowers (for aeration of large tanks); 12 Volt-aerators (to be fitted on vehicles to transport live fish); and a hammer mill (for pilot feed production unit).

Although the MBRC administration has worked hard to make the necessary arrangements through various invitations for tenders and negotiations with prospective contractors since 1991, it was only in late 1994 that a contract was finalised. The actual scope of work that will be possible to carry out remains uncertain however, because provision of funding remains problematical.

2. ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

2.1 Site Potential Evaluation, Sector Capacity Assessment, and Pilot Technical Work¹

During the latter half of 1994 up through February 1995 (end of assignment for Sn. Aquaculture Advisor) the Aqua working group concentrated on the major activities listed below. Full references to the various technical and other documents produced by members of the group in reporting on these activities are provided in Annex 1.

1. Follow-up of proposals for the rehabilitation of the MBRC aquaculture facilities, including a new sea water pumping system and a pilot fish hatchery, a live feed production unit and rearing facilities (see TBNs 10 and 30, FD 8).

2. Reconnaissance of potential brine shrimp (Artemia) resources along the coastline and in southern desert salt lakes, development of proposals for integrated salt and brine shrimp production units, and backstopping for and participation in the MEDRAP II Artemia Workshop (TBNs 12 and 17).

3. Advisory reports on model small-scale fish farm installations (TBN 18).

4. Advice for hatchery design and for management of operations at Ain Kaam, and technical consultation for shrimp disease problem (see TBN 19).

5. Mass production of phyto- and zooplankton for use as feed in fish larvae and fry keeping trials (TBN 21 refers).

6. Assessment of national fish feed production capabilities and design for a pelleted feed production unit at MBRC (TBN 21 refers).

7. Site visits to Farwah Lagoon and along the coast southeast of Missurata, as further follow-up to site potential assessment work ongoing since early 1993. A technical report on site selection and development options has been prepared in draft. Proposals for lagoon management and for protection of the environment are also covered in this document (FD 9).

Despite the substantially improved status of Aqua component technical activity that emerged under the revised workplan, it nevertheless is the case that Aqua-related outputs have by a considerable margin not been fully attained.

2.1.1 Constraints on output delivery

In addition to the restrictions imposed by budget problems, a further factor that has contributed to the slow progress of Aqua activities has been delay in the rehabilitation of MBRC facilities and plant. Many aquaculture training activities depend on this rehabilitation work, and cannot be successfully executed in its absence.

Another factor that had a retarding influence on Project Aqua work was the lack of commitment on the part of some counterpart officers, who demonstrated very little enthusiasm or initiative in following up agreed-upon tasks.

A further weakness has been that collaboration between the Project and GADA in Khoms has not been fully effective, despite undertakings to develop close links for technical and training work. Project personnel did however attempt to provide technical backstopping for the GADA pilot station at Ain Kaam, on questions of hatchery facility improvement and fish farm management (TBN 19), and two GADA officers were included as participants in the hatchery training course organised in conjunction with the National Aquaculture Centre in Malta (Jan/Feb 1995).

More effective collaborative ties should also have been secured between Project personnel and the committee appointed by the SMW to draft a national aquaculture plan. Some contact did take place, however, and members of the SMW committee were provided, for their consideration, with the review of aquaculture development problems and prospects prepared by members of the LIBFISH team (FD 9).

2.1.2 Site evaluation and GIS activities

The Advisor has in the course of his mission visited most of the Libyan coastline with various national counterparts and recorded information concerning potential sites for aquaculture. Additional aquaculture site selection-related work was planned to be carried in conjunction with the establishment and operation of a Geographical Information System (GIS) capability at the MBRC. A good start was made towards the creation of a GIS capability through two brief missions by an international consultant in December 1992 and again in August–September 1993 (see TBN No. 3). Basic reference material and computer software was also acquired through the Project. However, lack of sufficient follow-up and sustained counterpart involvement led to a lapse in activity for some time. Attempts were made to rectify the situation beginning in September 1994, although it was clear by then that given constraints of time and personnel resources, the GIS activities would have to be scaled back to a more realistic level.

The GIS counterpart team was reconstituted in September 1994 with the appointment of two associates of the Bironi Remote Sensing Centre and one MBRC scientist (who also serves as a counterpart with the R/Assmt working group). This working group in collaboration with the Project Manager/Development Planner and the Aqua Advisor has since developed basic database tools for aquaculture site selection work. A conceptual model that shows how aquaculture sector elements could be incorporated into a wider GIS has also been worked out. This latter was the subject of a presentation on the GIS approach made at the MBRC aquaculture workshop in late November 1994 (see TBN 21). The prototype database for assembly and treatment of information already collected and available at the MBRC was also presented at the November workshop. A follow-up visit by the Project's GIS Advisor and the convening of a workshop on ‘GIS and Marine Fisheries Development’ in early January 1995 enabled an in-depth review of GIS status and prospects by the Project team (see TBN 24). The suggested programme for GIS-related work was further elaborated, including urgent tasks related to potential aquaculture site analysis to be completed within a proposed six-month Project extension period.²

2.2 Aquaculture Training³

2.2.1 In-service Training

Major in-service training focal points have been as follows:

1. Formal lectures by the FAO Advisor: further to the lectures given in September and October 1993 on general aquaculture matters, a new series of lectures was given in September and October 1994, mainly related to fish hatchery techniques.

2. Preparation and operation of display aquaria: the main purpose of this activity is to provide practical experience in basic hatchery techniques such as closed circuit systems, fry handling and feeding, and maintenance of tanks with live fish.

3. Use of the main aquarium service room to conduct technical trials and staff training in fry keeping.

4. Mass production of phyto- and zooplankton (live feed): several tanks have been used to produce live feed for fry. Techniques of production, concentration, distribution of plankton are executed by the MBRC team, which is quite active in this work. MBRC now has a permanent production of live feed which allows the new aquaculture team to grow most of the fish larvae / fry found in the region.

5. Trial catches of wild fry since September 1994 allow assessment of species occurrence and quantity with a view towards possible aquaculture applications.

6. Training in fry handling and rearing: wild fry collected from the local beach were kept in tanks and fed in order to train MBRC staff in fish nursery techniques (handling, maintenance of tanks, feeding, weighing fishes, etc.).

7. Training with Trachinotus sp.: samples of this species were caught along the MBRC beach and used for a demonstration fattening exercise. It should be pointed out that this species is produced in commercial fish farms in some countries and perhaps could also be farmed in Libya. Therefore, it is important to continue this type of activity, not only for training purposes, but also for possible further practical development.

8. RV NOUR missions to collect live fish: Two missions aboard the Project R/V were organised (16/05/94 & 15/12/1994) as practical training on live fish handling and transport, and to collect specimens for the MBRC display aquaria. Equipment was tested and improved from one cruise to the next. Red mullets (Mullus barbatus) caught during the second mission adapted well to the aquarium environment. As these fishes are extremely sensitive this constitutes evidence of proper handling by the Aqua working group.

9. Aquaculture training/technical consultation workshop at MBRC in late November 1994, arranged in collaboration with the Director, National Aquaculture Center (NAC), Malta, who participated as guest lecturer. Eight papers on Project Aqua component activities were also presented by members of the working group (TBN 21).

2.2.2 Study tours

The Project has sponsored three Aqua-related study tours for MBRC and SMW counterpart personnel.

1. In August–September 1993 two MBRC counterparts attended a five week Artemia and larviculture training course in Belgium (University of Ghent).

2. During September 1994 a study/familiarisation tour was organised for one MBRC officer to visit the Malta NAC in the context of following up contacts with other regional institutions to establish collaborative training links.

3. In January – February 1995 six MBRC and GADA officers attended under Project sponsorhip an intensive five-week course in hatchery techniques and operations. Subjects covered included practical and theoretical orientation to broodstock keeping, spawning and egg collection, hatching, fish larvae keeping, live feed production and use, and hygiene (see TBN 30).

3. CONCLUSIONS

3.1 Site Potential, Sector Capacity, and Pilot Technical Work

The Aqua component has suffered from inherent disadvantages largely because of Project budget problems, though other factors have acted as serious constraints as well. An abbreviated programme of work was devised in consultation with national officials to take into account the new budgetary realities that came into force in April 1994. This was implemented to the extent possible given the overall limiting circumstances of component working group composition and motivation and the physical facilities available for pilot work. Although notable progress has been realised over the last year (mid-1994 through early 1995), it is obvious that much follow-on work remains to be dealt with.

In terms of identification of potential aquafarming sites and production modalities, it has been observed that: i) there are extensive areas of shoreland which could be suitable for pond and raceway developments of both large- and small-scale; ii) rather limited opportunities exist for the development of inshore cage farms or for production enhancement within lagoons, wadi embayments, wetlands, or sabkha (saltmarsh) areas; and iii) recent technological developments, making it possible to farm in more exposed locations offshore, open new possibilities that deserve careful study and perhaps some trial exploration.

What aquaculture development needs first and foremost however is a context of comprehensive planning. More careful planning for the medium- to long-term is essential if the dangers are to be avoided of waste and frustrated effort that are inherent to piecemeal, haphazard, or ad hoc approaches - dangers brought on by use of production technologies ill-suited to local environments, uneconomic projects, and overcapitalisation (excessive capacity).

3.2 Training

Work executed under the Aqua component has provided a number of opportunities to familiarise national counterpart staff in aquaculture techniques. Much depends on the motivation and effort of the trainees themselves. When the Aqua group was reorganised in June 1994 a real improvement in the effectiveness of in-service training became apparent with the strong dedication shown by several of the new team members.

The value of study tours similarly depends to a large degree on the effort that is put in by participants. For instance, all those who took part in the NAC hatchery course reported that it was a very useful and worthwhile experience. But it has only been the MBRC participants who have tried to apply their experience upon return to normal duty (TBN 30 refers).

4. RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Planning for Sector Development

1. The need for current and anticipated projects to be set within the context of a comprehensive plan has been strongly emphasised (FD 9). For obvious reasons planning for aquacultural enterprise should basically be concerned with mariculture. Overall results from inland (freshwater) culture projects have not been very encouraging, and it is doubtful that much can ever be achieved given prevailing geo-climatic realities.

2. The sector plan should spell out the way strategies for aquaculture relate to overall national objectives on the one hand, and how these strategies are to be put into effect through specific policies and policy instruments on the other. A properly integrated set of strategy-policy-instrument components will ensure that the overall process of national aquaculture development does not unfold in an ad hoc or uncoordinated way, lacking in sufficient coherence, direction, care, and deliberation.

3. The question of heavy state support for existing aquaculture installations should problably be re-examined, as very substantial financial outlays are required to implement projects which may not have strong potential to generate proportional levels of earnings and/or other benefits.

4. Other key advisory points deriving from Project research and monitoring outputs bear on the needs for:

   • a thorough review and revision of legislation pertaining to aquaculture, which at the moment is not well elaborated;

   • development of fishfarming installations in the context of integrated planning for coastal zone management (ICZM); and

   • building institutional capacities within GADA, as a field service and extension agency, and MBRC, as a centre for academic and technical training, consultation, and research and development (R&D), in support of anticipated growth of smallholder and large-scale investment activity.

4.2 MBRC Facilities and Research/Development Programme

Contract arrangements for this rehabilitation have been finalised and the first stages are now in process. Full installation of pilot facilities at MBRC still pending is therefore proposed as an immediate focus of aquaculture component activities under any second Project phase. Complementary outputs should be related to the development and diversification of aquaculture enterprises at both the small-scale farmer and large-scale industrial operation level. The entire set of proposed outputs and associated activities may therefore be summarised as noted below.

1. MBRC experimental live feed, hatchery and tank facilities operational.

2. MBRC laboratories in environment, fish diseases and fish nutrition operational.

3. Establishment and operation at MBRC of small-scale aquaculture farm model/demonstration units to prove prototype designs and to serve the education needs of the wider public.

4. On these bases, establishment and operation at MBRC of technical backstopping and research/development capabilities to serve (i) the needs of GADA as an extension and service agency for the commercial aquaculture sector, and (ii) wider private aquaculture interests in general, including provision of technical advice and assistance to investors for the design and implementation of large-scale inland aquafarms and offshore cage farms.

4.3 Staff Training

An adequate pool of national expertise to support future sustained development of aquaculture is still lacking, and every effort should be made to strengthen the professional capabilities and performance of MBRC and GADA staff.

1. Those in the present establishment of scientific officers and technicians who are dedicated and hardworking need to be encouraged as much as possible.

2. In some cases it may be advisable to identify and recruit properly qualified individuals with high levels of professional motivation to serve as additional or replacement personnel.

3. Building on foundations established through Project work thus far, intensive in-service training in hatchery and pilot aquaculture facility operation should be strongly pursued.

4. In-service training should be complemented by provision of further study tour and short course opportunities for suitable counterpart officers.

5. REFERENCES CITED

Dawid, D.S. and Reynolds, J.E 1995 ‘Project Performance Evaluation Summary Update: March 1995.’ FD No. 8, Mar 1995 (En/Ar - Limited Distribution)

Reynolds, J.E and Dawid, D.S. 1995 ‘Project Performance Evaluation Reports (Nov. 1993; June, Sept. & Dec. 1994).’ FD No. 7, Feb. 1995 (En - Limited Distribution)

UNDP. 1990 ‘United Nations Development Programme Project of the Government of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: Project document.’ LIB/88/009. Technical Assistance in Fisheries Development.

¹ Output links: 1.6; 1.7; 2.3; 2.4; 2.5; 2.§. Other component links: Plan/Stat; F/Tech.

² The extension period eventually agreed upon with the SMW did not provide for further Aqua-related work. (Ed.)

³ Output links: 1.6; 2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.4; 2.5; 2.6. Other Component Links: Plan/Stat; R/Assmt; F/Tech.