In accordance with a request from the Government of Thailand for assistance in fish processing and particularly in applied research on this subject, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme (Technical Assistance Sector) appointed Mr. Peter Howgate as a Fish Handling and Processing Technologist. Mr. Howgate served in Thailand from 15 July 1970 to 2 January 1971 and was stationed at the Fisheries Technology Laboratory, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture in Bangkok. His terms of reference were: 1) To carry out a study of present processing practices, both traditional and industrial, and advise the Government on the nature of an applied research programme to improve the present methods. To work out and guide a research programme designed to improve the existing practices. 2) To outline fish quality control systems. 3) To initiate research on development of new products. 4) To train local staff.
Future work on the project will be continued by another fish technologist holding different terms of reference.
The fishing boats used in Thailand, their gear and catching methods are described in FAO Report TA 2890, 1970. The methods of fish processing are outlined in the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council Regional Study No. 4.
The sources of statistics used in this report are the Fisheries Record of Thailand, 1968, the latest published volume, for detailed information and the FAO Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics for a summary of the 1969 data.
The word ‘fish’ will be used to refer to all aquatic animals, vertebrate and invertebrate, and more specific terms will be used as needed.
FAO is greatly indebted to the Thailand Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries and to the many people who collaborated with the expert during his assignment and who offered their helpful advice and assistance, particularly Mr. Prida Karnusat, Director General of Fisheries, H.S.H. Prince Kosolsuriyathit Suriyong, Senior Fisheries Technologist, and Miss Bung-orn Kasemsarn, Chief of the Fisheries Technology Laboratory and her staff. In executing item four of his terms of reference the expert worked for some time with all the scientific staff of the laboratory and collaborated particularly with Mr. Arun Rattagool on the processing and quality control of frozen shrimp.
