Discussions of the national policies and priorities, together with the draft national plans for aquaculture development prepared by participants in the Workshop, highlighted the need for regional cooperation and efficient utilization of external assistance. In fact, such cooperation and mutual assistance were recognized to be primary requirements to start a full-scale production programme as it has to be based on the technology developed and experience gained in two or three of the countries of the region. Cooperation between adjacent countries like Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon and Cameroon, through the FAO/UNDP Regional Fish Culture Research and Training Project has resulted in the revival and intensification of aquaculture in these countries,
The usefulness of exchange of personnel between countries in the region and the holding of periodic seminars or workshops of aquaculturists for the exchange of information and experience, was emphasized by many participants. It was suggested that fellowship training financed by bilateral and multilateral agencies, should as far as possible be in countries of the region or in developing countries with similar ecological, social and economic conditions so that the knowledge and experience gained by the trainees will be directly applicable in their own countries. The possibility of organizing study tours for senior personnel to acquaint themselves with developments in countries of the region also needs to be considered.
Research and training of core personnel were identified to be the two major fields in which regional or inter-regional cooperation is urgently required for the implementation of the national development plans. Taking into account the costs involved in developing adequate research and training facilities and the difficulties in obtaining the services of well qualified scientific and training staff, there appears to be no alternative to the establishment of regional centres for this purpose. For the sake of economy and efficiency, research and training activities could be combined in one institution. The training wing of the institution will, however, need to have two sections; one for the training of candidates from English-speaking countries and the other from French-speaking countries. The Workshop recognized the difficulties associated with the establishment of a regional centre, but felt that these are not insurmountable. It would be preferable to develop one of the existing national aquaculture centres into a regional centre rather than establish a new one. Such a regional centre should be closely linked to a network of national centres which will undertake adaptive research and investigations on problems of a local nature and also undertake the training of extension and other field personnel required for the implementation of national development plans. The regional centre can be the main source of research and training staff for the national centres. It will undertake studies of a long-term nature that involve multi-disciplinary efforts and develop suitable technologies for testing and adaptation in national centres. It could provide in-service training facilities for research personnel, besides training aquaculturists for production programmes.
The establishment of a Regional Centre for Aquaculture in Africa, involving the selection of a suitable site, negotiations with the host government, identification of funding, building up facilities and equipping the Centre, etc., is likely to take two to three years. In view of the urgent need for training personnel it is essential to start some interim training arrangements as soon as possible. The Workshop recommended that UNDP should support the organization of at least one crash course of 8 to 12 weeks duration per year in an existing centre in the region in order to create a nucleus of trained staff in each of the countries, This should be organized by the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme in cooperation with the regional aquaculture staff in the FAO Regional Offices in Accra and Cairo.
Another area in which there is need for close cooperation between countries of the region is in regulating the introduction and transplantation of non-indigenous species, the spread of communicable fish diseases and the prevention of aquatic pollution. Although these problems are not so acute at present, the situation may change with rapid expansion of aqua-culture in the various countries. Regional fishery bodies like the Committee on Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) could be suitable media through which cooperative efforts can be launched.
The Workshop reviewed in some detail the multilateral and bilateral assistance at present received by some of the countries in the region. The discussions indicated clearly that the main sources of assistance for aquaculture development will have to be the UNDP, World Bank and Regional Banks. UNDP has accepted aquaculture as a priority area for assistance and it is expected that the global Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme will assist in obtaining external aid from different sources. National governments have to ensure that projects for UNDP assistance are accommodated with the Indicative Planning Figure (IPF) for the country. As country programming for the period 1977-81 would start very shortly, the Fishery Departments have to take early action for the formulation of suitable projects.
The draft plans prepared during the Workshop will provide the basis for such projects and clear definition of background, targets, activities and requirements. The ADCP should take early action to formulate regional or global sub-projects for the establishment of a regional centre and the holding of interim training courses. The Workshop repeatedly emphasized the need for assistance of an inter-disciplinary team for feasibility studies to facilitate negotiations for financing from banking sources and suggested that ADCP should provide such assistance at short notice. The assistance of other inter-regional projects in the region, such as the Indian Ocean Programme and the project for the Development of Fisheries in the Eastern Central Atlantic should also be sought when possible. Efforts should be made to attract more bilateral assistance in the field of aquaculture and appropriate coordination of programmes and assistance from various sources should be ensured through ADCP.
The problems of the Least Developed Countries (LDC's) in the African region, with particular reference to aquaculture development, require special consideration and the Workshop suggested that these should receive early attention. An early review of these and consultation with government representatives have to be initiated with a view to formulating specific development plans for such countries.
