Besides the establishment of the priorities for each sub-network, the participants put in evidence the importance of testing and consolidating, through the Project activity, the operative specific mechanisms, which will permit the continuation of the Regional cooperative action after the UNDP phase. Specific proposals, on the operational organization of the sub-networks, will be produced through the analysis of the review of aquaculture capabilities and needs, promoted by the Project in each of the participating countries. These proposals will be discussed during the sub-network meetings scheduled in September and November 1991(training and research sub-networks) and in October and December 1992 (production and extension sub-networks).
The duration suggested for the training courses envisaged in the Project Document was, in general, considered to be excessive. Three kind of courses were suggested:
highly specialized coursed, addressed to specialists not exceeding two weeks, because of the limited time normally available for specialized professionals;
highly practical coursed addressed to technicans at at basic level and covering longer periods (one month).
Occasional special on job trainings were also requested normally for technicians, on specific productive activities (e.g marine hatchery, cage culture, others.)
Special care was recommended in the selection of the trainees, to ensure a homogeneous participation to training activities and to optimize the feedback for the participating countries.
The participants in the meetings underlined that the Project training action should also include the publication, translation and dissemination of course material and lectures. The need of creating budget allocation for this matter was stressed.
Regional training priority subjects, to be considered within the sub-network, were determined by comparing and pooling the recommendations made by the different countries (see annexed tables)
The absence of information exchange among the research institutions in the Region is still obvious and the need of an intensive exchange of information and experience was put in evidence.
The main role of the Regional research sub-network will be, therefore, the promotion of the integration of research programmes and activities.
This integration could reach different levels of efficiency depending on the willingness to participate which also determines the resources to be allocated:
a minimum level is represented by the exchange of information on ongoing research topic programmes;
a second level of integration would include the organization of workshops and working groups on specific topics of common interest;
a third level would be the exchange of visits amongst researchers working on the same topic;
the organization of cooperative research programmes would finally represent the highest level of cooperation, with agreed research protocoles and distribution of tasks.
Contribution from the Project should be expected at the four levels of integration, but will be obviously addressed mainly towards the highest level of cooperation.
As in the training sub-network, Regional priority subjects were identified for research activities (see annexed tables)
An extension service “sensu stricto” is either unexisting or non operational in the majority of the participating and associated countries. Extension is, however, implemented in different ways, through public and private organizations, assisting the productive sector with different efficiency and cost levels. The involvement of these organizations and institutions in a specific extension sub-network seems difficult.
The Project action should aim at:
the identification of major problems / constraints affecting the development of aquaculture productive sector;
the selection and evaluation of the most effective means for transfer of knowledge and technical assistance;
the design of extension strategies applicable to the various countries and production organization farms;
the support of extension written material collation / preparation and diffusion.
the promotion of seminars and the organization of fairs.
The information sub-network was through to be the functional basis for all the other sub-networks. It will act as an essential instrument for their respective activities, recieving, simultaneously, positive feedback information from their actions.
The immediate objective to be realized will be an informatized linkage between the Project Regional Centre and the Sub-regional Centres, which will represent the central framework of the Regional Information System.
Countries, at the national level, could join the sub-network data base at progressive stages, depending on their interest and present level of development in the informatization of the sector. The sub-network is therefore conceived to build upon data basis existing both in countries and in agencies like FAO, by providing the required interfaces and ‘software’.
The essential present activity will be the design and cost evaluation of the system, as it is not budgeted in the Project Document, by evaluating the existing capability of the Regional Project Centre and the sub-regional centres. In a second stage, the analysis of the countries interested in accessing the System, will be initiated.
This sub-network occupies a leading position in the Project organization and benefits from the activities of the four other sub-networks. The feedback information deriving from it, will serve as a constant monitoring mechanism and guide for the Project action as a whole.
Particular reference will be made to this sub-network in assuring the involvement of private sector, through giving concrete answers to its needs. In this context the Project activity should be oriented towards areas like:
diversificaton of aquaculture rearing techniques and of aquaculture production (new species suitable for Mediterranean aquaculture development);
financial and technical evaluation of aquaculture projects and productive cost mastery;
market survey and promotion (national market as well as export);
disease prevention and control (material, guides, lab, tests);
support to the establishment of appropriate legal and financial (credit) regulations.
These actions will promote production by supporting technically both the private operators and the development of social oriented productive programmes.
Public sector staff, not directly linked with aquaculture technical aspects, will feel involved in activities concerned with the sector development planning, legal and administrative aspects, compilation and diffusion of existing protocoles affecting the industrial production.
