PART II

TECAM WORKING GROUP MEETING REPORT

Mr. lgnacio Arnal presented the agenda which was slightly rearranged and adopted.

Mr. A. M. Nour, in the absence of Mr. Gomes (Portugal), facal point on nutrition, presented the report on relevant proposed activities for 1995 and onwards programme which were elaborated in the experts meeting held in Malta, Feb.1994. After discussing and reviewing, the document was adopted with minor modification.

Concerning the venue of the training course (1995), titled "Advanced level regional training course on aquaculture nutrition and feed technology (Finifish and crustaceans), Mr. Nour informed the meeting that Alexandria University accepted to organize this training course and FAO Near East Regional Office accepted to provide technical and financial support.

Mr. Belkhir, in the absence of the focal point on pathology (Mr.C. Agius - Malta), introduced the relevant proposed activities elaborated by the experts meeting held in Malta, Feb. 1994. After discussion, all activities were adopted and appended.

Mr.G. Georgiou (Cyprus), the focal point on Diversification of Aquaculture Production, presented the relevant activities proposed for 1995 and onwards programme which were elaborated in the experts meeting held in Cyprus, April 1994.

After discussing and reviewing the activities, the document was adopted with slight modification.

Mr. A. M. Nour, in the absence of the focal point on Fresh Water Culture (Mr. Mueen - Syria), presented the relevant activities proposed for 1995 and onwards programme, which were elaborated in the Seminar held in Syria, May 1994.

The content was, generally, adopted with the exception of the following activities that were reported for onwards:

1. Advanced Training Course on Fish Farm Management, including Fish Health Management and Aquaculture Engineering (1996).

2. Advanced Training Course on Aquatic Ecosystem Management, including Fisheries in national waters (reservoirs, ponds, lakes, rivers,etc.) (1997).

In addition, the Advanced Training Course on the Reproduction of Warm Fish : Cyprinids, Sturgeons, and Catfishes (1995), was changed to cover only the sturgeons (reproduction and growth).

Also, some amendments were brought to the collaborative research activity, titled : “Ecological Studies on natural freshwaters in order to improve fisheries and aquaculture production” (1995–97); the new proposed activity is : "Artificial water bodies management". The objective is ton develop management methods and techniques in order to utilise efficiently artificial fresh water bodies of multiple uses (drinking, irrigation, finfish production, etc…).

Conclusions and Recommendations of the TECAM working group meeting

The TECAM Working Group Meeting recommended the following :

1. The establishment of data banks for each of the four activities of the TECAM Network is a very high priority for the development of the sector and that should be undertaken through SIPAM.

2. The publication of a newsletter in order to exchange information between all network members. This could be integrated in the SIPAM Newsletter.

3. The implementation of E. Mail among network members is highly recommended in order to facilitate quick exchange of information.

4. The initiation of action to implement the collaborative research which costitute common interest.

   1995 should be the starting year and focal points are asked towards this implementation, to identify specific requirements (specialised institutions and skills that are concerned by the Collaborative Research programme).

   There is a need to point out that each focal point should act in close cooperation with TECAM Coordinator.

   CIHEAM, as a Coordinating institution, should seek external funding for cooperative research programme.

5. The involvement of young scientists and post-graduate students in the activities of TECAM and especially in the collaborative research ones.

6. The initiation of actions to realise the relevant activities hereunder proposed at two levels of priority :

6.1. High level of priority

- Pathology:
"General Desease Interpretation and Control Short Course"

The objective would be to produce personnel capable of training people within their country at field level.

The venue will be identified with Malta focal point on Pathology in concertation with TECAM coordinating institution, between Spain, Greece, Italy or France according to their interest and availability.

Tentative costs : 25.000–30.000 USD to cover partly the participants' fees and organisation. Interested member should cover their delegates' fees.

- Freshwater Culture :
“Advanced Training Course on Recent Advances in Tilapia Culture”.

The objective is to national expertise by training trainers.

The venue is foreseen in Egypt for a duration of 2 weeks during April 1995. Alexandria University accepted to organise the activity and to investigate funds covering total or partial implementation (Mr. A. Nour's saying).

Tentative costs : are foreseen 30.000 to 40.000 USD to cover partly or totally participants' fees and organisation. Interested members will be charged their delegates participation fees.

- Diversification of Aquaculture Production:
“Workshop on Marine Finish Diversification in Aquaculture".

The objective is to review the status of knowledge on the culture of new marine finfish species.

The foreseen date is June 1995 and the venue will be identified, in concertation with TECAM coordinator by the Cyprus focal point on diversification between Greece, Spain, Italy or any TECAM member active in this field. The duration will concern 3 days.

Tentative costs : are evaluated to 30.000 USD to cover partly or totally some participants' fees and organisation. Interested member will be charged their respective delegates' participation fees.

- Nutrition:

“Advanced Level Regional Training Course on Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed Technology : Finfish and Crustaceans”.

The objective is to strengthen national expertise by training trainers.

The venue is Egypt and date is foreseen on October 1995 for a period of 2 weeks.

Tentative costs : estimated from 40.000 to 50.000 USD covering totally or partially some participants organisation fees (travel and DSA). Alexandria University accepted to organise this training course and FAO representative of the Near East region accepted to support substantially in its implementation (travel and DSA of lecturers and some participants), (Mr. A. Nour's saying).

- Nutrition :

“Working Group meeting on Methodolgical approaches to fish nutrient research, including quality control criteria for fish feeds”.

The objective is to develop a standard methodology for conducting fish nutrition and feed technology related research activities.

Tentative costs : are estimated to 20.000–25.000 USD to cover experts' particular fees (travel and DSA) and also publication of the results. The proposed date is on November 1995 and period will cover 3 days.

The venue will be identified by the Portugal focal point on nutrition in concertation with the TECAM network coordinating institution.

6.2 Second level of priority

- Pathology:
"Short Course on Diagnostic Bacteriological Techniques"
Tentative costs : 25.000–30.000 USD

- Diversification:
“Advanced Training Course: Injob Training in the Management and Operation of Offshore Cages"
Tentative costs : to be covered by participants belonging to private sector.

- Freshwater Culture :
“Working Groups on Methodological Approaches and Guidelines of Freshwater Fish Culture Management“.
Tentative costs : 20.000–25.000 USD

6.3 1996 and Onwards Priorities

- Diversification:

• “Advanced Training Course on Techniques of Fry Production of New Marine Finfish”.
  Tentative costs : 20.000 USD

• “Workshop on Management of Aquaculture Systems:
  1. Offshore cages

  2. Land-based systems such as onshore installations and marshlands

Tentative costs: 30.000 USD

- Freshwater Culture :
“Advanced Training on Reproduction and Culture of Sturgeons"
Tentative costs :35.000–40.000 USD

7. Concerning the consultants' report on Reference Centres on Pathology further investigation should be made by the focal point in close cooperation with TECAM Coordinator to identify existing centres as in France, Italy, U.K., U.S.A…which can help the purpose.

PART II : Annex 1
TECAM Proposals of Activity for 1995 and onwards

The Working Group Meeting held on June 94 in Saragossa - Spain, proposed the following activities for TECAM network programme :

I • NUTRITION

The objective of this research activity would be to develop simple and inexpensive live and dry food-based hatchery feeding strategies for the mass production of selected marine finfish species using locally available agricultural resources. Particular emphasis will be place on trying to simplify existing hatchery feeding methods and reducing fry production costs through improved live and artificial feeds management techniques. The feeding trials should be conducted in parallel within the participating institutions and carried out under similar on-farm conditions within existing marine fish hatcheries.

C- Other Related Activities

It was unanimously agreed that the establishment of an aquaculture nutrition and feeding database was a very high priority for the development of the sector and that this activity should be undertaken in collaboration with SIPAM. In this respect it was strongly felt that the nutrition focal point should be consulted for the development of the nutritional database.

D- Suggested Long-Term Activities

These activities are cited hereunder for consideration according to existing and available resources.

1. Regional Aquaculture Symposium for Mediterranean Countries (in which the nutrition focal point could present results and experiences). It was proposed that these activities could be combined or integrated in Bordeaux or Verona Aquaculture Exhibitions.

2. The possibility of conducting nutritional research on alternative finfishes and crustaceans.

3. Workshop on larval feeding techniques for marine finfish.

4. Development of improved processing techniques for the production of local fish meals and available agricultural by-products.

5. Aquaculture feeding profiles for marine finfish farms.

6. Specific training programmes on feeding techniques and technology such as compound feed manufacture, quality control, nutritional fish pathology, unconventional feed sources, etc…

II • PATHOLOGY

III • DIVERSIFICATION

The level of development and interest in the eventual application of the technology differs considerably between the various countries. However, in general terms the species identified in the Malta workshop continue to carry high priority whilst some new species seem to also have come to the fore in the interim period. These principally include:

The Zaragoza Working group meeting of experts agreed to recommend the Following:

One way to progress that was identified would be to ask each species research group as suggested in proposal B.1 to write the relevant section on the appropriate species and then for the focal point to put them together for distribution.

IV • FRESH WATER CULTURE

The prioritised activities presented hereunder were recommended by the Zaragoza working group meeting: