2.3 FISH IMPORTATIONS AND FISH RELEASES
2.7 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND POLICY ISSUES
2.8 INLAND FISHERIES AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES
According to the most recent figures (1990), Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 4 100 000. Domestic fin-fish production is approximately 13 500 tons for the inland fishery and 7 000 tons for the coastal fishery (most of which is consumed domestically), giving a per caput fresh fish supply of approximately 5 kg per person per year. This is well below the norm, especially for a country with limited production of animal protein from other sources. Total fish consumption is higher, however, when the large amounts of imported fish are included. The most recent figures for imports (1990) are about 25 000 tons.
Papua New Guinea's current population growth is 2.3%. Domestic fish supply, therefore, needs to be increased by about 500 tons per year simply to maintain per caput fish consumption at current levels. In order to maintain current imports at the same level, domestic supply needs to increase by about 1 100 tons per annum. If a policy were introduced to reduce imports substantially, domestic supply would need to increase by about 2 200 tons per annum.
Most attention to fisheries development in Papua New Guinea has been aimed at the marine and coastal sector, which has significant fishery resources. However, over 84% of the population of Papua New Guinea lives inland and has no direct access to marine resources. It does, however, have direct access to fresh waters (rivers, swamps or lakes). Papua New Guinea's location, geology and climate, with its exceptionally high rainfall, have produced extremely impressive fresh waters, including two of the world's largest river systems based on annual discharge (the Sepik-Ramu and Fly), extensive areas of swamps, flooded forest and over 5 000 natural lakes. The significance of these fresh waters as aquatic resources far exceeds that of Papua New Guinea's marine environment. Apart from providing drinking water and washing facilities for the entire population, and the primary means of transportation in many areas, the main practical benefit of fresh waters in Papua New Guinea is the fisheries they support. Considerable attention is currently focused on the management and conservation of marine resources in Papua New Guinea. Its fresh waters, however, which are not only unique but also more vulnerable to development processes in the country, are relatively neglected.
Any developments of the country's inland fisheries must be based on good and sustainable fish stocks. However, freshwater fish stocks in Papua New Guinea are generally poor in terms of both number of species and the amount that can be caught in a sustainable fashion. The fishes naturally found in freshwater in Papua New Guinea are mostly marine species that have entered freshwater from the sea and are unable to exploit its full potential.
Despite these factors, Papua New Guinea's freshwater fish stocks still sustain an annual catch of approximately 13 500 tons, exceeding the estimated 9 000 tons (including lobster, prawns, shells and b�che-de-mer, but excluding tuna) landed by Papua New Guinea's marine fishery. Although inland catches exceed coastal catches, it should be noted that the freshwater catch is taken by approximately 84% of the population compared to only 16% for the marine sector. On a per caput basis, inland catches are very low and in some areas, particularly in many highlands regions, catches per caput are negligible. A further consideration is that approximately half of the current freshwater catch is derived from non-native species of fish brought to Papua New Guinea and released into rivers and lakes where they have established (e.g., tilapia and carp). Furthermore, inland fish stocks in the north of the main island of the country are even poorer than those in the south. Many types of fish (e.g., barramundi, Lates calcarifer), naturally present in southern rivers, are absent from northern rivers. Consequently, fish production is even lower in the north than in the rest of the country
It has been shown that, simply by improving the fish stocks, catches will automatically increase at a faster rate than population growth. However, without managing fish stocks, the existing resources are unlikely to support an increased fishing effort and per caput supply of fish will decline as population numbers increase. Since fishing effort increases with population growth, many stocks are likely to crash without appropriate management interventions.
The Government of Papua New Guinea realized the constraints to, and potential for, inland fisheries development in the early 1980s and, in particular, the problems of low yields from the Sepik River in the north. It was seen that yields could be considerably improved by releasing new types of fish into the river. Between 1987 and 1993, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/FAO Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project, Papua New Guinea (SRFSEP), addressed the feasibility of introducing further species of fish into the Sepik and Ramu River basin to boost the fishery. The project also studied the environmental aspects of fish introductions and made a thorough analysis of the potential socio-economic benefits. A list of recommended species of fish was produced. Due to the limited duration of the project, however, only one species (Tilapia rendalli) was introduced. The Fisheries Improvement by Stocking at High Altitudes for Inland Development (FISHAID) project took over the stock enhancement recommendations arising from these previous initiatives. It gave priority to the enhancement of fish stocks at higher altitudes, those areas in the river basin above lowland flood plains. The regions include the highlands of Papua New Guinea that drain into the Sepik or Ramu Rivers and the higher land regions of other provinces in the basin. These were priority areas for two reasons: natural fish stocks were at their lowest and population density was extremely high. The Sepik-Ramu River system, for example, has the largest catchment in Papua New Guinea, of approximately 100 000 km�, and supports a substantial population of about 1 million people (1990).
It is clear that significant benefits can be achieved by introducing further species of fish to improve the resource upon which the fishery is based. The chief task of the FISHAID project was therefore to import and quarantine approved species of fish and to release them at suitable locations in the Sepik-Ramu basin in order to improve the naturally poor fish stocks in that region. In addition, the FISHAID project was to introduce fish into lowland areas in order to finish off earlier stock enhancement initiatives and to introduce fish that would not only be productive in the lowlands but also migrate into higher areas.
Project PNG/93/007 "Fisheries Improvement by Stocking at High Altitudes for Inland Development" commenced in March 1993 and had a scheduled duration of three years. The Project Document was signed by the Government of Papua New Guinea on 3 March 1993 and by FAO and UNDP on 11 March 1993. The project had a budget of $US 671 480 under a 100% cost-sharing arrangement. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR) was designated as the government implementing agency and FAO as the executing agency.
The main development objectives were to develop renewable fisheries resources within the limits of long-term sustainable yields; to invest public sector resources in economically viable smallholder fishery activities, leading to increased exports and decreased imports, expanding local food supplies and giving smallholders increased access to the cash economy; to invest in improvements to national extension, planning, training, research and monitoring in order to improve the technical support offered to provincial divisions in the execution of fisheries projects; and to give priority to improve subsistence food production and nutrition programmes as part of the national strategy to improve rural welfare and self-reliance.
The immediate objectives of the project were to establish fish species in rivers and lakes in the target area, to establish long-term monitoring requirements, to formulate long-term management plans for the area in conjunction with counterpart staff and to train Papua New Guinea national counterparts in order to promote sustainability and self-reliance in the relevant technical areas.
The project's main office, warm-water hatchery and quarantine facility were established at Madang in the grounds of the Christensen Research Institute. A second office and hatchery/quarantine facility able to deal with cold-water species was established at the Papua New Guinea Electricity Commission at Yonki, near the newly created Yonki Reservoir. Both these facilities were built and operational on schedule.
The project helped the DFMR establish two efficient quarantine stations, both in locations remote from natural waterways and operating with re-circulation/closed tank systems, and assisted the DFMR with all necessary quarantine measures. All fish imported for the FISHAID project were placed in quarantine after arrival in Papua New Guinea and tested for the presence of pathogens and parasites prior to release. Screening included examinations both within Papua New Guinea and at independent fish health laboratories overseas (Malaysia and the USA). All fish were also tested for their disease status prior to export. In addition, the vast majority of fish was imported at either the fertilized egg stage or the larval stage after disinfection overseas, reducing the risks involved. No large juveniles or adult fish were imported, except for examples of Tilapia rendalli from a certified disease-free establishment in the United Kingdom. The system developed was both efficient and cost-effective and demonstrated that a low-cost fish quarantine system could be implemented with extremely limited facilities.
According to the Project Document ten species of fish were to be imported, or moved within Papua New Guinea, to the project area and released as part of the stock enhancement programme. All species stocked and introduced by the DFMR were subject before importation to rigorous evaluations according to an internationally recognized code of practice, and each species was again evaluated by Papua New Guinea's internal review mechanisms. These included consultations with the Department of Environment and Conservation, from whom an import permit was required, and obtained, for every shipment.
Considering the enormity of the tasks expected in the Project Document the fish importation, quarantine and stock enhancement activities of the project were successfully undertaken, clearly demonstrating that fish could be imported, quarantined and released with the limited facilities and manpower available in Papua New Guinea.
Monitoring by the project was limited to obtaining base-line data on the fish fauna and fishery prior to introductions and collecting feedback on the success of the fish introductions.
The long-term monitoring programme was based on data regarding the situation prior to stock enhancement and the release of new fishes. The project documented the salient features of the socio-economic conditions in the area, including fishing activities and fish stocks prior to introductions. Representative data for the entire region, based on environment classifications, were obtained and more detailed data were collected for several localities which would form the logical sites for future impact assessments.
Only a limited amount of feedback was collected since most species had not yet had time to grow, breed, establish and spread. Of the two that had sufficient time (Tilapia rendalli and Puntius gonionotus), both are known to have established and to be contributing to an improved fishery. The status of most of the other species is unlikely to become apparent until 1999 at the earliest, and probably not until later. However, although these fish have yet to reproduce, feedback has been obtained on their survival after release and on the opinions of local communities of them. This feedback, usually obtained in areas where fish released directly by the project had already been caught, has always been positive. The growth rates reported rival, and may exceed, those in their native range.
The question of whether these improved stocks would be exploited by local communities was often raised. The project's belief that when new stocks appeared they would be quickly exploited has been consistently upheld in practice. The case of Yonki Reservoir is exemplary. Before it was stocked with fish, fishing was a relatively insignificant activity. Within six months, the fishery was already well organized and after one year fishing craft were already operating. Within three years, two fish markets had been opened in the locality, the first in the highlands. This occurred without any extension inputs from the project or any other source.
Follow-on activities must include further monitoring to assess the success of these fish species, and in particular their impacts upon the fishery. This can be achieved by using base-line information provided in project reports. Further monitoring is required for the following purposes: to quantify the benefits of the stock enhancement programme and, hence, to influence future management decisions; to determine the degree of spread of released fishes; to determine which species have established and have had the desired impact upon the fishery; and to determine future management requirements for the fishery.
The project was severely constrained by a lack of counterpart involvement, which fell far short of that scheduled in the Project Document. The few staff involved in the project received mainly on-the-job training in both fisheries management and hatchery techniques and general aquaculture. Fellowships and overseas training opportunities attended by counterpart staff are listed in Appendix 3.
Future management plans for the fishery must be based on a properly funded, organized and staffed programme for the management and development of inland waters. This should include a significant training element, with attention to technical details of the fishery as outlined by this project and the reports it has produced.
At the request of UNDP, the project was subject to an independent evaluation in November 1996. A detailed report of the evaluation was presented. The review endorsed the view of the project management that the objectives and activities of the project were highly relevant to the development goals in question. The team concluded that not only was the theory that the fishery could be significantly improved through fish introductions correct, but, more importantly, that this was becoming a reality.
The evaluation mission recommended the creation of an Inland Fisheries Task Force that would be responsible, in the immediate period after March 1997, for assessing the feasibility of a management mechanism for inland fisheries. This would be established under the National Fisheries Authority, under provincial government control, or as a non-
governmental unit.
The report also recommended that the impact of the FISHAID project in developing inland fisheries in its target area, the benefits to fishers and consumers, and the implications when these results are extrapolated countrywide, be fully assessed in order to quantify the immediate and potential returns on the investments made in the project.
Finally, it recommended that the results of the FISHAID project be thoroughly assessed and used to evaluate options for further stock enhancement of Papua New Guinea river basins. The introductions of new species and transfers of introduced species to basins other than those for which their introduction was originally planned and approved should be carried out according to the International Codes of Practice used by the FISHAID project.
Papua New Guinea's aquaculture programme is highly relevant to the FISHAID project. Not only are the activities of stock procurement, transportation, quarantine, fish rearing and breeding clearly "aquaculture", the actual objective of improving capture fisheries in open waters through stock enhancement is regarded by many as aquaculture in itself.
However, in Papua New Guinea, "aquaculture" is popularly understood to mean "growing fish in small ponds" and the largest physical constraint to the FISHAID project was the lack of aquaculture facilities in the country. The project therefore had to establish and operate its own quarantine, hatchery and rearing facilities. Those that were established functioned well but were modest in size. This limited the amount of fish that could be reared for release.
The FISHAID project occurred at a time when the Government's own national aquaculture centre, based at Aiyura (Eastern Highlands Province), benefited from significant financial, staff and training inputs for upgrading and improvement of the facility. As early as 1990, the SRFSEP project had recommended that the production of fish seed for stock enhancement purposes be based at Aiyura, with priority given to the care and breeding of FISHAID fish, in the short term. The logic behind this was simple: the stock enhancement programme had a limited duration; the technical inputs into the FISHAID project could be used to benefit the Aiyura programme; rearing broodstock at Aiyura to begin domestic breeding and fingerling production would be cheaper than continually importing stock; and the benefits of stock enhancement were clearly far in excess of the existing village pond programme. For this purpose, fingerlings of all suitable fish species imported under the FISHAID project were placed at Aiyura to be reared into broodstock for eventual further releases to be undertaken (excepting those species which would not tolerate the colder water temperatures there).
However, despite executive support for the recommendation, no fishes originating from those imported were deliberately stocked into open waters from Aiyura. The centre continued to produce almost exclusively fingerlings of common carp for village ponds in rural areas, as it had done since 1970.
The arguments for releasing fish into open waters (stock enhancement) versus pond culture are clear. The previously introduced tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), now widely distributed throughout Papua New Guinea, account for an annual yield in excess of 4 000 tons from the lower Sepik River alone, while previously introduced common carp is estimated to support a capture fishery throughout Papua New Guinea yielding 1 300 tons per annum merely from the highlands areas of the Sepik-Ramu basin. Once established, these stocks require minimal management in contrast to the daily maintenance required of ponds. By comparison, aquaculture production in Papua New Guinea is optimistically estimated at no more than 10 tons per annum after over 40 years of development effort.
Despite this, at the close of the FISHAID project, Papua New Guinea's policy was to continue to support "aquaculture" in preference to inland capture fisheries. This included abandoning fish stocks imported for stock enhancement in favour of ongoing pond culture activities.
The single most important problem facing the sector is the inconsistency between the current importance, and potential, of inland capture fisheries and the attention given to the sector by both national and provincial governments in Papua New Guinea. Throughout its life the FISHAID project operated without support, even though it should have been part of a much broader programme for the management and development of inland fisheries. For this reason, the end of the FISHAID project also signalled the end of Papua New Guinea's inland fisheries programme. There is currently no provision for the development of capacity for inland fisheries management. The newly-established National Fisheries Authority (NFA), which replaced the DFMR, has allocated only one position to deal with inland fisheries, a sector already producing 13 500 tons per annum and involving at least 1.5 million fishers. The current policy of the NFA, however, is to concentrate on "revenue-generating" fisheries (i.e., industrial marine fisheries). As a result, inland fisheries management will be left in the hands of provincial government. There are serious drawbacks to this policy. None of the provinces has the capacity to manage and develop inland fisheries and, even if such a capacity existed, the NFA is unable to provide the required management and development guidelines and technical support.
A further anomaly in fisheries planning in Papua New Guinea is the inadequate attention given to food security issues and the need to reduce dependency on imports. The potential role that fisheries might play in food security appears to have been largely overlooked, even though low-cost fish is a major import item and a staple food for both the urban and rural poor. The fact that a reduction in import bills is at least equivalent to a boost in exports is not reflected in current fisheries policies.
In relation to both food security and import replacement, the inland fishery in Papua New Guinea is undoubtedly the best placed to meet the existing challenges. The inland fishery has significant strategic advantages within the sector, since it possesses a substantial resource base and involves a far higher proportion of people than the marine sector. These people not only exploit the resource but consume the produce, without having to transport it over large distances. The concept of "local fresh fish supply to meet local demand" is widely acknowledged as a rational policy in Papua New Guinea. When related to population distribution, it means that the bulk of the population must be supplied by the inland fishery. However, it would be incorrect to regard inland fisheries solely in terms of food security and small-scale "subsistence" activities. Inland Papua New Guinea contains numerous highly efficient and commercially-motivated small-scale fishing enterprises, many of which already supply fish over large distances.
In response to the need to develop improved capacity within Papua New Guinea for the management and development of inland fisheries a detailed proposal was prepared by the project in conjunction with counterparts from the NFA. The proposal emphasized strengthening the capacities of provincial governments to manage and develop inland fisheries, whilst de-emphasizing the role of the NFA. It also suggested the creation of an institute for the management and development of inland aquatic resources. Such an institute could be established in a low-cost fashion, be staffed with a minimal number of core staff and gain most of its manpower through liaisons with provinces. It would coordinate management and development across provinces and act as a powerhouse of technical expertise in the areas in question.
Such an institute would also be able to arrange technical assistance and other funding for the sector in its own right. The chances of attracting significant funding for a fully-
fledged programme are considered very high. Apart from research, the establishment would have much broader management and development functions.
The proposal also highlighted the need to sustain freshwater environments in the face of rapid population growth, development pressures and associated habitat degradation and pointed out that, while considerable attention and investment are given to the conservation and management of Papua New Guinea's marine environments, the nation's freshwater environments are in fact both more important for sustaining the lives of the bulk of the population and under more immediate threat.
It is hoped that the Government of Papua New Guinea will review these draft proposals and take appropriate action.
A prerequisite for follow-on stock enhancement activities is the existence in Papua New Guinea of an appropriate programme for the management and development of inland fisheries. The following requirements should then be met.
Fish should continue to be released until viable populations of the species in the wild are confirmed. Further stocking can be based mainly on the low-cost domestic production of fingerlings from broodstock left by the project for this purpose.
The impact of the fish stock enhancement undertaken by the project in the Sepik-Ramu basin should be monitored in order to quantify the degree to which the programme met its objectives.
On the basis of the Sepik-Ramu basin results, serious consideration should be given to fish stock enhancement programmes in other river basins in Papua New Guinea.
In terms of Papua New Guinea's domestic fish supply, fisheries planning should maintain and promote objective improvements in average per caput landings and consumption.
Domestic supply should increase at the same rate as Papua New Guinea's population growth (currently 2.3% per annum), simply to maintain current levels of consumption per caput. To have an impact, fisheries policies and programmes need to have goals of increased supply quantified in terms of thousands of tons. Hence, programmes resulting in modest increased catches for many people can be more beneficial than those producing more visible benefits for the few.
Planning activities for the fisheries sector at both national and provincial levels should consider Papua New Guinea's population distribution, including the location of people in relation to aquatic environments. It should take into account the implications of this for the involvement of the population of Papua New Guinea in the various fisheries sectors and the locations of populations in relation to domestic demand for fishery produce.
Planning activities for the fisheries sector at both national and provincial levels should consider food security by increasing the domestic supply of fish, preferably to be caught, processed and marketed by Papua New Guineans. In the case of fresh (including chilled or frozen) fish, a policy of local supply to meet local demand should be promoted.
At the macro-economic policy level, consideration should be given to promoting fisheries programmes that reduce the demand for imported goods by promoting viable domestic substitutes. Such economic benefits should be regarded with at least the same priority as programmes designed to increase export revenue.
The Government of Papua New Guinea should establish a workable infrastructure to support the management and development of inland fisheries in order to harness the benefits on offer.
Inland fisheries should be supported with human and financial resources reflecting the current importance of the sector and the potential it offers with appropriate management.
Follow-on activities in the field of fish stock enhancement should be undertaken. The monitoring programme to assess the impacts of FISHAID activities should be maintained and further fish stock enhancement programmes developed, if appropriate. In particular, consideration should be given to extending the programme to other areas of the highlands in order to benefit the large proportion of people living there.
Broodstock of the species imported under the FISHAID project should be maintained as the highest priority in Papua New Guinea's aquaculture programme. These fish represent a significant asset to the country, since they will form the basis of future stocking programmes. Several species also have significant aquaculture potential, provided stocks are maintained.
Dates of Service
Name Function Starting Date Concluding Date
International
D. Coates Chief Technical Adviser Feb. 1993 March 1997
H. Van Herwaarden APO Feb. 1993 Nov. 1995
T.A.M. Visser APO June 1993 June 1996
R. Houthuijzen APO June 1996 March 1997
National
W.K. Ulaiwi Senior National Counterpart March 1993 June 1993
U. Kolkolo Senior National Counterpart Nov. 1993 June 1994
May 1995 March 1997
J. Wani Fisheries Scientist Jan. 1994 June 1995
L.W. Pako Fisheries Scientist Nov. 1995 March 1997
E. Kamblapi Hatchery Technician/Manager Feb. 1993 March 1997
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
R.G. Bailey, Division of Biosphere Sciences, Kings College, University of London, UK.
S.H. Bowen, Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, USA.
The Christensen Research Institute, Madang.
The International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM).
M. Jebb and L. Orsak, Directors, the Christensen Research Institute, Madang.
M. MacKinnon, P.O. Box 401, Tolga, Qld. 4882, Australia.
P.B. Moyle, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of California, Davis, USA.
A.I. Payne, Department of Biological Sciences, Coventry Polytechnic, UK.
The Papua New Guinea Electricity Commission.
R.S.V. Pullin, Director, Aquaculture Programme, ICLARM.
K.L. Sehgal, Director, National Research Centre on Coldwater Fisheries, India.
M. Smith, Pacific Helicopters, Papua New Guinea.
The Government of Nepal and staff of the Department of Fisheries, Nepal, including M.B. Pantha, and staff of the Fisheries Research Station, Trishuli, especially P.L. Joshi.
Staff of CEPTA/IBAMA, Brazil, especially J.A. Ferraz de Lima.
Mohamed Shariff and staff of the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.
M.E. Coates and E.S. Coates.
Participants Study Place
U. Kolkolo A workshop on the use of International Centre for Living
international codes of practice Aquatic Resources Management,
for fish introductions Manila
Quarantine facilities and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia,
production services for fish Selangor, Malaysia
Coldwater fisheries and India and Nepal
hatcheries for Tor, Acrossocheilus
and Schizothorax species
J. Wani A training course on fish diseases Southeast Asian Fisheries
Development Centre (SEAFDEC),
the Philippines
Cost
Quantity Item ($ US)
1 Camera plus accessories, Nikon 1 301
2 Outboard motors, Evinrude 120hp 5 842
1 Galvanized boat trailer 2 696
1 Half cabin boat, Clarke Condor 10 050
1 Portable generator Honda EX1000 750
1 Vortex blower FF-2118-7SE 1 005
2 Personal computer, IBM 50 9 662
1 Printer, NEC P7 1 200
1 Printer, NEC LC-800 4 889
1 Portable computer, NEC multispeed 2 829
1 Microcomputer, ARC Turbo 4 522
1 Photocopier, Canon PC 25 2 045
1 Photocopier, Nashua Model 7125 4 941
1 Printer, NEC Silentwriter S62P 3 300
1 Airconditioner 2 000
1 Pool (fish tank) filter 1 100
1 Camcorder, Sharp VL-C8500E VHS-C 709
1 Photocopier, Pitney Bowes 9014 2 098
1 Vehicle, Toyota Hilux double cab 20 986
1 Vehicle, Suzuki Samarai 10 258
1 Vehicle, Land Rover Discovery V8I 20 000
FIELD DOCUMENTS
Review of Aquaculture and Freshwater Fisheries in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 1.
Summary of the geology, geomorphology, climate and vegetation of the Sepik and Ramu River catchments with notes on their relevance to fisheries. D. Coates, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 2.
Fish fauna of the Sepik and Ramu River floodplain regions: Summary of information on fish ecology, identification of vacant niches and categories of fish species suitable for stocking. D. Coates, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 3.
Preliminary report on population statistics and socio-economic data for the Sepik and Ramu River catchments. D. Coates and B.M.F. Mys, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 4.
Preliminary report on trout stocking. D. Coates, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 5.
Preliminary report on limnological work undertaken in the Sepik/Ramu. D. Coates, P.L. Osborne and P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 6. (Unpublished; replaced and updated by FISHAID Field Document No. 1)
Survey of lower order streams in the Sepik and Ramu basin 1988-1989: Description of methods and sample sites. P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 7.
Preliminary analysis of stomach contents of various fish species from lower order streams in the Sepik/Ramu basin and identification of vacant and underutilised trophic niches. P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 8.
Distribution, altitudinal range and abundance of the fish species in the lower order streams of the Sepik/Ramu catchment. P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 9.
Report on the biology of introduced tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) (Pisces: Cichlidae) in the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, and the economic and social impact of its introduction. T.A. Redding, 1989. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 10.
Subsistence fisheries in lower-order streams: Notes on species preferences, fishing methods, catch composition, yield and dietary importance of fish. B.M.F. Mys and P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 11.
Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. Phase one final report and recommendations. Part I: Recommendations regarding fish stocking and alternative options. D. Coates, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 12a.
Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. Phase one final report and recommendations. Part II: Fish species suitable for stocking and stocking strategies. D. Coates, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 12b.
Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. Phase one final report and recommendations. Part III: Annex. Copies of supporting information mentioned in Parts I & II of this report plus supplementary material. D. Coates, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 12c.
An assessment of physical and organisational requirements for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. J.F. Muir, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 13.
Biomass, density and size of fish of the lower order streams in the Sepik-Ramu catchment: Raw data. P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 14.
Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project, PNG/85/001. Recommendations regarding fish species suitable for stocking. Recommendation 4: The stocking of Puntius gonionotus into the Sepik-Ramu River system and responses from the advisory group regarding its suitability in line with the code of practice relating to fish species transfers. D. Coates, 1990. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 15.
Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project, PNG/85/001. Recommendations regarding fish species suitable for stocking tributary rivers/streams (cold waters) and responses from the advisory group in-line with the code of practice regarding fish species introductions. Recommendation 5: the introduction of Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray); Recommendation 6: the introduction of Tor putitora (Hamilton); Recommendation 7: the introduction of Acrossocheilus hexagonolepis (McClelland); Recommendation No. 8: the introduction of Labeo dero (Hamilton). D. Coates, 1991. FAO/PNG/85/001, Field Document No. 16.
Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project, PNG/85/001. Recommendations regarding fish species suitable for stocking. Recommendation 9: the stocking of the "pacu", Colossoma brachypomum and responses from the advisory group regarding its suitability in-line with the code of practice regarding fish species transfers. D. Coates, 1992. FAO/PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 17.
Survey of economic activities, animal protein intake, fishery activities and fish yields in the Sepik-Ramu catchment, 1991-1992. Part I - Methods. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. P.G.M. Van der Heijden, 1993a. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 18a.
Survey of economic activities, animal protein intake, fishery activities and fish yields in the Sepik-Ramu catchment, 1991-1992. Part II - Results and Discussion. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. P.G.M. Van der Heijden, 1993b. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 18b.
Survey of economic activities, animal protein intake, fishery activities and fish yields in the Sepik-Ramu catchment, 1991-1992. Part III - Raw Data. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. P.G.M. Van der Heijden, 1993c. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 18c.
Yonki fisherfolk: report of a survey among people fishing at Yonki Reservoir, upper Ramu River, Eastern Highlands Province. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. P.G.M. Van der Heijden, 1993d. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 19.
Fisheries survey of the upper Purari River, Papua New Guinea. Part I - methods and description of sampling stations. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. A.F. Povlsen, 1993. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 20a.
Fisheries survey of the upper Purari River. Part II - Results and Discussion. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. A.F. Povlsen, 1993. FI:PNG/85/001. Field Document No. 20b.
Observations on the biology and ecology of rainbow trout, Oncorhyncus mykiss, and its implication for fisheries in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. A.F. Povlsen, 1993. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 20.
Food quality of detrital aggregate in the Sepik-Ramu system: A preliminary assessment. A report prepared for the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project. S.H. Bowen, 1993. FI:PNG/85/001 Field Document No. 22.
Papua New Guinea. Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project: Project findings and recommendations. FAO, 1993. FI:PNG/85/001 Terminal Report.
Water chemistry of the Sepik and Ramu River basin. A report prepared for the FISHAID project. D. Coates, P.L. Osborne, T.O. Petr and P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1993. FI:PNG/93/007 Field Document No. 1.
Recommendations regarding fish species suitable for stocking: Recommendation 10: The stocking of the "curimbata" or "sabolo" Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1847) (Characoidei, Prochilodontidae), and responses from the advisory group regarding its suitability in-line with the code of practice regarding fish species transfers and introductions. D. Coates, 1994. FISHAID project, FI: PNG/93/007 Field Document No. 2.
Report of the mission to Brazil: including background information concerning Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1847) (Characoidei, Prochilodontidae) and Piaractus (Colossoma) brachypomum Spix (Characidae). A report prepared for the FISHAID Project. T.A.M. Visser, 1996a. FI:PNG/93/007 Field Document No. 3.
Madang hatchery manual, including notes on the rearing of Acrossocheilus hexagonolepis, Piaractus brachypomum (Colossoma bidens), Prochilodus, Puntius gonionotus and Tor putitora. A report prepared for the FISHAID Project. T.A.M. Visser, 1996b. FI:PNG/93/007 Field Document No. 4.
Fish stocking activities undertaken by the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project (1987-1993) and the FISHAID Project (1993-1997). D. Coates, 1997. FI:PNG/93/007 Field Document No. 5.
Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening in Development and Management of Inland Aquatic Resources: Phase One Programme Proposal. FAO, 1997. FISHAID Project. FI:PNG/93/007 Field Document No. 6.
RELATED REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS
The biology of tarpon or Ox-eye herring, Megalops cyprinoides (Megalopidae), in the Sepik River. D. Coates, 1983a. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 83-21.
Raw data and preliminary analysis of gillnet catches from the Sepik River, roundwaters and floodplain. D. Coates, 1983b. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 83-16.
The biology of fork-tailed catfishes (Family: Ariidae) from the Sepik River. D. Coates, 1983c. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch, Internal Report, 83-19.
Notes on miscellaneous fish species from the Sepik River, roundwaters and floodplain. D. Coates, 1983d. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 83-20.
The hydrology and limnology of the lower Sepik River, roundwaters and floodplain. D. Coates,, P.L. Osborne and T.A. Redding-Coates, 1983. Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 83-17.
The fisheries and fish fauna of the Sepik River system: recommendations for species introductions. D. Coates, 1984a. Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 84-10.
The occurrence, spread and potential effects of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., in the Sepik River. D. Coates, 1984b. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 84-13.
An ulcer-disease outbreak amongst the freshwater fish population of the Sepik River system, with notes on some freshwater fish parasites. D. Coates, 1984c. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 84-02.
Fish yield estimates for the Sepik River floodplain. D. Coates, 1984d. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Research and Surveys Branch Internal Report, 84-09.
Fish yield estimates for the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, a large floodplain system east of "Wallace's Line". D. Coates, 1985a. Journal of Fish Biology 27: 431-443.
Fisheries development of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea: proposed fish introductions. D. Coates, (1985b). In: J.L. Maclean, L.B. Dizon and L.V. Hosillos (eds.) The First Asian Fisheries Forum. Asian Fisheries Society.
Sepik River Fishery Research 1981 to 1984: Description of Methods and Raw Data. D. Coates, 1986a. Department of Primary Industry Fisheries Division Technical Report, 86/5.
Inland Fisheries in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1986b. FAO Fisheries Report 371 (supplement): 119-129. IPFC reports and papers presented at the Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission Expert Consultation on Inland Fisheries of the Larger Indo-Pacific Islands, Bangkok, Thailand, 4-9 August 1986.
River fisheries and ways of enhancing them: a case study of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, and discussion of the approach being adopted. D. Coates, 1986c. FAO Fisheries Report 371 (supplement): 184-192. IPFC Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 4-9 August 1986 - FIRI/R371 reports and papers presented at the Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission Expert Consultation on Inland Fisheries of the Larger Indo-Pacific Islands.
On the biological problems caused by the introduced water weed Salvinia molesta Mitchell in the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1987a. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 28: 205-208.
Observations on the biology of Tarpon, Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet) (Pisces: Megalopidae), in the Sepik River, northern Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1987b. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38: 529-535.
Consideration of fish introductions into the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1987c. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management 18: 231-241.
Freshwater Fishes in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1987d. In: P.L. Osborne (ed.). A draft inventory of wetlands in Papua New Guinea. Department of Environment and Conservation, Papua New Guinea and the Asian Wetlands Bureau.
Length-dependent changes in egg size and fecundity in females, and brooded embryo size in males, of fork-tailed catfishes (Pisces: Ariidae) from the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, with some implications for stock assessments. D. Coates, 1988. Journal of Fish Biology 33: 455-464.
Summary Review of Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio L., in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1989a. In: T. Petr (ed.). Papers contributed to the workshop on the use of cyprinids in the fisheries management of larger inland waters bodies of the Indo-Pacific. FAO Fisheries Report 405.
Epizootic ulcerative disease of freshwater fish in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, M.J. Nunn and K.R. Uwate, 1989. Science in New Guinea 15(1).
The Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project (Abstract). B. Rongap and D. Coates, 1989. In: D. Pollard (ed.). Introduced and translocated fishes and their ecological effects. Bureau of Rural Resources, Proceedings 8. (Australian Govt. Pub. Service, Canberra).
An ichthyological survey of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. G.R. Allen and D. Coates, 1990a. Records of the Western Australian Museum Suppl. 34.
A new species of freshwater eleotridid fish from northern Papua New Guinea. G.R. Allen and D. Coates, 1990b. Records of the Western Australian Museum Suppl. 34.
Aspects of the biology of the Perchlet Ambassis interrupta Bleeker (Pisces: Ambassidae) in the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1990a. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41.
Biology of the rainbow fish, Glossolepis multisquamatus (Melanotaeniidae) from the Sepik River floodplains, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1990b. Environmental Biology of Fishes 29.
Biology of fork-tailed catfishes from the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1991a. Environmental Biology of Fishes 31.
Review of tilapia in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1991b. In: T. Petr (ed.). Proceedings of the workshop on tilapia in capture and culture-based fisheries of the Indo-Pacific. IPFC, Bogor, Indonesia, 24-29 June 1991. FAO Fisheries Report.
Biology of Oxyeleotris heterodon and its major prey, Ophieleotris aporos, two floodplain sleepers (Pisces: Eleotrididae) of the Sepik River fishery, northern Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1992a. Environmental Biology of Fishes 34.
Codes of practice and safeguards concerning aquatic germplasm introductions/transfers. D. Coates, 1992b. Paper presented at the ICLARM meeting on International Concerns in the Use of Aquatic Germplasm. Manila, June 1-7, 1992. In press (abstract only).
Biology of the freshwater halfbeak Zenarchopterus kampeni (Teleostei: Hemiramphidae) from the Sepik and Ramu River basin, northern Papua New Guinea. D. Coates and P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1992. Ichthyological Explorations in Freshwaters 3.
Environmental management implications of aquatic species introductions: A case study of fish introductions into the Sepik-Ramu Basin, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1993a. Asian Journal of Environmental Management 1(1).
Fisheries ecology and management of the Sepik-Ramu, New Guinea, a large contemporary tropical river basin. D. Coates, 1993b. Environmental Biology of Fishes 38.
The Sepik River Fish-Stock Enhancement Programme in Papua New Guinea. R.G. Bailey and D. Coates, 1993. In: The Institute of Fisheries Management 24th Annual Study Course, Proceedings, 14-16 September 1993, Cardiff, UK. IFM, London, UK.
Review of the present status of, and constraints to, inland fisheries development: The Pacific Island Countries. D. Coates, 1994a. IPFC Regional Symposium on Sustainable Development of Inland Fisheries under Environmental Constraints, 19-21 October, RAPA, Bangkok.
Experiences with fish introductions and stocking in Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1994b. Technical Consultation on Species for Small Reservoir Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southern Africa, 7-11 November 1994, Livingstone, Zambia. ALCOM/FAO.
Mechanisms for implementing "codes of practice" for the introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms. D. Coates and D. Bartley, 1994. Technical Consultation on Species for Small Reservoir Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southern Africa, 7-11 November 1994, Livingstone, Zambia. ALCOM/FAO.
Elements of codes of practice on the introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms: ecology, genetics, fish health, and socio-economics. D. Bartley and D. Coates, 1994. Technical Consultation on Species for Small Reservoir Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southern Africa, 7-11 November 1994, Livingstone, Zambia. ALCOM/FAO.
Implementation of the EIFAC/ICES code of practice: Experiences with the evaluation of international fish transfers into the Sepik River basin, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates, 1995. In: D.P. Philipp, J.M. Epifanio, J.E. Marsden and J.E. Claussen (eds.). Protection of aquatic biodiversity. Proceedings of the World Fisheries Congress, Theme 3. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
Development of a User Friendly Manual to Facilitate Implementation of the ICES/EIFAC Codes of Practice and Manual of Procedures for Consideration of Introductions and Transfers of Marine and Freshwater Organisms. D. Bartley, D. Coates and R.S.V. Pullin, 1995. Aquaculture Genetics Research in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. ICLARM, Manila. In press.
FAO's Programme in the Application of Genetic Principles in the Aquaculture and Fisheries Sector. D. Bartley and D. Coates, 1995. Aquaculture Genetics Research in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. ICLARM, Manila. In press.
A simple model for predicting ecological impacts of introduced aquatic organisms: a case study of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., in the Sepik-Ramu River Basin, Papua New Guinea. D. Coates and W.K. Ulaiwi, 1995. Fisheries Management & Ecology 2.
Inland capture fisheries and enhancement: status, constraints and prospects for food security. D. Coates, 1995. Report of the International Conference on the Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security. Kyoto, Japan, 4-9 December 1995. Government of Japan. Document KC/FI/95/TECH/3.
Biology of the cardinalfish Glossamia gjellerupi (Perciformes: Apogonidae) from the Sepik-Ramu basin, Papua New Guinea. P.A.M. Van Zwieten, 1996. Environmental Biology of Fishes 42.
Framework for the responsible use of introduced species. D. Bartley, D. Coates and R. Subasinghe, 1996. Report of the symposium held in connection with the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission Nineteenth Session, Dublin, Ireland, 11-19 June 1996, and reports of inter-sessional Working Parties Meetings. FAO Fisheries Report No. 541, Suppl. 1, 1996.
