1. Sector overview - production levels & production trends. Contribution of aquaculture to national fish and protein production and supplies. Trends. Prevalent farm size; farm ownership/tenure (family-based; private-commercial; state-owned; collective; etc.) and estimated contribution to national aquaculture production. Prevalent production systems and main cultured species. Mode of operation (stand-alone/ part of farming system). Objective (subsistence/ market-oriented).

2. Development Policies - macro-economic policies as they may influence markets and access. Export earnings vs. products for local consumption. Land ownership/tenure security. Incentives & disincentives.

3. Demand Characteristics - protein consumption: fish vs. other protein sources. Freshwater fish vs. marine fish. Consumption/demand by income group; changes in consumption by income group over last 20 years. Consumption by aquaculture producers vs. non-producers. Cultural preferences and geographic differences. Trends. Elasticities of demand (price and income elasticities, cross price elasticities).

4. Marketing - (a) overview of marketing practices. Market structure and channels (rural, urban, export). Marketing margins. Credit. Insurance schemes in aquaculture. Ownership structure (private/co-operative/municipal/state, etc.). Short section on retail developments. (b) Obstacles to access: deficiencies in market access which may be due to low volume, lack of buyers, inadequate infrastructure and marketing facilities; economic factors such as weakness of competitive position and lack of bargaining power in price formation, financial constraints, consumer attitudes. (c) Impact of changes in production centres and methods of production - shift of production to peri-urban areas near major consumption centres. Effects of growing intensification of production on fish prices. Impact of increased industrialization of production (i.e. shift to large-scale industrial producers).

5. Socio-economics - purchasing power(rural vs. urban consumers) . Trends. Price levels of different species (cultured & captured, high value and low value) vs. other protein sources. Role of women in fish production, and fish trade.

6. Conclusions and recommendations - consumption and access implications (for aquaculture products) of noted trends, policy measures, production, disposable income, marketing, etc. Analysis of future domestic market potential in view of

existing and evolving consumption patterns and marketing development, and measures required to realize the potential. Specific actions by specific actors/sectors. Possible role of government.

A first draft of the study report is expected March 2 000. The two organizations are considering convening a workshop on the study theme following completion of the final report of the study.

Farmer-Proven Integrated Agriculture/ Aquaculture: A Technology Information Kit

FAO, ICLARM and the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) are collaborating on revising and updating an information kit on farm-proven integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming techno-logies prepared in 1992 by IIRR and ICLARM but which was given only limited circulation at the time . The document will be revised based on review of the organization and contents of the 1992 document by a number of selected experts in the field, who will advise, among other things, on potential additions to the document . The document is intended for use in education and extension and to increase the awareness of policy makers and planners about opportunities for, and benefits of certain farming practices that integrate agriculture and aquaculture.. The revised document will be published by the end of 1999 or early in the year 2 000.

Technical Report on Integrated Rice-Fish Farming

In a related development, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO-RAP) has recently signed an agreement with ICLARM for the preparation of a Technical Report on Integrated Rice-Fish Farming. The report will review the status of rice-fish farming globally, with emphasis on Asia-Pacific region, technologies in practice, socio-economic impacts (on income, food security, rural development etc.), research need to be undertaken and institutional support needed for popularization of the farming system.

The European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) will hold a Symposium on Fisheries and Society in connection with its 21st session in Hungary in June 2000.

Rationale

The value of inland fisheries to the people of Europe needs to be clearly re-stated. The Symposium will assess the contribution of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to providing food, employment and recreation together with cultural values in such fields as ethnology, ecology and bio-diversity. With a multiplicity of social, technical, environmental and political pressures affecting inland fisheries at the present time, there is an urgent need for greater understanding, recognition and communication of the value of fish and fisheries. The principal aim of the Symposium will be to make a broad assessment of the state of inland fisheries in Europe at the end of the 2nd millennium and to set down the essential steps to be taken for developments into the 21 st century.

Themes

The symposium will examine social, economic and cultural aspects of inland fisheries, in accordance with the following themes: • Sectoral and fishery evaluation
• Economic aspects and trends
• Social and cultural aspects and trends
• Interactions between recreational fisheries, commercial fisheries and aquaculture
• Interactions with other sectors
• The future of inland fisheries over the next decade.

Information Topics

It is anticipated that information will be presented on the following topics:

• Assessment of fisheries systems
• Valuation of social, economic and cultural components
• Harmonisation amongst users
• Socio-economic principles of management
• Legislation and enforcement
• New trends in education and promotion
• Future demands on the fisheries sector
• User participation in fisheries management
• Sectoral and policy assessment

Call for Papers

Contributions are invited within any of these broad headings. It is suggested that the majority will relate to experiences within

countries, both reviewing past and present and predicting future opportunities. Inter-active discussion during the Symposium will lead to a major statement embracing the entire concept of the inland fisheries of Europe. Anyone wishing to present a paper or poster display should submit a title by 31 March 1999 to the Secretary of EIFAC, Fishery Resources Division, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy, e-mail [email protected], fax (+39) 065705 3020.

Papers will be accepted in English or French, the official languages of EIFAC, but no interpretation will be provided. An abstract, not to exceed 150 words, of the proposed contribution should be submitted, preferably by e-mail, by 31 August 1999. The Steering Committee will review all abstracts in relation to the objectives and themes of the Symposium and the authors will be informed of the outcome by 1 December 1999. Successful authors must submit a draft manuscript not later than 1 March 2000.

The Convener of the Symposium is Dr Matti Sipponen (Finland), fax (+358-14) 443 7335. The Chairman is Dr Karoly Pinter (Hungary), fax (+36-1) 301 4781. The twenty-sixth session of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission

The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) held its Twenty-sixth Session and a Symposium on Fish Utilization in the Asia-Pacific Region from 24 to 30 September 1998 at the Beijing Continental Grand Hotel, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. The Session was attended by the representatives of sixteen Members of the Commission and observers from the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). The Commission, inter alia, identified emerging issues in fisheries and aquaculture in the region and agreed to establish three Ad Hoc working groups:

a) Ad hoc Working Group of Experts in Food Safety;

b) Ad hoc Working Group of Experts in Capture Fishery Data Collection; and

c) Ad hoc Working Group of Experts in Rural Aquaculture.

The deliberations on aquaculture are reported in the following verbatim excerpts from the report of the session:

• The Commission noted that aquaculture haddeveloped rapidly during the past decade with eight out of the top ten global producers located in Asia. The general impression was that the potential for further growth and development of aquaculture is good and that increased production could reduce the shortfall created by the decrease in supply from capture fisheries. The Commission fully agreed that the strategic issue for aquaculture development is sustainability. Sustainability in aquaculture could be achieved only by resolving the issues of immediate concern that included improved resource use and input supply, strengthening of the aquaculture information system, improved health management of cultivable species, accelerated research and improved training. In addition, there were requirements for extension services, integration of rural aquaculture with the agriculture and livestock sectors, improved quality and safety of aquaculture products; integrated planning for aquaculture development and promotion of small-scale aquaculture for rural food security.

• Several Members were of the view that the future role of APFIC should include the promotion of technical cooperation amongst countries in the region in the acceleration of sustainable aquaculture development. A number of examples of the positive impacts of appropriate technology transfer from one country to another were cited, including those for converting wastelands for aquaculture, cage culture and fish disease control through proper farm management, and small-scale backyard hatcheries for fish and shrimp.

• The Commission agreed that good extension work played an essential role in sustainable aquaculture development and noted that several Members were still in need of assistance in the strengthening of their aquaculture extension systems. The technologies for breeding, fry/fingerling rearing and grow-out were available; however, what was lacking was the effective

transfer of these technologies from research laboratories to the farmers. It was pointed out that technical cooperation among the Members could help in transferring successful extension experience from one country to another.

• The Commission agreed that small-scale rural aquaculture should be considered as an effective vehicle for rural development by making a sustainable contribution to rural food security through the production of fish for food and the generation of employment and income. It was pointed out that the major constraints, such as lack of seed and extension services, had to be dealt with.

• Several Members suggested that, for landlocked countries and countries whose capture fisheries were overexploited, special emphasis should be given to the development of aquaculture. It was also pointed out that some cold water species (Tor putitora (Mahseer) and Tor tor) in the Himalayan range are overexploited and are in danger of extinction. It was suggested that special efforts be made for artificial breeding and culturing of these species.

• The Commission agreed that the measures for assurance of quality and safety of aquaculture products should be applied not only to products for export but also to products for local consumption. In this connection, however, special care should be taken in integrating aquaculture with livestock rearing (for example, integrating fish culture with pig rearing).

• Some Members underlined that aquaculture might cause some pollution and negative ecological impact and suggested that, to minimize this impact, aquaculture farm design and operation should be standardized. It was also pointed out that the introduction of exotic species for culture may create an undesirable impact on local ecosystems. Consequently, such introductions should be carried out with extreme care and following the international rules, regulations and procedures related to the transfer of live animals and quarantine guidelines.