This report is an account of the fourth phase (1963–1966) of a project started in 1955, concerned with the investigation and development of inland fisheries and fish culture and training in Syria, carried on under the United Nations Development Program, Technical Assistance Sector (UNDP/TA), formerly known as the Expanded Program of Technical Assistance (EPTA), by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This fourth phase was conducted by Dr. D.R. Riedel (Federal Republic of Germany), FAO/TA Inland Fishery Biologist during the period 7 February 1963 to 8 December 1966.
The report presents the results of the expert's efforts and includes specific proposals for ways and means of establishing fish cultural practices in the country. The report is also concerned with some general problems of inland fisheries for which the Government requested special assistance during the assignment. This assistance was given whenever possible, although it was difficult at times to reconcile these activities with the terms of reference for the assignment.
The background of this project has been related in former EPTA reports, FAO Nos. 1045, 1199, and 1502, but it may be useful to present a brief sketch of the forerunners of the present project.
The first FAO fishery mission to Syria was made in 1955, when Dr. W.C. Beckman began a survey of the fishery resources of its inland waters. This work continued until January 1959 during which time the Kalaat el Moudik Experimental Fish Culture Station was planned, built and stocked with carp breeders.
The second phase of the work was undertaken by Dr. W.F.J. Wunder, then assigned as FAO Fish Culturist to the United Arab Republic. He made three visits to Kalaat el Moudik during the summer of 1959 to start experiments on the feasibility of fish farming in the el Ghab region.
The third phase commenced in October 1959 when Dr. D.R. Riedel was assigned to continue the work in fish culture in Syria. He continued work until November 1961 when he left to take up a new TA assignment in Central America.
The present fourth phase began with the return of Dr. Riedel on 7 February 1963 and continued until 8 December 1966, when he returned to Rome for debriefing until the termination of his assignment on 17 December 1966.
The objectives of the fourth phase of this project were as follows:
“To design plans for experimental pond culture at Kalaat el Moudik including studies on stocking rates, feeding, spawning, pond fertilization, disease control, etc., and to participate in this work; to establish and conduct training courses at the Experimental Station to train local staff in the above work; to assist in the development of the proposed ponds at Cheria Springs; to assist in the formulation of a program of governmental services to promote and assist in the adoption of fish cultural practices and the development of the industry generally”.
Upon arrival in Damascus on 7 February 1963, the expert re-established contacts with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Major Projects Administration, and the FAO office.
The first visit to the Fish Culture Experiment Station and Fisheries School Building, Kalaat el Moudik, el Ghab, was made from 21 February to 12 March 1963. A complete report on the observed conditions was made to the Ministry of Agriculture. Special emphasis was given to: (a) the administrative situation of the Station, (b) need for purchase and installation of an electric generator, and (c) building of access roads within the station area. The expert's former counterpart, Mr. K. Saleh, was again assigned as counterpart. The administration of the station, after many requests by the expert, was transferred to the Mohafazat of Hama at the end of 1963.
It soon became apparent that there was a reluctance within the Government to continue pond construction at the selected site at Ain Taka. Another aspect, reintroduced also by officials from both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Major Projects Administration, was the claim that returns from cotton would far surpass those from fish culture. The expert prepared a report “Fish Culture in the Syrian Republic, with special emphasis on the Planned Ain Taka Fish Farm” which was submitted to the Government on 25 March 1963. It again provided basic facts on fish culture, and especially covered the above questions as well as that of the establishment of a number of ponds versus creation of one large lake at Cheria Springs, Ain Taka.
The delay in construction of the farm was regrettable since the expert had expected to conduct fish culture work at the planned Ain Taka farm upon his return from another assignment. Designs and plans which had been made during his absence by the Major Project Administration in consultation with FAO Department of Fisheries, Rome, and which were to create a 150-hectare commercial fish farm, extending from Ain Taka Springs in the east to Cheria village in the west, had been rejected. This rejection was explained as a result of a land study in the area which revealed less land available than had been formerly considered available for the fish farm.
However, the matter was straightened out in 1964 by a decision to reduce the area of ponds to approximately 42 hectares in the river bed area of the Cheria River, where no private property claims would arise. The expert made recommendations as to the layout of the new pond site and the project was let on tender in the autumn of 1964. The expert was also requested to furnish details on the layout of the station, buildings, water and electricity supply, storage facilities, machinery equipment, etc. This was provided on 24 December 1964 in a paper entitled “Request for budgetary provisions for the first Fish Culture Pilot Project, Ain Taka, covering 1965.”
In March 1963, the Euphrates Project Authority, Damascus, asked the expert for an opinion on the possible impact of the planned dam project on the fish fauna of the river. A report, “The Planned Euphrates Dam in relation to the Euphrates Fish Population”, was submitted 21 March 1963.
In April 1963, the Director General of the Major Projects Administration requested the expert to outline proposals for making use of approximately 600 hectares of low land in the Roudgh Area of the el Ghab Valley. The expert reported on this request on 28 April in a paper entitled “Potentialities for the Establishment of Commercial Fish Farms in the Syrian Arab Republic”. He drew particular attention to the necessity of installing pumps for any kind of fish cultural activity in this area.
In June 1963, the Ministry of Agriculture asked the expert for his comments on a “Report on Organizing of a Cooperative for Production of Fish and Sponge in the Mohafazat of Lattakia” which had been forwarded by the Administration of Ports and Lighthouses, Lattakia. The expert, in a reply “The Situation of the Fishermen's Cooperative at Lattakia with Recommendations for a General Improvement”, dated 5 July 1963, endeavored to define precisely what a cooperative was since the existing group could hardly have been termed a cooperative. He furnished suggestions for its reorganization.
During 1964 primary attention was given to the organization and operation of the National Near East Fisheries Training Center at Kalaat el Moudik and teaching its classes and conducting fish cultural experiments, and in preparing plans for the Ain Taka farm.
At the request of the Ministry, in January 1965 the expert prepared a model lease contract for fishing rights. The contract outlined the rights and duties of both the Government and the lessee. In former contracts considerable confusion had arisen on these points. Later on the expert furnished additional advice on lease contracts for the upper Orontes River and the Euphrates River near Rakka. The details were given the Government in reports entitled “Lease Contracts for Fishing Rights, 30 January 1965”; “Applications for a Lease Contract for Fishing Rights in the Orontes (el Aasi) River between the Lebanese Border and the Point of Entry in Lake Katineh, 21 February 1965”; and “Field Trip to Rakka, Lattakia and Banias (29 April–3 May 1965)” dated 3 June 1965.
In addition to the above activities, advice was given on a day to day basis to the Fisheries Section of the Ministry of Agriculture. The expert was also asked to attend a number of special meetings of the Syrian High Council for Fisheries and give advice as required.
Assistance was also given, with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture to private citizens interested in fish culture.
The expert terminated his assignment in Syria on 8 December 1966 when he proceeded to the FAO Headquarters in Rome for debriefing.
