I. INTRODUCTION

1. The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA) in cooperation with the FAO/UNDP Regional Seafarming Development and Demonstration Project (RAS/86/024) proposed to conduct a workshop on mollusc sanitation and marketing. As part of its development activities, the Workshop was approved by the National Coordinators of the Seafarming Project at its Second Meeting held in Singapore in September 1988.

2. At present, the Seafarming Project has 8 member governments: China, India, Indonesia, Korea DPR, Korea Rep., The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The Seafarming Project is under the coordination of the NACA Project (RAS/86/047) which has several member countries other than those of the Seafarming Project that are also interested in developing their seafarming industry, like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam.

3. The Seafarming Project aims to substantially increase the present level of seafarming production and thus increase the regional fish supply as well as upgrade the socio-economic status of rural communities.

RATIONALE

4. One group of marine organisms which could be a major source of cheap animal protein are the molluscs. Availability and supply of molluscan resources from natural fisheries as well as from aquaculture activities are not considered major problems in the region. Asia, particularly the East and Southeast regions, is the most important continent in terms of mollusc landings from culture practices followed by Europe and North America. The landings for the three continents in 1985 were 2,094,913, 591,476, and 176,810 MT, respectively which accounted for 72.6%, 20.5%, and 6.1% of the year's total production.

5. The shellfish industry offers great potential in many countries in Asia and the Pacific for increasing domestic supply of animal protein as well as foreign exchange earning. In order to realize this potential, developmental programmes have been launched in several countries and some have achieved good results in terms of species cultured, production and export. However, the industry is facing a number of problems and constraints which vary in magnitude and severity according to area and country. Through a preliminary survey, the Seafarming Project identified a number of major constraints affecting the development of the mollusc industry. Poor quality control, limited demand and limited exports clearly underline the inadequacy of the existing marketing and distribution system, product unfamiliarity and health concerns. These major constraints adversely affect the development of the mollusc industry in the region.

6. There is considerable potential for further expansion and development of the mollusc culture industry in the region. NACA, in close collaboration with its member governments, has realized that for such development to take place, particular attention should be channeled towards the sanitation and marketing aspects of the industry, aimed at promoting greater local consumption and export.

7. If the industry is to be developed at a sustainable level, special attention should also be given to site selection criteria, environmental impact, processing and code of practice.

8. As France has the expertise in these areas, it was been decided to organize a programme in France, comprising:

A study tour of French establishments, including farms, concerned with mollusc research, production, depuration and sanitation, processing and quality control, and marketing. Lectures and demonstrations on these areas will be organized during the tour.
A workshop covering the presentation of country reports on the status and problems of sanitation and marketing of molluscs in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in Europe, along with discussion on problems and future programme of work.

OBJECTIVES

9. The major objectives of the Workshop/Study tour were to familiarize the participants from Asia and the Pacific with:

mollusc production, sanitation and marketing in France and elsewhere in Europe;
identify and evaluate constraints to greater consumption of molluscs in the region, and of international trade; and
identify future research and training needs in mollusc production, sanitation and marketing.

SPONSORSHIP

10. The Workshop/Study tour was sponsored by the French government through the GCP/RAS/132/FRA Project. The Fisheries Department of FAO provided support for the participation of resource persons while NACA supported the participation of technical personnel from the Fish Utilization and Marketing Service (FIIU) of FAO.