1. Development of and assistance to small-scale fisheries is a policy of very high priority in countries in South and Southeast Asia. Within recent years, some breakthroughs in certain aspects of aquaculture, which are of small-scale nature, were achieved. One of these is the operation of shrimp/prawn hatcheries in some countries in the region.
2. In order to follow up what has been achieved in this field and further stimulate its development, the FAO/UNDP South China Sea Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme organized this regional Working Party on Small-Scale Shrimp/Prawn Hatcheries. This would be an expert consultation of a selected number of active workers from countries in the region.
3. The objectives of the consultation was to review the status of work on shrimp/prawn hatcheries with focus on small-scale models, look at present designs used and their construction, examine the methods of management and operations used, identify constraints to development, and formulate recommendation for future programmes in this field.
4. In the course of the arrangement, for this Working Party, the host country and institution has to be determined. The Directorate General of Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, generously offered to host this Working Party and selected Semarang, Central Java province as the venue.
5. Being an expert consultation on a very specialized subject, great care was made in selecting suitable participants from different countries in the region. Selected workers in this field attached to agencies with active programmes in this line were invited. After identification, the agencies of the prospective participants were notified to secure clearance for their attendance. Once confirmed, the prospective participants were contacted for contributions of specific reports to the Working Party. Eighteen participants and five observers representing four countries and three international agencies participated in this Working Party (ANNEX A).
6. The Working Party was held during the period from 16 to 21 November 1981 at the Sky Garden Hotel, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. During the period, the Working Party held morning and afternoon sessions, one noon and one evening special sessions, and two field trips (ANNEX B). This General Report, and a Technical Report record the results of the Working Party.
7. The organizing sponsors gathered published papers relevant to the subject and issued them as Background Papers (ANNEX C) for this Working Party. The solicited technical reports from the various participants were received as Contributed Papers (Listed in ANNEX D) to be printed with the Working Party Technical Report.
8. The Working Party was opened in the morning of 16 November, Monday with remarks from Mr. V. Soesanto in behalf of the sponsoring agency (ANNEX E), FAO/UNDP/SCSP. In behalf of the Director-General of Fisheries of Indonesia, Mr. Soewito, Director for Resources Management of the Directorate-General of Fisheries welcomed the participants and opened the Working Party (ANNEX F).
9. The initial sessions of the Working Party were devoted in assessing the current status of the practice of small-scale shrimp/prawn hatcheries in the different countries and institutions in these countries in the region. Backyard shrimp hatcheries are developing in Indonesia; small-scale prawn hatcheries are existing in Thailand; the Fisheries Development Authority in Malaysia is trying to develop prawn/shrimp hatcheries suitable for medium size and small-scale operators and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) Aquaculture Department (AQD) in the Philippines is putting up model shrimp hatcheries of minimum size for the benefit of fish farmers.
10. Environmental considerations in site selection and for efficient operations were discussed in subsequent sessions. Here the suitable qualities of water for both prawn and shrimp hatching and larval rearing were emphasized. Water quality was considered of vital importance, but the effects of man-made factors have also to be considered.
11. The designs and constructions of small-scale shrimp and prawn hatcheries should be simple and flexible. Although existing models are already functional, much work has still to be done to promote efficiency and have a reliable standard design for small-scale operators. It was noted that some facilities required are of sophisticated nature (e.g., unit for growing food organisms, broodstock development set-up, etc.). In such cases, it was suggested that the government centres should play a greater role in assisting the private operators especially those of small-scale.
12. There is a developed technology for shrimp/prawn hatchery operations in the region. While there are successful examples of small-scale shrimp and prawn hatcheries, there is growing tendency toward more sophistication and expansion in order to attain greater efficiency of production. For continued existence of the small-scale operators, organization of the industry with government initiative should step in to assist the small-scale operators.
13. Small-scale shrimp and prawn hatchery projects will develop and increase only if they can prove to be economically viable. There is no problem about demand and good price for certain shrimp species (Penaeus monodon), but the giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) market for fry in new areas has still to find a stable market. The Working Party pointed out the need of developing the grow-out pond culture technology for prawns. Government policy of requiring hatcheries to give away for stocking natural waters of their excess postlarvae and juveniles (e.g., P. merguiensis in Thailand) for stocking natural waters is a commendable idea.
Lowering costs of operations, increasing survival rates and utilizing locally available and cheaper materials may improve the economic viability of shrimp and prawn hatcheries. Market studies have to be made aimed at forecasting demands and stabilizing prices.
14. The Working Party noted that there are still many constraints for development. Certain specific steps in the hatchery operations, still need technical improvements; the economic viability of these ventures are still shaky and there are a number of sociological constraints to development. Nonetheless, possible avenues for solutions of these constraints were also pointed out in this Working Party.
15. Recommendations for future programmes were determined. These included programmes for broodstock development and production especially for Penaeus monodon; overcoming the existing obstacles on larval rearing; and in developing standard methods for post harvest handling of the hatchery produced shrimp/prawn seeds to make this type of aquaculture venture economic and profitable.
16. It was noted that the selected participants and observers to this Working Party were knowledgeable and well-experienced on the subject. A lively interchange of information took place during the meeting which could be mutually useful for the participants. The field trips made to see what the Indonesian group were doing, both in government and private projects, also proved to be very useful. It was a learning process for all and the general consensus is that the Working Party will prove to be of great value in the continuing work of the participants.
17. The Working Party was closed with concluding statements from the sponsoring project (SCSP). A representative of the Directorate General of Fisheries rendered the closing remarks (Mr. Budi Wijarso, Fisheries Service, Central Java province). A representative of the participants gave his evaluation of the Working Party (Mr. Ong Kah Sin, Malaysia) and a representative of FAO/UNDP rendered concluding remarks (Mr. Keith Meecham). These remarks are appended in this report (ANNEXES G, H, I, J).
18. This General Report on the Working Party will be followed by a Technical Report which will include the Contributed Papers by the Participants.
