22. The Coordinator presented his report for the period from November 1986 to December 1987. The report included highlights of the First Provisional Governing Council Meeting and the Sixth Tripartite Review, held in Surabaya, Indonesia in 1986, and the future direction and programme of NACA, including the concept of the Umbrella Network, in further supporting Member Governments' efforts in the management of the institutionalized NACA. (The Report of the Coordinator appears as Annex VIII; those of the Lead Centre Directors appear as Annexes IX–XII).
23. Reviewing the achievements under Phases I and II, Mr. Chen said that four aquaculture institutions, one each in China, India, the Philippines and Thailand, were selected and strengthened to serve as Regional Lead Centres, thereby establishing the initial nucleus of the Asian network. Linkages between these Lead Centres and five National Aquaculture Centres - two in Indonesia and one each in the Philippines, Bangladesh and Nepal - were also established to expand the Network.
24. To provide broad-based training for senior personnel, six one-year post-graduate training programmes have been organized through the Regional Lead Centre in the Philippines (RLCP), with 119 senior aquaculturists from 20 countries graduating from the course. A total of 150 senior technical personnel from 24 countries were trained in integrated fish farming through the four-month regular training programme organized by the Regional Lead Centre in China (RLCC) for seven consecutive years. One hundred fifty-seven technicians have also received training in different technologies under various short-term courses, while seven junior scientists have been seconded to lead centres for in-service training in research methodologies and participation in their respective research programmes.
25. The Project assisted in implementing disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research programmes, published and disseminated research findings, issued training manuals, initiated the process of establishing a regional aquaculture information system, and started the exchange of national experts under its TCDC mechanism.
26. A workshop on the socio-economics of aquaculture development in the region was organized. Three working group meetings were organized to prioritize research and training needs and study the legal and financial issues in establishing NACA as an inter-governmental body. The latter had led to the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, held on 5–8 January 1988, to adopt an Agreement which will enable NACA to be established as an inter-governmental organization.
27. The Project has collaborated with other organizations and agencies, especially SEAFDEC, IDRC, and UPV. It also generated extra budgetary support of about US$2 million to supplement the implementation of its activities.
28. During the third phase of the NACA Project beginning July 1987, the objectives remained basically the same, except that they were modified and separated from the activities and functions, keeping in view the progress made in project implementation. A slight but significant change in the Project's immediate objectives was also made, which was to include the promotion of the role of women in aquaculture development as an additional objective.
29. During the period of the report, NACA implemented the activities set out in the NACA Project Document RAS/86/047 as well as those recommended by the First PGC Meeting and Sixth Tripartite Review. The Project has intensified coordination of networking activities involving the free exchange of regional expertise and informatio through TCDC activities for technology transfer.
30. Mr. Chen reported that, in 1987, the Project had laid the foundation for establishing NACA as an umbrella network for aquaculture development in the region. It continued to provide assistance to several national and regional projects concerned with aquaculture including the regional seafarming project (RAS/86/024).
31. The PGC's endorsement of the Legal and Financial Working Group Report along with the text of the Draft Agreement had been one of the highlights during the period. The Agreement, which was finalized and adopted at the FAO-organized Conference of Plenipotentiaries on 5–8 January 1988, would, once ratified, establish NACA as an independent regional organization. During the transitional phase, preparations need to be made to effect a smooth transfer of responsibility to the participating governments for the operation and management of NACA.
32. Mr. Chen appraised the Council of the status of the cost-sharing contributions by the participating governments. Of the $155,000 pledged for 1985–1986, a total of $80,000 were derived from national treasuries, representing actual cost-sharing contributions. In 1987, only $65,000 of the $131,599 pledged were cost-sharing contributions. The total amount received to date from the participating governments had been $216,500 comprising $145,000 from their respective national treasuries and $71,500 from their national/local IPFs.
33. The first meeting of the Regional Lead Centre Directors was held in Bangkok on 14–16 January 1987 to map out the Project activities for the next five years. A Five-Year Work Plan was drafted.
34. The Project had increased its regional activities in strengthening linkages between National and Regional Lead Centres. Pending the finalization of the service conditions of the national experts to man the NACA core activity, the Project had initiated the programme of seconding national experts to undertake such activities.
35. In research, the Project continued to supplement the efforts of the Regional Lead Centres in terms of essential equipment, spare parts and chemicals for the implementation of the research projects. These activities are discussed in detail in the reports of the Regional Lead Centre Directors. However, Mr. Chen mentioned that, because of the delay in obtaining approval, the procurement of vehicles for all Lead Centres was very much delayed, resulting in higher costs due to the depreciation of the US dollar.
36. In recent years, ulcerative fish disease in the region had resulted in serious economic loss to fish farmers. Recognizing the magnitude of the loss and its implications to the future development on aquaculture, a regional research programme on fish diseases and the environment had been initiated. Prior to the implementation of the research programme, the Project had trained 18 scientists/technologists from eleven countries in preparation for this activity. This is the first time that a regional research effort is being coordinated to resolve a common problem, Mr. Chen said.
37. In its training activities, the Project had successfully organized two regular training courses and three short-term courses. These were the 6th one-year Training Programme for Senior Aquaculturists; the 7th four-month Training Course on Integrated Fish Farming; the six-week course on Mass Seed Production of Chinese Carps,; the four-week training course on Socio-Economics and Aquaculture Economics; and the four-week preparatory training course on Fish Ulcerative Syndrome and Environmental Monitoring.
38. To date, seven junior scientists had completed their secondment programme and are now assisting their respective governments in developing and upgrading the technologies in which they have been trained. Arrangements had been made for the second batch of junior scientists to be attached with RLCT, the Regional Lead Centre in India (RLCI) and RLCP in early 1988.
39. The Project's information activity comprised three components which are aimed at rapid dissemination of information and technology transfer: publication of technical papers and technology series, training manuals and lecture notes, newsletters and reports; audio-visual and video production of instructional materials; and computerized information consisting of bibliographic information using the MINISIS programme and numerical information using AQUIS. Most of the information components are making progress except the AQUIS programme, which has been lagging behind because the programme had been neither back-stopped nor evaluated by ADCP.
40. Technology transfer was undertaken during the period of report through training courses, the secondment of junior scientists, information dissemination, the assistance of NACA centres in conducting in-country training programmes for local extension officers, and the exchange of national experts.
41. To develop a core of regional technical experts who will man the core activities of NACA and provide assistance to countries in the region on aquaculture development, planning and programming, feasibility studies and project formulation, a roster of national experts is being prepared.
42. Meanwhile Project staff continued to visit the Lead and National Centres to assist in the implementation of project activities. The Project had also provided assistance to upgrade the national staff through training programmes, workshops and seminars organized by NACA and other agencies.
43. Assistance was provided to the five established nodal centres through upgrading of staff and adaptive research activities.
44. Collaboration with other agencies and institutions was continued during the year including IDRC, which continued to provide funding support for fellowships and research, the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, ICLARM and the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. Other collaborative activities were carried out with Kasetsart and Chulalongkorn Universities, the University of Stirling, and the UK Overseas Development Authority. Collaboration with various national and regional projects has also been maintained and enlarged.
45. Difficulties encountered by the Project included limited fellowship funding which prevented the organization of more short-term training courses, the lack of technical backstopping from ADCP in the last two years which had disrupted the implementation of the AQUIS programme, and placement problems for junior scientists in the RLCP.
46. Mr. Chen elaborated on the future direction of NACA and the emergence of sub-networks under the NACA umbrella. He indicated that unless steps were taken to align fish farming with animal husbandry, it would be difficult to shift resource-based practices to a scientific-based industry. Greater effort should therefore be directed toward basic and disciplinary research. Reiterating the importance of sub-networks as indicated by the Minister in his keynote address, he identified the topics in which these networks need to be established. He underlined the need for a coordinating programme, following the style of the original phases of the ADCP project, to establish the networks and thus supplement the governments' efforts for the expanded development of aquaculture.
47. Finally, Mr. Chen indicated the tentative list of activities and work plan for NACA's Phase III.
48. The Director of RLCC reported that the two-storey dormitory with a capacity of 60 trainees had been completed at a cost of 600,000 RMB yuan; renovation and repair of the old dormitories, dining hall, recreation room and library were also completed during the year at a cost of 30,000 RMB yuan; and sports and recreation facilities which cost the government 30,000 RMB yuan had been constructed.
49. The seventh training course on integrated fish farming was conducted from 16 April to 14 August 1987 with 30 participants from 21 countries; of these, 18 were funded by UNDP, ten by IDRO, and two by the Asian Development Bank.
50. The first training course on mass seed production of Chinese carp was conducted on 20 April to 8 May 1987 jointly by RLCC and the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute; 16 participants from Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Hongkong attended.
51. Studies on seven research areas were conducted. These were bio-economic studies on the integrated fish farming models as practised in China; effects of different polyculture ratios on fish yield; effects of manure application frequencies on fish yield; effects of application of fresh and fermented pig manure on fish yield; effects of fresh and compost green manure on fish yield; effects of manure application on bacterial fish disease and human hygiene; and effects of nightly aeration in the integrated fish ponds on fish yield promotion.
52. The HP3000 computer was reported to be operating normally and playing an important role in research and information. RLCC had completed processing the Computerised Management of Data on Species, Quality and Resources of Freshwater Fishes in China; it had also proved useful in systematic analysis for the studies in RLCC, in drawing up dataflow diagrams, compiling the data dictionary, and making up survey forms for standard data and bilingual searching charts. The computer was used for data modelling of the fish farm economics.
53. The first volume of Collected Papers of the Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre has been edited and published; it includes 15 papers. Chinese literature on tilapia culture has also been gathered for information exchange.
54. The RLCC Director reported no serious problems; however, the Centre will strive hard to expand its international relations, improve the English language skills and capabilities of the staff, and improve training in integrated fish farming, research and information. The report of RLCC appears as Annex IX.
55. The RLCI Director reported that the Government of India, through the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, continued to support the further development of infrastructure.
56. Five major disciplinary and three inter-disciplinary research studies were conducted.
57. Disciplinary research included the following: (a) fish feed formulation and nutritional bio-energetics of Asiatic carps; (b) genetic studies on Chinese carp and rohu and genetic engineering studies on mrigal; (c) aquatic microbiology which included experiments on the utilization of fermented water hyacinth in fish ponds; (d) aquatic weed management; and (e) ichthyo-pathology and fish health protection. This laboratory had organized a short-term training programme on fish disease diagnosis for State Fisheries Officials on 2–13 March 1987.
58. Inter-disciplinary research included studies on: (a) broodstock management and fry/fingerling rearing; (b) management studies of undrainable ponds; and (c) culture of catfish Mystus spp.
59. Under the secondment programme of Junior Scientists, a Malaysian researcher completed the one-year training and produced a technical report on the nutrient status of water and sediment in nursery and rearing ponds of carp.
60. RLCI experts helped the Bangladesh National Centre in Mymensingh organize training programmes on composite fish culture for extension officers.
61. The Farm Science Centre conducted six on-campus and one off-campus training programmes in various aspects of aquaculture and home science. Other programmes of the Farm Science Centre included the continuing Land-to-Lab Programme, the Prime Minister's 20-point programme and the project on science and technology for women, under which demonstration programmes on carp seed raising technology had been launched.
62. The computer room at RLCI has been air-conditioned and 165 data input sheets filled to initiate AQUIS. Efforts are being made to collect more data input sheets from sister organizations in the country. Training of staff on computer programming under government sponsorship had been done. However, because of the non-availability of the spare parts of the computer, it was not yet functional. The Report of the RLCI Director appears as Annex X.
63. RLCP reported that the sixth training course for senior aquaculturists in Asia and the Pacific region was successfully completed on 6 March 1987. All 19 participants were awarded the NACA Diploma in Aquaculture and 18 were awarded the Master of Aquaculture degree by the University of the Philippines in the Visayas on 2 April 1987. The participants were awarded fellowships by various funding agencies: IDRC funded seven; ADB two; and NACA ten.
64. A decision was made to postpone the seventh session to 1988–1989 to allow a review of the past six sessions during the one-year moratorium.
65. During the year, the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, as RLCP, continued to provide technical assistance to, and trained technicians of, the Philippine National Aquaculture Centre at Calape, Bohol.
66. Two staff members of the Training Division trained in audio-visual production under the UNDP Programme for Development Training and Communication Planning in Bangkok; the training was funded by NACA.
67. Re-activation of the Aquaculture Information System was hampered due to another computer breakdown towards the second half of the year. Publication of over 600 data units already stored is being considered.
68. In late 1987, the Philippine National Aquaculture Centre (PNAC) started to produce shrimp (P. monodon) postlarvae. Hatchery operations have benefitted from the technical advice of SEAFDEC AQD technical staff. NACA Project staff visited the PNAC during the year. PNAC staff have also been trained at RLCP.
69. Problems encountered during the year had included;(a) lack of funds for basic expenses such as casual salaries, vehicle maintenance; and (b) the delayed hiring of the Training Coordinator for the seventh session which is due to start in March 1988. The Report of the RLCP Director appears as Annex XI.
70. The representative of the RLCT Director reported the RLCT continued to provide administrative services needed to facilitate the activities of NACA, organized the meetings of NACA projects, training courses and study programmes.
71. The Government of Thailand has remitted to UNDP the amount of Baht 260,200 ($10,000) as its contribution to NACA core activities, as well as provided in-kind contributions, including the provision of office space and research facilities, and other administrative services.
72. National staff of the Department of Fisheries continued to participate in the research, training and information activities of NACA through RLCT. Ten staff members were involved in the various activities of NACA in 1987, covering exchange of national experts under TCDC, staff upgrading, and attendance at conferences/meetings.
73. NIFI as the host institute of the NACA Coordinating Unit and the RLCT undertook 15 research studies on 8 areas as follows: (a) fish hormone studies; (b) sex differentiation of Macrobrachium; (c) fish nutrition; (d) fish disease; (e) toxic and sub-lethal effects of formalin on freshwater fishes; (f) trichogaster farming; (g) paddy-cum-prawn farming; and (h) socio-economic studies on ricefield fish culture.
74. The First NACA Training Course on Aquaculture Economics and Socio-Economics was organized by RLCT in cooperation with Kasetsart University on 7 May-5 June 1987; 22 participants from 12 countries attended.
75. In preparation for the initiation of the regional research programme on the relationship between the ulcerative syndrome in fish and the environment, a one-month regional training course on environmental monitoring and the ulcerative syndrome in fish was organized at the National Inland Fisheries Institute on 3–30 November 1987. Eighteen participants from 11 countries participating in the regional research programme attended the course.
76. RLCT selected two candidates to receive in-service training in the field of fish nutrition and one candidate in fish disease studies under the junior scientist secondment programme, scheduled to commence in April and October 1988, respectively. The Report of the RLCT Director is shown in Annex XII.
