The Regional Lead Centre in China achieved considerable progress in the year 1987 in the areas of research, training and information, as well as in the development of its facilities. A summary of its achievements is presented in this report.
I. DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES
The departments concerned at the various levels in the Chinese Government placed great importance to the development of the facilities in the Regional Lead Centre in China. Despite the financial constraints, the government provided funds for the improvement or construction of infrastructure and facilities, as follows:
The construction of a two-storey dormitory, which was reported in last year's Provisional Governing Council Meeting, was completed during the year, along with the furnishings (furniture, carpeting, and airconditioning). A corridor that links the new and old dormitories with the recreation room and dining halls, has also been built. The Government spent 600,000 RMB yuan on the construction of these facilities. With these facilities coming up, the Centre can now accommodate 60 foreign participants at a time.
Renovation and repair of the old dormitories, dining hall, recreation room and library, were completed during the year, at a cost of 30,000 RNB yuan.
The Government provided 36,000 RMB yuan for the construction of sports and recreation facilities for the use of the trainees.
II. TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Regular training programme
The seventh training course on integrated fish farming was conducted from 16 April to 14 August, and was attended by 30 participants from 21 countries, the highest number of both trainees and countries represented in the seven-year history of the training programme. The countries represented were as follows:
Bangladesh, Burma, India, DPRKorea, and ROKorea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam from Asia and the Pacific;
Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria from Africa;
Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru from South America.
Of the trainees, 18 were funded by UNDP; ten by IDRC; and two by the Asian Development Bank. Nine were master's degree holders and 11 had bachelor's degrees.
The main lectures of the training course were concentrated on traditional Chinese pond culture and integrated fish farming, Field practice and study tours were tailored to improve the quality of training.
The period of time allotted to field practice of artificial breeding of Chinese carps at the Yixing Fish Farm was increased to enable the trainees to learn more intensively through practice.
Culture of specific aquatic products and seawater fish farming were added to the course content during the study tour to Guangdong to broaden the knowledge of the trainees,
Examinations and assignments were given; trainees were required to submit reports after the field work and study tour. Mid-term and final examinations were also given. The performance of the trainees was very satisfactory, with the highest mark being 99 per cent and the lowest 67 per cent, and the average 87 per cent.
More lectures in English were given in 1987, with three teachers lecturing in English as against only one in the sixth training course. Five subjects consisting of 72 hours were given in English instead of only two of 20 hours last year. The Centre in the future will aim at conducting the training course entirely in English.
Great attention was paid by the Centre to the improved accommodations and services, covering cleaning and hygiene in the dormitories, recruitment of a chef with extensive experience, and improvement in the catering service to international standards.
Short-term training course on mass seed production
The first training course on mass seed production of Chinese carp from 20 April to 8 May 1987 was conducted by RLCC jointly with the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute. It was attended by 16 participants from Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Hongkong. They were given theoretical background of artificial propagation of Chinese carps, biological basis of breeding of cultivated carps, culture of brood fishes, development of sex glands, artificial breeding technology for brooders, rearing of fry and fingerlings, transportation of fry and fingerlings and control of diseases.
With the theories learned in class as back-up, the trainees undertook field practice of pond clearing, artificial breeding, fry rearing, conditioning and transportation of summer finglerlings. The training course achieved its objectives and was a complete success, eliciting this impression from trainees at the closing ceremony:
“We have experienced with our own hands the processes of artificial breeding of Chinese carps - now we can proudly say that we have done artificial breeding of Chinese carps.”
III. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
1. Bio-economic studies on the integrated fish farming models as practised in China.
In the first half of 1987, the researchers undertook comprehensive surveys in the basins of the five largest rivers in China - in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Shandong, and Heilongjiang provinces and 22 other places. The data on the input-output of the typical models were collected during the survey and a report on the economic effects of integrated fish farming as practiced in China was prepared.
In the second half of 1987, a further survey of 17 integrated fish farms in Jiangsu and Zhejiang was conducted to get information on biological and economic inputs/outputs in integrated fish farming.
In April, the second meeting of the collaborative network for bio-economic studies on integrated fish farming models as practiced in China was held. While the meeting discussed the results of the research, it also drew up the research work to be conducted in the future.
2. Effects of different polyculture ratios upon fish yield
The studies have been initiated to evolve judicious stocking density and ratio of grass carp as the main largest species along with bighead and silver carp. The research conducted in 1986 showed that the best ratio between grass carp and bighead carp/silver carp is 10:2, followed by 10:3, and 10:4. In 1987, we continued these studies on two groups (10:2 and 10:3). The Centre also stocked common carp at the rate of 5 per cent and 8 per cent of the total stocking amount, respectively, in the two groups of ponds above. Further, to incorporate common carp in these combinations, studies were undertaken to co-stock common carp at the rate of 5–8 per cent. Data are being analyzed to find the most suitable combination which will give highest yield with grass carp as the main largest species.
3. Effects of manure application frequencies upon fish yield
The experimental results show that polyculture of bighead carp, common carp and crucian carp at a stocking density of 6333/ha with daily application of fermented pig manure at the rate of 41.8 kg/ha (dry weight) and without any additional fish feed increased fish yield by 30–40 per cent compared to manuring in installment of 5–7 days. To confirm the above findings of superiority of daily application in increasing fish yield, studies were continued in 1987, with increasing stocking rate and amount of manure in eight ponds, divided into four groups. Detailed observations were also made on water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, NH4, N, P, DO, COD, and chlorophyll. These data will be analyzed in relation with fish growth.
4. Studies of the effects of application of fresh and fermented pig manure upon fish yield
The results in 1986 indicated that the application of fresh pig manure had the optimum effects on fish yield, with higher fish yield than that with fermented pig manure by 144.4 per cent, and chemical fertilizers by 229.3 per cent. To reconfirm this, further studies were undertaken in 1986 in six ponds. The results confirmed that the fish grew better in those ponds applied with fresh pig manure compared to that which got fermented manure or chemical fertilizers.
5. Effects of fresh and compost green manure upon fish yield
The preliminary results obtained in 1986 indicated that Sudan grass, water hyacinth, mugwort Artemisia vulgaris and alligator alternanthera Alternanthera philoxerodes can fertilize the water effectively.
In 1987, a modified experiment in nine experimental ponds with the same depth and area was conducted. Fingerlings of silver carp, bighead carp, common carp and crucian carp were stocked. At present, the experiment is in progress and routine measurement of the difference in ecological factors such as plankton, nutritional salts in water body, COD and digestibility of aquatic micro-organisms is being undertaken.
6. Effects of manure application upon bacterial fish diease and human hygiene
Since 1987, emphasis has been given on the survey of bacteria on the surface of the body of the fish raised in the ponds applied with animal manure causing human intestinal diseases. It is said that the application of various types of manure give rise to pathogenic bacteria on the surface of the fish body causing human intestinal diseases. The comparison of the numbers of pathogenic bacteria per sq. cm. on the surface of the fish body in the control and manured ponds and after they were scaled and washed with tap water was conducted. The result will indicate the effects of eating raw fish from the manured ponds upon human intestinal disease.
Experiments on the manure of chicken, pigs, ducks and cattle were conducted on the RLCC Experimental Farm and Helei Experimental Fish Farm. Colon bacillus colony content was found highest in the ponds applied with pig or cattle manure, followed by duck manure, and then by chicken manure.
7. Effects of nightly aeration in the integrated fish ponds upon fish yield promotion
The studies began in 1987. Aeration was done regularly from midnight to 6.00 A.M. in the experimental pond, while at times aeration was done of control where found necessary. The preliminary results indicated that fish yield in the experimental ponds was higher than that in the control pond, but it needs to be further studied.
To sum up, on the basis of the progress achieved last year in research on high-yielding integrated fish farming, the Centre has intensified its research activities and the technical papers and reports have been submitted to NACA and IDRC.
IV. INFORMATION ACTIVITY
The HP3000 computer is operating normally and playing an important role in the research and information activities with its Chinese and foreign language terminals, printer, enlarging board and other peripherals. It has completed processing the Computerised Management of Data on Species, Quality and Resources of Freshwater Fishes in China. It also completed the systematic analysis for the studies, drew up dataflow diagrams, compiled the data dictionary, and made up the survey forms for standard data and bilingual searching charts. It provided data modellings of integrated fish farming systems and has also provided input/output analysis of the fish farm economy. The computer implemented information searching work and provided routine searching service.
The first volume of Collected Papers of Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre has been edited; it includes 15 papers, and will be published soon. We also collected Chinese literature on Tilapia culture for purposes of international information exchange.
V. MAJOR PROBLEMS
1. Expanding international relations
Considering the interest of the countries all over the world to nominate their participants for the NACA integrated fish farming course, the relevant research work undertaken at the Centre and the role the integrated fish farming plays in integrated rural development, it is essential that the transformation of the Centre into an International Institute be considered. It should try to generate more international assistance, including funding assistance.
2. Improving the English language skills and capabilities of staff
Although the Centre has improved considerably the proficiency of its staff in the English language, much still needs to be done to further improve their language skills. In order to make RLCC a truly international research and training centre for integrated fish farming, RLCC should focus priority on improving the English language skills of the RLCC staff members.
3. Improving training of integrated fish farming, research and information
It is proposed that the Centre should be in frequent contact with NACA past graduates in order to know more about their activities and the constraints they face in implementing the programme in their centres. Also, it is important to know and assess the role of integrated fish farming in contributing to higher productivity. This will help the Centre to modify and improve upon the training programme and to prioritize its research programme.
