Dr. Roger S.V. Pullin
An overview of ICLARM and its scope of work
The International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management is an autonomous, non-profit, international scientific and technical centre which has been organized to conduct, stimulate and accelerate research on all aspects of fisheries and other living aquatic resources. The Centre was incorporated in Manila on 20 January 1977 and its operational base was established in Manila in March 1977.
ICLARM is an operational research organization, not a granting or funding entity. Its programme of work is aimed to resolve critical technical and socio-economic constraints to increased production, improved resource management, and equitable distribution of benefits in economically developing countries. It pursues these objectives through its programmes in aquaculture, resource assessment and management, information, and education and training. Cooperative research is carried out worldwide with numerous institutions in developing and developed countries.
Policies are set by an International Board of Trustees. Direction of ICLARM, under the policies set by the Board and its Programme Committee, is the responsibility of the Director General. Advice on programmes is received by the Director General from scientists drawn from the international community.
The ICLARM core staff consists of a small group of internationally recruited scientists with expertise in aquaculture, fisheries, biology, population dynamics and social sciences. The core staff is supplemented by a small number of ICLARM field staff working in cooperative research projects with national institutions. In addition, provision is made for interns, consultants and visiting fellows, contributing to the Centre's breadth of competence and flexibility. The core programme, core staff and cooperative research projects are supported by numerous private foundations and governments.
ICLARM'S aquaculture programme
All ICLARM activities have been the subject of a new 5-year planning exercise. An ICLARM 5-year Plan (1988–1992) has been prepared in draft form and was approved by the ICLARM Board of Trustees at its December 1987 Annual Meeting.
The 5-year plan for ICLARM's Aquaculture Programme can be summarized as follows. The programme will continue its evolution from a structure based on fixed term projects to a sustained core programme of strategic research to be pursued by independent ICLARM research units and associated national institutions in a network mode. There will be three such research units and associated networks working on (1) genetic improvement of freshwater finfish cultured in the tropics. (2) tropical integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming systems, and (3) coastal aquaculture of tropical molluscs. In addition, ICLARM started in late 1987 an International Network of Tropical Aquaculture Scientists for individuals researching on these fields. Current membership is 50 scientists from 21 countries. Full details of all planned Aquaculture Programme activities will be published in the ICLARM 5-year plan in March 1988.
ICLARM'S interactions with NACA
ICLARM's interactions with NACA up to 1986 are described in the ICLARM Statement to the First Provisional Governing Council Meeting of NACA, Surabaya, Indonesia, November 1986 (p. 205). As NACA develops its future activities in aquaculture research, training and information, ICLARM will endeavour to develop further collaborative activities with NACA institutions in fields of mutual interest. On the research front, there is definite scope for involvement of NACA institutions in the strategic research networks described above, especially in tilapia and carp genetics, integrated farming systems and coastal aquaculture of molluses.
With respect to training, ICLARM is developing its training programmes for visiting scientists and a new brochure on these will be reprinted from the ICLARM 5-year plan and distributed from March 1988. Moreover, when ICLARM's research units in genetics and integrated farming are established (that for coastal aquaculture is already operational in the Solomon Islands), opportunities for training in ICLARM facilities will increase. Joint training activities with NACA will then be a possibility.
On information, ICLARM is keen to maintain and expand its library exchange agreements with NACA institutions and the flow of information between ICLARM staff and NACA researchers, which has always been excellent.
