I am pleased to have an opportunity to attend this meeting for the establishment of the Organization of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific Region and join the deep concern of many representatives.
First, I should like to express my thanks to Mr. President and the organizers for their sincere efforts to call this meeting and their kind invitation for us to attend this meeting.
As aquaculture can make great contribution to the increase in marine products and improvement in people's living standards, its significance is becoming greater every day.
Furthermore, with the condition prevailing in some countries in which their resources are now over-exploited and there is lack of conservation of fishery products so that these resources are now depleted, the primary task to meet the demand for marine products and improve the livelihood of people is to develop aquaculture.
In our country, the government has set up a high target of 8 million tonnes of aquaculture products during the third 7-year plan period of national economic development. It will mobilize the entire population for implementing the plan. Although it is difficult to achieve this target, our people are committed to the decision and will fulfill it without fail.
In this regard, we think the most important problem is to introduce new aquaculture techniques. Introduction of new techniques, such as the discovery of good seed, improvement of breeding methods and rearing methods, reduction in the growing period, and synthetic utilization of culturing grounds will help us reach the target.
I believe that the establishment of NACA will contribute to our struggle to hit the vast target.
Obviously, in the attainment of its own objectives, NACA's activities in research, training, exchange of information and dissemination of new technical knowledge will meet the inevitable problems. I express firm support to the establishment of NACA which will contribute to the development of aquaculture in our country and the Asia-Pacific countries.
I hope that NACA will carry out its mission successfully in the future to meet the expectations of member countries.
