70. In response to the comments of Dr.Dehadrai, the representative from India, regarding the need to compile existing aquaculture information on commodity or culture system basis, the Project Coordinator explained that while efforts have been made to prepare review of the culture practices of some species commodity such as the one prepared by RLCT on Macrobrachium technology, AQUIS is designed to provide the necessary information needed for this purpose. Dr.Pillay further explained the relevance of AQUIS in providing the various technical and economic information pertaining to each species commodity and culture system. He further pointed out that NACA does not have the necessary staff to do the compilation work which should be done by the staff of lead centre and national centres. However, he stressed the usefulness of AQUIS which, if properly developed, will provide most of the basic information needed for any culture species and farming system.
71. The Committee noted the comments of Dr. Dehadrai concerning (i) the need of standardization of seed quality and their distribution by various distributing centres for fish farmers in India and (ii) the research need in broodstock maintenance for consistent supply of quality seed from the fish hatcheries.
72. Mr. Thayaparan of Sri Lanka commented that the minimum qualification for RLCC training course was too low and included even fish farmers. He cited the multiplying effect of training extension workers and technicians of government stations while private sector of fish farmers might tend to keep their knowledge as trade secrets. Dr. Pillay explained the genesis of the integrated fish farming training course conducted by RLCC and pointed out the practicality of the Chinese culture system for adoption in the region. The idea of the training course is to provide training to senior aquaculture technicians for planning and implementing integrated fish farming in their respective countries. He further stressed the criteria for admission. Apart from meeting the minimum requirements for admission, the candidates must be nominated by the respective governments.
73. In reponse to a comment on the need of an age limit of 35 years, it was explained from past experience that older candidates generally had difficulties in coping with the vigorous training activities of the programme. However, the Project Coordinator will discuss the matter further with RLCC and RLCP.
74. The representative of Nepal commented on the need to incorporate socio-economics in the training courses and research work. It was explained that a rather comprehensive training in socio-economics including book keeping has been incorporated in the RLCP training course and the trainees have been trained in the use of socio-economic methodology in the analysis of aquaculture outputs and feasibility studies. Dr. Pillay further explained that while it is useful to incorporate economic analysis in all research work, economic viability varies according, to locality and culture practice.
75. In response to a request for more information of the fish disease epidemic in Thailand, Dr. Thirapan of RLCT and Dr. Csavas of the FAO Regional Office provided further background information of the disease outbreak. The disease was said to originate from New South Wales where it was called red spot disease and was thought to be caused by Vibrio anguillarium in brackish waters and Aeromonas hydrophila in freshwaters. Eighteen months later the disease invaded Papua New Guinea and two years later it was found in Malaysia and Indonesia. In late 1981 to early 1982 the disease spread over the Central Plain of Thailand affecting all species of fish, especially snakehead and catfish species. The disease has spread further to the northern and northeastern part of Thailand and recently to Kampuchea, Laos and Burma. It is likely to threaten Bangladesh, India and China soon. The true causative agent of the disease has not yet been identified, most likely a new virulent strain of Aeromonas or a virus could be the cause. FAO has launched an inter-country TCP project to field an interdisciplinary team consisting of an epidemologist, bacteriologist, virologist, parasitologist and toxicologist to collect and compile all available information, and outline a plan of action in order to identify the causative agent and to develop proper preventive and curative measures.
76. The Committee noted the suggestions of Dr. P.S.B.R. James of India to place some emphasis on the information system which needs considerable strengthening in terms of manpower to collect, process and computing of data into the computer.
77. With regards to another comment of Dr. James on the needs to organize other training courses on species which are well studied in various centre, the Coordinator informed the meeting of the pending aquaculture training needs survey which will yield the necessary information pertaining to aquaculture manpower requirement of various countries in the region. Short-term or specialized training courses will be designed accordingly.
78. The Committee took note of the information provided by Dr. S.N. Dwivedi, Director of Central Institute of Fisheries Education, ICAR, that the Institute, apart from postgraduate fisheries education, also conducts special training programmes in aquaculture, as in Management of Freshwater and Brackishwater Farms.
79. In answering the enquiry from Dr. James pertaining to placement of trained personnel, Dr. Chua informed the Committee that questionnaires have been sent to each graduate of NACA to obtain information of their post-training performance. He further reported that almost all NACA graduates are placed in various aquaculture activities in planning, training, research and administration and many are in high ranking positions.
80. Responding to the suggestion of Dr. Dehadrai, to set research and training priorities for NACA, Dr. Pillay explained the original concept of NACA research and training programmes and informed the Committee that such needs and priorities for each centre has already been determined by a Task Force comprising national fisheries experts, FAO personnel and consultants before developing the research programmes. However, he pointed out that each centre is responsible to work out the details and research design.
81. The Committee noted with satisfaction of the effectiveness of the implementation of the three main NACA activities. It expressed the need to strengthen the information activity and to conduct short-term training courses on technology developed at the lead centres. Subject to the availability of resources, the problems of fish diseases should be looked into along with the research needs for broodstock maintenance and the standardization of fish seed quality. The question on the age limit of trainees was also noted.
