Annex VII

REPORT OF THE COORDINATOR
SECOND MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE NETWORK OF AQUACULTURE CENTRES IN ASIA
14–15 December 1982, Bangkok, Thailand

I. BACKGROUND OF PROJECT

The UNDP/FAO regional project (RAS/76/003) was proposed in response to recommendation of the 1975 Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Planning in Asia, Bangkok and the 1976 FAO Technical Conference on Aquaculture held in Kyoto, in which the need to set up regional aquaculture centres to share the responsibilities of conducting research, training core personnel and establishing information system was highlighted. The project, which is designed to operate within the framework of Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries (TCDC), is part of the global network of regional aquaculture centres established and co-ordinated through the UNDP/FAO Aquaculture Development and Co-ordination Programme (ADCP).

1. Objectives

In attaining the long-range objective of increasing fish production through aquaculture, the immediate objective of the project are to establish four regional aquaculture lead centres for:

• training of aquaculture core personnel for development;

• conducting multidisciplinary research on selected fish culture systems for adaption or improvement of existing technologies, and for the development of new technologies;

• establishing and maintaining a regional information system for the provision of appropriate data and information needed for development planning, research and training.

A selected number of existing national centres will be developed for linkage with the regional lead centres for interchange of experience, expertise and information. Training of technicians and extension workers at the national level will be organized by the national aquaculture centres thus established.

The project will also provide ad hoc assistance for undertaking feasibility studies, formulation of projects and their implementation within the availability of its resources.

2. Financial and Implementation History

1. Date of project implementation

   Project implementation commenced in late 1980 with the appointment of the Project Coordinator in August 1980 and the Senior Aquaculturist (Training) in September 1980.

2. Date of original duration

   The original duration of the project based on the project document RAS/76/003/A/01/12 approved by UNDP on 7 June 1979 was scheduled for 2½ years, to December 1981. It was intended to establish three centres in India, the Philippines and Thailand. The establishment of another centre, the Regional Lead Centre in China, was included in the project revision coded B approved on 13 June 1980. Actual duration of the project was 1 years from the date of its operation in the field.

3. Current project revision, duration and UNDP contribution

   The current project revision is coded D with the project duration extended to two more years to December 1983 and UNDP contribution increased by $1, 212, 721.

4. Total UNDP contribution and amount committed

   Under the mandatory revision coded E of 28 May 1982, the revised UNDP contribution is $3, 205, 635 apportioned for the years as shown in Appendix 1. Total amount committed as reflected in the financial statement of October 1982 is $2, 527, 793.

II. PROGRESS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Fifteen months after the project started its field operation, the established Advisory Committee held its first meeting during 3–5 December 1981 concurrently with the First Tripartite Review. Since then, most of the project activities as outlined in the project document coded D along with recommendations of the Advisory Committee and the TPR Team have been implemented, or in the initial stages of implementation.

During the year, the implementation of NACA activities has increased in momentum. This has been largely due to the strengthening of the regional centres through increased inputs by the host governments/host institutions and the recruitment of the remaining project staff. In addition to the three major activities of training, research and information, efforts have also been directed at (a) strengthening the linkage amongst the four lead centres, (b) establishing national aquaculture centres, (c) publication of NACA newsletter for information dissemination, (d) collaborating with other agencies sharing common goals, (e) implementing TCDC activities and (f) providing ad hoc assistance to host governments/host institutions.

In the course of implementing the project activities there are strong indications that the oft-repeated expression of regional cooperation is being replaced by actions and deeds through the mechanism of NACA. Despite funding and manpower constraints, the concept of regional cooperation through pooling of resources with minimal duplication of efforts, the very concept on which the establishment of NACA is based, is gradually becoming a practical reality. This is apparent in the following summary of the progress of project activities and achievements, the details of which for the four centres are contained in their respective Director's Reports appearing in Appendices 2, 3, 4 and 5. The latest six-monthly progress report circulated recently contains the overall operation of the project during May - October 1982.

1. Advisory Committee Meeting and Tripatite Review

The First Advisory Committee was held on 3–5 December 1981 in conjunction with the First Tripatrite Review at the Regional Lead Centre in the Philippines. Twelve representatives from 8 participating governments along with 9 officials of FAO, UNDP, SEAFDEC, UPV and ICLARM were in attendance.

The Committee reviewed in details the progress of establishing the four regional lead centres of the Network and the three major activities of research, training and information since NACA became fully operational in late 1980. The difficulties encountered in the implementation of the work plan were also discussed at length. Generally, the Committee was satisfied with the overall progress of the project, especially in the implementation of the training courses. In view of constraints of manpower, operating funds and research facilities, the Committee advised that research be restricted to a small number of farming systems as follows:

1. Penaeid shrimp culture technology at the Centre in the Philippines (RLCP);

2. Catfish and Macrobrachium culture in the Thailand Centre (RLCT);

3. Modelling of integrated fish farming system in the China Centre (RLCC);

4. Management of undrainable carp ponds in the India Centre (RLCI)

The Committee noted that memoranda of understanding were being developed between lead centres and host institutions to facilitiate the implementation of activities of the respective lead centres.

On the question of continued support, the Committee was of the view that the Network, established at considerable cost and through persistent efforts to overcome the many difficulties, should be maintained for the benefit of the region. Since the three major activities were still in their early stages of implementation, the Committee strongly recommended that UNDP support should be continued till the end of the programming cycle 1982–86 when these activities would be better established for attracting funding support from other sources. In the meantime, efforts should be made to generate funds badly needed for training, research and information from TCDC allocations of participating governments, UNDP IPFs, Asian Development Bank and other bilateral donors with interest in the Asian-Pacific region. It was also generally agreed that an independent governing body or council be established to coordinate and administer the network linkages, with a special fund raised through voluntary contributions of participating governments and other interested donors, in addition to the continuation of appropriate UNDP support.

The first Tripartite Review was conducted at the same venue on December 5 1981 with the participation of the same representatives of member Governments, UNDP, FAO, SEAFDEC and UPV. In the ensuing discussion on the performance of the project, the Review Team recommended the following for the future:

1. The project should hasten assistance to the participating countries without lead centres to establish national centres.

2. The project should disseminate technology developed in the lead centres to other countries as they become available.

3. Concerned authorities in FAO and at project level should make every effort to avoid delays in its implementation.

4. In view of the overall satisfaction with the project, the Team recommended that UNDP should continue funding the Network even as the concerned governments explore alternative means of maintaining the Network.

The full report of the Advisory Committee Meeting and that of the Tripartite Review have been distributed to participating governments and concerned agencies.

2. Recruitment of Project Personnel

The two remaining international staff have been recruited in February 1982, thereby completing the recruitment exercise of NACA. However, the post of Aquaculturist (Research) for Thailand has been deleted, effective from 1.1.82. Todate, the four project staff represent the full complement of NACA international staff, but the RLCC post of the Research/Training Adviser will be deleted in February 1983 due to funding constraint. The services of a research associate obtained under the FAO Associate Experts Scheme were also made available in January 1982. Their postings in the various centres are shown below:

The Coordinator is also directly involved in planning and implementation of RLCT activities, besides assisting the work of other lead centres and project-related activities essential to achieving the NACA objectives.

3. Facilities Development of the Lead Centres

All the four regional lead centres have been established and are operational while facilities development continues. Additional equipment has been purchased by the host governments/host institutions. In addition to the $1, 252, 827 of equipment purchased earlier, the project has purchased/committed about $40,000 of equipment for this year.

Although the research building and pond facilities in RLCC will be constructed soon, its field experiments are being conducted in rented ponds. The temporary laboratory facilities in the existing main building have been expanded to include additional rooms, especially those for storing sophisticated equipment. Construction of an additional four blocks of staff quarters along with other structures is in progress.

The technical manpower of RLCC for research and training is further strengthened in September 1982 by the amalgamation of the Asian-Pacific Regional Research and Training Centre for Integrated Fish Farming (the host institution of RLCC) and the Changjiang Fisheries Research Institute, one of the leading fisheries institutions in China. The Institute, sharing the same campus with RLCC, was transferred from Shasi, Hubei Province in 1981. Its Deputy Director is the National Director of RLCC. There is also the possibility of integrating with the nearby (within walking distance) Federal Fisheries Base Centre at Wuxi, so that RLCC will become a “centre within a centre”, thereby enabling all available resources to be fully utilized.

Most of the proposed infrastructures of RLCI have been completed. However, as a result of the unprecedented floods in August, a section of the pond facilities along with some farm roads have been damaged. These are being repaired.

In preparation for the research project on penaeid shrimp culture, 32 experimental ponds have been constructed at RLCP while the hatchery nursery complex is expected to be completed soon.

The laboratory facilities of RLCT are adequate for the manpower available for research. The host government has also provided the field facilities of Suphanburi Fisheries Station, about 190 km from Bangkok for production-oriented experiments, in addition to Chachoengsao Fisheries Station and the National Inland Fisheries Institute (NIFI).

4. National Staff at the Lead Centres

Generally, there is an overall increase of national staff in each lead centre. While the details are available in the Director's reports, the existing staff strength for each centre is briefly mentioned below:

NACA Head Office : Administrative support personnel comprises one secretary and one driver recruited locally by the project.

RLCC : The training staff comprises 10 teachers and 5 interpreters, including a few from the research staff of the centre. Additional lecturers are also provided by a number of related government agencies and fish farms.

At present, there are 14 research staff assigned to the centre in the following disciplines: fish culture techniques (2), microbiology (3), phytoplankton (2), zooplankton (1), fish feeds (2), aquaculture economics (2) and water chemistry (2).

It is expected that the national staff would be strengthened with the integration of the centre with the Changjiang Fisheries Research Institute.

RLCI  :  The 26 national staff assigned to the centre comprises the National Director, scientists (20), technicians (4) and Liaison Officer (1). A large number of field staff is also provided with a few administrative personnel.

RLCP : 5 national staff are assigned to the project office in the Philippines, comprising an executive assistant, a secretary, a clerk-typist, an accounts clerk and a driver. Another driver will also be assigned to the project. The other staff (3) formerly with the project but now officially attached to the Training and Extension Division of the host institution continue to render service to the project.

With the reorganization of the Training and Extension Division of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (host institution), the project's one-year training course has become part of the Division's training activities and can therefore avail of all its facilities, including the services of personnel from the Training Unit (2), Training Affairs Unit (2), Audio-visual Unit (5) and Technical Services Unit (5).

The instructors of the NACA training course are drawn from the host institutions of all lead centres, the University of the Philippines in the Visayas and other agencies and institutions within the region.

For the multidisciplinary research project on penaeid shrimp culture, apart from the NACA Aquaculturist (Research) who is the team leader, the host institution assigned to RLCP 29 personnel comprising 4 scientists, 5 technicians, 3 administrative staff and 17 workers including 2 drivers.

For the information activity, 2 suitably trained personnel were assigned to the centre.

RLCT : In addition to the National Director, 22 national technical personnel have been assisting the centre in implementing its major activities of research, training and information. Their disciplines are inland fisheries management/ecology (1), aquaculture (5), fishery biology (2), fish breeding (1), ecology (1), water quality (2), nutrition (3), fish health (4), training coordinator (1) system manager (1), system programmer (1) and system operator (1). Technicians are recruited locally under casual hire as and when required.

5. Training Activity

During the year, training has again been given top priority since it is expected to yield more tangible results and create a greater immediate impact on aquaculture development in the region. Todate, 54 participants from 15 countries have graduated from the two group training courses. Feedbacks in the form of reports, communication and study tours indicate but a few examples of regional cooperation in action, underscoring the strength and benefits of NACA.

The second 4-month training for senior technicians on integrated fish farming has been completed with all 16 participants from 10 countries graduating. In 2 courses, 34 participants from 12 countries have graduated. These were selected from a total of 63 nominees from 15 countries.

The second one-year postgraduate training programme for senior aquaculturists is on-going. Due to funding constraints, only 16 participants from eight countries were selected from 26 nominees from 11 countries. Todate, 20 participants from 13 countries have graduated from the first course, which received 34 applicants from 15 countries. Of the 20 who were awarded Diploma of Aquaculture by NACA-SEAFDEC, 13 received Master's degree in aquaculture from the University of Philippines in the Visayas (UPV).

Nominations are now open for the third group-training courses in RLCC and RLCP scheduled to commence in April 1983.

Feedbacks from graduates of the two NACA courses have been rewarding, especially the one from Mr. Visant Meesawat of Thailand who attended the first 4-month training course in integrated fish farming. He has succeeded in achieving for the first time in Thailand the natural spawning and fertilization of the Chinese major carps after initial priming with hypophysical extract. He has attributed this success primarily to his training in RLCC. In another encouraging report submitted to the Government of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Kapa La'a, the class monitor of the RLCC second training course gave a critical review of the course and recommended the need for more trained personnel in integrated fish farming essential to overall integrated rural development in developing countries. All participants also evaluated this course through questionnaire. The results indicated that they found it very useful and above average despite language constraint.

Evaluation of the first one-year training course was also made by its participants in their Graduation Yearbook along with recommendations in support of the continuing need for trained personnel with broad-base multidisciplinary training in aquaculture for effective planning and implementation of development programmes.

The priority placed on the two group-training courses is a correct one. Besides developing the necessary leadership for national aquaculture planning and development, the two residential courses also provide a forum for participants from different cultural backgrounds to share experiences and expertise, and more importantly, to establish personal and institutional linkages essential to regional cooperation in aquaculture development. The study tours undertaken by the participants of the one-year postgraduate training programme, in addition to the mutual technical and cultural benefits, also provided opportunities to forge closer linkages between them and fellow aquaculturists in the other lead centres and various institutions visited.

The feedbacks have been encouraging. It is envisaged that these trained personnel, who hold responsible positions in their respective governments, will be the nucleus from which regional collaboration in aquaculture development will be established on a more practical footing.

6. Research Activity

In view of resource constraints, all centres have been advised by the Advisory Committee to concentrate research efforts on a small number of culture systems. This has been adhered to along with the completion of on-going experiments and studies. With the recent launching of RLCP research activity all the centres are now implementing their research programmes. Summarised research results have been disseminated to participating governments through the NACA newsletters and progress reports.

RLCC : The first phase of two experiments have been completed. These are related to the effects on fish yield of different animal excretory wastes, and of different pond sizes and depths. The results are being analysed.

The centre has also implemented a survey project for collection of data from integrated fish farming operations. This survey is in preparation for studies on the modelling of different integrated fish farming systems as recommended by the Advisory Committee.

The host institution provided all operating cost in implementing the centre's research programme, including the rented pond and tank facilities at an annual rate of $10,000.-

RLCI  :  Highlights of research achievement are the success in producing gynogenetic common carp, rohu, catla and silver carp. It is the first record that gynogenetic rohu and catla have been produced. This success opens up the possibility of producing heterosis effect through the use of inbred lines for intraspecific and integeneric hybridization.

While disciplinary studies are being conducted to resolve specific problems, such as those in fish nutrition, pathology and genetics, multidisciplinary system-oriented studies are also being carried out in 5 major research projects, including one on the management of undrainable carp ponds recommended by the Advisory Committee.

All the operating cost for research, which is also relevant to the Country Project on Intensification of Freshwater Fish Culture Research and Training (IND/75/031), is borne by the host institution.

RLCP : With the appointment of the Aquaculturist (Research) in February 1982, the RLCP has recently initiated a multidisciplinary research project on penaeid shrimp culture. The project, recommended by the Advisory Committee, will eventually involve a team of approximately 30 personnel to conduct a series of studies on broodstock development, hatchery and nursery techniques, and grow-out systems.

The main project site is at Leganes Research Station where the host institution and NACA have jointly developed pond facilities and a hatchery-nursery complex.

Under the memorandum of Understanding between SEAFDEC and NACA, RLCP will provide the operating cost for research.

RLCT : Under the circumstances of resource constraints, cooperation with small-scale farmers to conduct adaptive and production-oriented research has been recommended. It involves minimal but essential management and technological inputs without major changes to the artisanal practices, a pre-requisite in initial collaborative work with farmers. Such cooperation is expected to provide a greater immediate impact and a more effective method of technology transfer.

Highlight of this collaborative effort is the doubling of yield (2.2 tons/ha/8 months) of the siamese gourami or sepat siam (Trichogaster pectoralis) in rice-field culture.

Multidisciplinary approach in system-oriented research is encouraged whenever technical personnel and funds are made available by the host institution. Disciplinary studies on specialised topics are also conducted to fill identified knowledge gaps within a culture system.

A total of seven studies have been conducted, including those on catfish culture as recommended by the Advisory Committee.

While the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Fisheries and NACA is under consideration of the Thai authority, the operation cost for RLCT research is shared between DOF and NACA. The country project (THA/75/012) also shared in the cost of implementing the catfish research project.

Consultants : At this initial stage of research programme implementation the need for consultants has not been identified by the four centres. However, the available man-months will be utilized next year. RLCT has recently requested for consultancy in lipid biosynthesis.

7. Information Activity

With the installation of computer hardware and the AQUIS software along with staff training by the ADCP System Analyst and the local HP agents, both RLCT and RLCP have initiated the information activity in October 1982. Rooms for this activity have been specially constructed earlier in RLCT and RLCP. It is expected that the Centres in India and China will be in a position to implement their information programmes in 1983. Details on the NACA Information Programme are contained in the article presented at the SEAFDEC/IDRC Seminar on Fishery Information Science in Southeast Asia held in Bangkok in August 1982 (Appendix 6)

The Agreement with IDRC on the use of MINISIS package under license has been established recently for RLCP and RLCT.

8. Memorandum of Understanding

In order to facilitate the implementation of the NACA activities in the lead centres in Thailand and the Philippines, memoranda of understanding between the host government/SEAFDEC and NACA have been drawn up after close consultation with concerned parties. These memonranda define the objectives and responsibilities of the respective lead centres.

The Memorandum of Understanding for RLCP (Appendix 7) have been established while that for RLCT is under active consideration of the Thai Government.

The Governments of China and India hosting RLCC and RLCI respectively have all along been fully committed to provide adequate facilities, personnel and operating funds for the implementation of regional activities under NACA.

9. Establishment of National Aquaculture Centre (NAC)

As a follow-up action to the requests made at the last TPR, preliminary discussions were held earlier this year with government authorities on the establishment of NAC in Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Finalization of discussion and preparation of project proposals are in progress.

10. Information Dissemination

For the dissemination of information on its activities, NACA publishes a six-monthly newsletter for distribution to participating governments and concerned agencies, as well as individuals from within and outside of the region. Todate, two issues have been published. Apart from the progress reports, other reports related to training, research and information in the form of working papers are also disseminated. The main constraint is postage which is costly, specially for the mailing of newsletter from the Philippines.

11. Relationship with National, Regional and International Agencies

NACA has continued its policy of collaborating with national, regional and international organizations in achieving common goals. While efforts have been directed at implementing activities of priority to NACA and of importance to the region, technical assistance in research and training has also been given to host governments/institutions from time to time. Shortage of project personnel has prevented the latter activity from extending to other participating governments.

While collaboration with UNDP/FAO country projects (THA/75/012 and IND/75/031) is continuing with mutual benefits, cooperative efforts with other regional and international agencies have borne encouraging results, the summary of which is as follows:

1. SEAFDEC : A Memorandum of Understanding for facilitating the implemention of NACA activities has been established for RLCP between SEAFDEC and NACA.

   Under the SEAFDEC Fellowship Programme of the Government of Japan, Aquaculture Department (host institution of RLCP) again provided 10 fellowships to SEAFDEC Member Countries to participate in the 1983/84 session of the one-year training programme for senior aquaculturists. Under the same Fellowship Programme it has contributed previously a total of 18 fellowships, eight for the first course and 10 for the second, which is still in progress.

   Through its project staff in RLCP, NACA assisted the host institution in organizing short-term training courses.

2. IDRC : Discussion with IDRC on collaboration in NACA activities have been encouraging and fruitful. In addition to the donation of its MINISIS package along with the training component for NACA information activity, it has also offered a fellowship each to Sri Lanka and Nepal, and two to Indonesia to participate in the third one-year training course. Collaborative support in training in integrated fish farming has also been expressed subject to further discussion with NACA. In a statement prepared for the Second Advisory Committee Meeting, IDRC expressed the hope that collaboration can be broadened in the future (Appendix 8).

3. ICLARM : Informal contacts have been made with ICLARM which is presently assisting Thailand in mussel and other mollusc culture, as well as in the economic survey of snakehead farms. These culture systems, of regional importance, is also the culture systems identified for technological development/improvement by the lead centre in Thailand. Collaboration will obviously have regional benefit.

   ICLARM has also given publications of its research findings and activities to the course participants. The contribution of its professional staff services in assisting the RLCP training courses would strengthen the cooperative effort in developing suitable manpower much needed for aquaculture development in the region.

4. Asian Development Bank : Encouraging discussions have been held with ADB on collaborative support in the development of manpower needed to ensure investment projects on aquaculture be implemented effectively. The funding support, amounting to $ 750,000 is for the multidisciplinary training of 60 senior aquaculturists during the 3-year period commencing 1984. The matter is now under the consideration of ADB.

12. TCDC Activities

While NACA itself is a clear emample of TCDC in action, China has further enhanced this activity by making available $ 130,000 from its Country IPF to provide 16 fellowships for the third regional training course at RLCC. A country project (CPR/82/002) has been developed for the purpose.

Discussions are in progress in which China will assist Thailand by providing the services of technical personnel to carry out a feasibility study on establishing a national aquaculture centre to be linked to RLCC. The study involves site selection, design of a pilot integrated fish farm and a hatchery along with identification of training and field equipment needs.

III. MAJOR PROBLEMS

The major problems encountered in the implementation of project activities are not uncommon amongst regional projects. These can be simply identified as the shortage of operating funds, manpower and facilities. It should be stressed that NACA as a regional project is not a small one. It comprises 4 large institutions, two of which are newly constructed, with some of their major facilities still incomplete. Its scope of coverage is wide while project personnel and operational funding support spread over 4 centres are extremely limited. The root of all other serious operational ‘impediments’ could be traced to these resource constraints. Efforts are being made to alleviate the difficulties through discussions with parties concerned and collaboration with other agencies sharing common goals, and especially with those interested in establishing a more solid foundation and systematic approach to aquaculture development in the region.

Similar constraints of resources are also experienced by the host institutions as mentioned in the progress of various activities above, but these vary in degrees with different institutions. However, concerned host governments/host institutions are taking positive steps to rectify the situation. Meanwhile, project staff have to resolve them as they arise, or make the best use of a difficult situation to achieve the project objectives. Limited capability in the English Language (for national staff) and the local language (for project staff) is a minor impediment in the lead centres in China and Thailand which will have to be overcome.

While most regional projects along with their project personnel operate from a base, NACA operates from four bases with the project coordinator doubling up as officer-in-charge of UNDP/FAO inputs of RLCT. The lack of international staff and administrative support personnel at the NACA Head Office is a major problem. The Aquaculturist (Research) post for the Thailand centre has been deleted due to funding constraint. For similar reason, the Research and Training Adviser post will also be deleted in February 1983. To facilitate the coordinating work of the Network, and especially to initiate technical assistance to non-host countries in the region, the establishment of a multidisciplinary team of experts at the NACA Head Office is needed along with an increase in administrative support and budget allotment for duty travel.

IV. PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

1. NACA Activities

Multidisciplinary research on the recommended culture systems will continue while efforts will be directed at implementing the information activity, with collective participation and cooperation of national fisheries agencies and the lead centres. Priority will continue to be given to the two NACA group-training courses. Collaboration with other agencies in the implementation of these activities will be intensified.

Apart from the three major activities of NACA a concerted effort will also be directed at establishing national aquaculture centres and providing assistance to participating governments for undertaking feasibility studies, formulation of projects and their implementation.

2. Short-term Training Courses

In the developing countries of Asia, a rich variety of aquaculture systems has been in practice for many years with variable production and economic returns. Although knowledge gaps exist as identified in the NACA research programmes (ADCP/REP/80/14 and ADCP/REP/81/15), the existing technologies of some of these systems can be transferred and adapted through the NACA mechanism in countries needing them. This interim measure, besides having a short-term impact on aquaculture production, will buy time for applied and multidisciplinary research aimed at filling knowledge gaps within these culture systems.

In this connection, it is proposed to conduct short-term training with a multidisciplinary approach in different countries having advanced technologies in the respective culture systems of importance to the region. Documentation of the ‘State of the Art’ and production of audio-visual aids including video cassettes on culture systems will precede the training.

3. Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Planning in Asia, 1985

NACA was conceived at the 1975 Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Planning in Asia held in Bangkok, Thailand. It is timely therefore to consider the possibility of holding another Asian workshop in 1985 to evaluate aquaculture development in the region during the 10-year period, and to recommend further development action. Should the proposal be acceptable steps will be taken to prepare for it.

4. Governing Council of NACA

The question of establishing an independent Governing Council with special fund raised through voluntary contribution, as recommended by the Advisory Committee, wil be discussed at the Second Advisory Committee Meeting during 14–16 December 1982, Bangkok. The proposed Council will enable greater participation of all governments to ensure the continuation of NACA as an on-going regional aquaculture network as the project phases out, or evolves into a new set-up.

Appendix 1

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Project Revision E

PROJECT BUDGET COVERING FAO/UNDP CONTRIBUTION (IN US DOLLARS)                             31 MARCH 1982
RAS/76/003/E/01 (I.P.F.)              Regional - Establishment of Network of Aquaculture Centres
(1319)            FP          SUB.PROGR.2222                CP. DIV.              FI TECHN. DIV.                NTE

Appendix 2

1982 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF RLCC, WUXI
(Mr. Shan Jian)

I. INTRODUCTION

Since the December 1981 NACA Advisory Committee Meeting, progress has been made and a number of accomplishments achieved within the RLCC. Included are the (1) further construction and outfitting of buildings and facilities, (2) completion of the Second Training Course in Integrated Fish Farming for senior technicians, (3) conduct of a ten-day study tour by this year's participants of the RLCP course, (4) implementation of two aquaculture experiments (5) initiation of the modelling of integrated fish farming systems, (6) assignment of additional national research and training staff to the RLCC, (7) consultancy by FAO videotape production experts, and (8) recruitment of the FAO Research and Training Adviser to the Centre. All of the above activities have further contributed toward the development of a foundation for technology and information transfer of the Chinese system of integrated fish farming throughout the world as part of the NACA and ADCP.

II. DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRE

In addition to the construction of the main building, two blocks of hostels, and a dining facility for the trainees (all completed during 1980 and 1981), a recreation building, four blocks of staff quarters, two reception offices at the front gate, and a garage have been completed this past year. An earthen reservoir is being constructed to retain a water supply for experiments to be conducted in concrete tanks which will be built adjacent to it in the future, and four more blocks of staff housing are nearing completion. Other essentials including concrete roadways and surrounding walls are being constructed, and general landscaping is also underway.

Within the main building, additional laboratories have been established and equipped with instruments and supplies contributed by the project and the Chinese Government. In addition, one hundred and seventeen books on fish farming and related technical subjects have been purchased for the library.

III. TRAINING ACTIVITY

1. Second Training Course in Integrated Fish Farming.

The second four month course in integrated fish farming at RLCC began with its Opening Ceremony 15 April 1982. It was completed 3 August 1982. All sixteen participants from ten Asian Pacific countries were successful in the course and each received a certificate of achievement. (See Table 1. for list of trainees). The education staff of the Centre was most impressed with the entire group's dedication to study and keen desire to gain as much information as possible about Chinese integrated fish farming methods.

Course activities devoted approximately 35% of the time to lectures and the remainder to laboratory studies field trips to local farms, practical work sessions, and study tours. The goals of the course curriculum (ADCP/Circ/80/3) were met quite comprehensively and improvements continue to be made in the course activities for future implementation.

In the 1982 course, the lectures provided the theoretical bases of integrated fish farming supported by detailed accounts of actual production data: management techniques; economic analyses; a variety of integrated farming systems; farm design approaches; water chemistry; biological pond dynamics; diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of fish diseases; crop production; animal husbandry; fish polyculture strategies; artificial propagation of Chinese carps; methods of fingerling and food fish production; and Tai Lake fisheries. A massive amount of data was conveyed through these sessions. The two-volume, course manual “Integrated Fish Farming (1981)” distributed to each participant at the outset of the course provided additional information to that presented in the lectures. In addition, films and slide presentations were included.

Field trips were conducted to a number of fish farms in the Wuxi area for direct observation of farm activities and designs. Holei People's Commune Fish Farm and Xinan Fish Farm were visited most frequently for these purposes. In addition, the trainees were also taken to a number of other commune farms nearby to gain a sense of the great variety of activities which are practices in relation to fish farming.

Hands on practical work on Wuxi farms included water chemistry, plankton, and benthos analyses. The trainees found these sessions highly rewarding toward gaining and understanding of pond dynamics. This was a newly initiated course activity.

Table 1. Participants of the Second Regional Training Course in Integrated Fish Farming (13 April - 12 August 1982)

Laboratory exercises focused upon plankton, fish physiology, and fish disease analyses. These sessions were very helpful in giving the trainees definitive views of these aspects related to fish farming. A fish farm design section gave the participants the opportunity to actually design a farm. An area promising for pond development in the field was used as an example, and then drawings were developed of a possible design.

Four study tours were conducted during the course. The first to farms around Suzhou City investigated a number of examples of integration. These included schemes with orchards, pond bank development for green fodder, silkworms, fish cum grass cum pig, aquatic vegetables, and lake fisheries. Following this study tour, the participants, divided into three study groups, prepared manuscripts reviewing their experience and highlighting the significan of the information gained.

The second study tour to a municipal farm in Yixing City focused upon artificial propagation of Chinese carps. All aspects of the techniques required in the propagation of grass, silver, and bighead carps were demonstrated to the participants who then took an active part in the farm work for this purpose. Methods of both induced natural spawning and artificial insemmination were practiced. Over the eight day duration, the trainees gained a comprehensive understanding of the details involved.

A visit to Shanghai was the next trip out of the Centre. In Shanghai, the course visited (1) the East China Sea Aquatic Research Institute, (2) a fish farm using a different facility design for artificial propagation of carps from the one in Yixing, and (3) a fish farm ostensibly involved in cage culture in Diansan Lake.

The last study tour was to Guangzhou and Foshan Cities in Guangdong Province in the very south of China. Three commune farms were visited. In two of them, emphasis was placed upon an explanation of management and food organism differences between this sub-tropical province and Jiangsu which lies in a temperate zone. The third farm to be seen is primarily used for artificial propagation of carps giving the trainees a view and explanation of a third design of this type. A visit also took place at the Pearl Rive Aquatic Research Institute. A discussion of the Institute's research activities was followed by a tour of the research facilities where the methods for artificial propagation of Chinese carps first were developed. The course participants and the training staff recognised the great importance of this study tour toward gaining an understanding of the transfer of integrated fish farming technologies to other climatic regions. A report was prepared by each of the trainees of the most significant aspects of the techniques employed in Guangdong Province.

Two additional reports were prepared during the course. The topics included a detailed description of Holei People's Commune Fish Farm in Wuxi and papers on the status of fisheries development in each of the ten countries represented by the trainees. The latter included seminar presentations in addition to the written reports. Some of the course manuscripts have been submitted as working papers for the NACA.

Two examinations were also administered--one at the midpoint of the course and the other at its end. All of the participants satisfactorily passed the examinations.

The course participants maintained diligent study habits throughout the training session which demonstrated they were deeply interested in the topics presented and that their selection to join the course was competently executed by all parties involved in the nomination process. At the same time, however, there were some adjustment problems among the trainees to the living conditions in which they found themselves. Many of these lie in the differences the trainees found between the situation at RLCC and that in their home countries, and in the Centre's little experience (a two-year old institute) in resolving these difficulties. The Centre staff has recognised the problems and now is investigating a number of changes to improve future training sessions. One idea is the inclusion of videotape showings of both recreational and educational topics providing the participants with additional variety for their free time activities. Also, an increase in sports facilities will be developed for informal interaction and friendly competition among the trainees and Centre staff.

Following the conclusion of the RLCC course, the education staff held a series of meetings reviewing the activities of the session. The schedule of activities for the recently approved 1983 RLCC course is being developed to include some modifications toward overall refinement. These include some revision of the lectures, laboratory exercises, field trips, practical work sessions, and study tours.

The education staff of the second training course consisted of twelve instructors and five interpreters. Two of the instructors for the topics of crop production and animal husbandry came from outside the Centre and a few others are assigned to the research group of RLCC. In addition, the course receives an enormous amount of technical and administrative support from a number of related government agencies and the fish farms where the course activities take place. (See Attachment 1 for a list of the personnel at RLCC.)

2. Accomplishment of a Previous RLCC Course Participant

In August 1982, the Centre received a paper by Mr. Vissant Meesawat who attended the first training course here in 1981. The manuscript entitled “The Applied Technique for Induced Spawning of Chinese Carps in Thailand” describes the first success of induced natural spawning of grass carp in that country.

Mr. Vissant constructed a spawning tank system, injected male and female grass carp with hypophysis solution, and after estrualization and fertilization collected the embroys and put them in a circulator until the hatchlings emerged. Following this, he reared the fry to a size suitable for stocking ponds. The entire achievement was initiated immediately following his training experience in China.

3. RLCP study Tour

On 3 September 1982, the course participants in the full year session for senior aquaculturist (Training) arrived in Wuxi for a ten-day study tour on integrated fish farming. During the month prior to their arrival, a schedule of activities was developed including the preparation of lecture notes on the various topics to be discussed. Field trips to four Wuxi fish farms were arranged plus one to Yixing for observations of a facility for artificial propagation of Chinese carps. Laboratory sections were conducted depicting fish physiology and disease. In addition, a half-day question and answer session was provided at the end of the week of lectures, laboratory work, and field trips. The ten day session was a highly condensed version of the regular four month training course conducted in the Centre with all of the topics of integrated farming discussed in an abbreviated style.

This event was the first of its kind for RLCC, and it was carried through in excellent fashion. Exchanges of this kind underlie another example of the strengths and benefits of the NACA.

IV. RESEARCH ACTIVITY

1. Experimentation

The research staff of the Centre initiated preliminary investigations in two areas which are in line with the research priorities in the “Outline Research Programmes for Regional Aquaculture Lead Centres in Asia - Part III, ADCP/REP/81/15(En)”, These studies were selected on the basis of the availability of facilities, expertise, and time of resident technical staff, and in order to achieve a better scientific understanding of the processes that are taking place in fish ponds under the Chinese integrated farming system, which is essential for adaptation in countries with different agro-climatic situations. For this purpose, the temporary laboratories in the Centre were further outfitted with new equipment supplied by both the Chinese Government and the NACA. Adequate facilities now exist for water chemistry analysis, assessment of physical factors including solar insolation and temperature, and measurement of biological factors such as bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. A description of the two experiments follows including the parameters measured and the frequency plus a brief, preliminary description of the experiments' results available at the time of this writing. Complete details will be submitted in a forthcoming report.

A. Comparative studies on the performance of different livestock manures in relation to fish growth:

This experiment was conducted in the available ten concrete tanks at Wuxi Municipal Fish Farm each having a surface area of 15 m² and a depth of 0.8 m. Three manures were tested including chicken, pig and cow. Four species of fish were stocked in each tank - silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the tilapia, Sarotherodon niloticus, ratio of 5:1:1:3, respectively. Fifty fish were used in each tank. Three replicates were set up for each manure type, and the fish were fed at the rate of 3% fish biomass, dry weight equivalent of each manure type from a daily basis calculation. The total ration for a seven day period was put into the ponds once each week. The tenth pond was used as a reference control to assess the contribution to fish growth from the nutrients available in the water put in the pond, since the source was Tai Hu. The following factors were measured through the course of the experiment from June to mid-October.

1. Manures : The percentage of dry matter, quantities of volatile substances, ash, total cellulose, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium were assessed from each manure type.

2. Biological parameters : Measurements of the quantity and type of bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton were measured. Related analyses of primary productivity and chlorophyll a were also determined and all of these biological factors were assessed once biweekly. These measurements were taken from one representative pond of each type.

3. Water chemistry parameters : On a daily basis, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were measured three times in the morning, at midday, and in the evening for all ten ponds. In addition, every other week the BOD, COD, and ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and potassium concentrations in the water were assessed from one representative pond of each type.

4. Fish biomas was determined twice during the experiment and once at its conclusion.

5. In addition to the above assessments, an analysis is to be attempted to determine the nitrogen flow through the aquatic microcosms. The nitrogen in the feeds was analysed to find out how much was assimilated into fish biomass, and what percentage wound up dissolved in the water, assimilated by plankton, settled bound in bottom detritus, and lost due to denitrification. Total nitrogen measurements were made of samples taken from one representative pond of each type.

Preliminary review of plankton and water chemistry data indicates that the different manures (pig, cow, and chicken) created a relatively varied ecological environment within the replicates of each type. This was further discernable through the nearly consistent water color variation that each different manure type created in their respective tanks.

B. Studies on the relationship between size of manured ponds on fish yield: To accomplish this study, five earthen ponds at the Wuxi Municipal Fish Farm ranging in size of 1.0 mu (660 m), 2.4 mu, 3.1 mu, 4.7 mu and 5.7 mu all with a depth of 1.5 meters were stocked with fingerlings of four species of Chinese carps at a density of 1,000 fish/mu. The fish species include grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), silver carp, bighead carp and common carp at a ratio of 3:5:1:1, and they were stocked in December 1981 and harvested at the experiment's end in late October 1982. (Note: Approximately 20% of the silver carp were removed from the ponds in mid-August to accelerate overall fish growth so they might reach market-size by the experiment's end.)

The stocked ponds were manipulated and measured in the following ways. The fish ponds were fertilized with pig manure at a rate of 3% of the silver, bighead, and common carps with a dry weight equivalent of fresh manure and fed 3% of the grass carp biomass, dry weight equivalent of green fodder primarily including land and aquatic grasses--both daily. In addition, beginning in the latter part of July, pelleted feed was purchased from outside the farm and used as a supplemental feed to the green fodder and pig manure. Aeration was implemented at times of low dissolved oxygen and the hours noted. Intensive monitoring began in April 1982 and continued to the experiment's end. The following factors were measured at the indicated regularity.

1. On a daily basis, dissolved oxygen, pH, and solar radiation were measured in the morning, at midday and in the evening. Feeding frequency and quantity were measured and recorded each day.

2. Every other week water chemistry measurements were taken of the following factors: carbon dioxide, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, and BOD. In addition, the biomass and dominant microorganisms including bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton were determined.

3. Biweekly, during measurements at two hour intervals over a twenty-four hour period were made of DO, pH, temperature, BOD, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

4. Fish biomass measurements were made in relation to weight gain and body length increase.

All of the above factors are further being analyzed to determine correlations between fish growth and biological, physiochemical, and physical factors affecting fish vitality.

The facilities for the above two experiments have been rented from nearby Wuxi Municipal Fish Farm at the rate of RMB 20,000 (US$ 10,000) per year. The earthen ponds and concrete tanks involved are adequate for these preliminary investigations; however, it would be far more beneficial to the overall research programme to have a greater number of ponds available more conveniently located within the Centre. Nevertheless, the generosity of the Wuxi Municipal Fish Farm in providing ponds and tanks for these initial experiments allows the Centre's research team to gain first hand experience of the complexity of a coordinated research effort of this kind. Also, the researchers worked closely with the farm managers in determining the proper management tactics. The cooperative effort helped to enhance the value of the experimental results.

2. Modelling of Integrated Farming Systems

This aspect of the Centre's activity got underway in August, 1982. A preliminary format for information documentation was developed at that time to guide the farm interview sessions toward comprehensive evaluations. For this purpose, the experience known here of farm activities was used plus the formats provided for the AQUIS, the one developed by Dr. Peter Edwards during his 1981 consultancy, and the economics questionnaire compiled by Dr. Yung C. Shang in his book. Aquaculture Economics: Basic Concepts and Methods of Analysis. Integrated fish farms in the Wuxi area were the first to be visited. Beyond data collection, these farms were also used as test cases for the development of an appropriate guide suitable for the kind of information consistently available from the farm managers.

At present, two farms are being documented--Holei People's Commune Fish Farm and Fishery Team Number 1 of that commune. The data are being transferred to the AQUIS format, and a fully descriptive report of each farm's activities is also in preparation. The survey work will continue in the Wuxi area for the immediate future until representative studies are completed from the range of integrations employed in Wuxi. Once this is accomplished, consideration will be given toward expanding the study to other parts of the country.