Annex V
ADDRESS BY DR. T.V.R. PILLAY

Programme Leader
Aquaculture Development & Coordination Programme
FAO, Rome

It is a matter of great satisfaction for FAO and for me personally to participate in the Third Advisory Committee Meeting of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia. From a vague idea of regional cooperation conceived in 1976, the Network has now become a reality, and proof that persistent efforts and cooperation can eventually translate sound ideas into action. The Asia-Pacific Research and Training Centre for Integrated Fish Farming, which has become one of the regional Lead Centres in the Network, is, as some of you already know, the follow-up of a Study Tour in this country of Directors of Fisheries and senior officials that I had the previlege of leading in 1978. We recognized that fish-crop-livestock integrated farming is the most striking feature of Chinese aquaculture and that it will have considerable application in developing countries in rural development programmes. Following on this, and negotiations with the General Bureau of Aquatic Products, a project proposal was formulated in 1979 for the establishment of this Centre, which was approved and made a part of the regional project for the establishment of NACA in 1980. As you can see, the facilities of the Centre have gradually been built up and expanded to impressive proportions during the last 3 years. This demonstrates the will of the Chinese Government and its concern for cooperation and assistance to other developing countries. I know that Vice Minister Xiao Peng has taken a personal interest in the establishment of the Centre and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him and the officials of the Aquatic Products Bureau for their generous contributions. I am sure that the research done in this Centre to understand the scientific processes involved in integrated farming will lead to improved farming methods in China, besides making it possible to formulate appropriate systems of integrated farming in other countries, on an adequate scientific basis. The training that is provided in the Centre will obviously lead to much closer bilateral cooperation with other countries and foster genuine TCDC. Although for funding reasons we have had to restrict the training here to candidates from Asia and the Pacific, we are now exploring possibilities to extend this to also other regions.

As many of you may know, NACA is now in a somewhat crucial stage of its life. The present termination date of the UNDP/FAO project that supports it is drawing near. We have every hope that it will be extended until the end of 1984, by which time its further life will have to be determined. At the second session of this Committee in Bangkok, I had mentioned the proposal to hold a donors' meeting in 1984, as well as the other regional aquaculture Centres established in Africa and Latin America. We have made some progress in contacting donors to ascertain their interest and possible participation, and we hope that the meeting can be held by about the middle of next year if the general consensus is favourable. As you know, most donors have larger allocations under their bilateral aid programmes than multi-bi programmes. So sources and modalities of funding of regional and interregional projects have to be found.

Let me now take a few minutes to appraise you of some of the recent developments that are of interest to aquaculture in general, and to NACA and ADCP activities in particular. The World Bank Policy Paper on Fisheries, on the basis of a critical evaluation of its assistance in the sector so far, indicates its decision to give high priority in its aid programme to aquaculture and small-scale fisheries, that will benefit the poorer sections of society. We have initiated discussions with the Bank officials on ways and means of joint efforts in the implementation of this policy, which should obviously inclide continuation of the activities of the regional network.

The other important event is the Technical Phase of the World Conference on Fishery Development and Management, at the 15th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, which was concluded last week in Rome. The meeting that was attended by most member nations of FAO and observers from international and non-governmental agencies, very strongly recommended to both governments and agencies to give high priority to aquaculture in plans for fishery development, particularly with respect to the improved food supply and socio-economic conditions of rural populations. They recognized that this sector deserves much more attention than it now receives from many government planning units and donor agencies. To quote from the relevant report, they recommended “The World Fisheries Conference should play an important role in furthering development of aquaculture by calling on governments to embark, if they have not yet done so, on a high level analysis of the significance of aquaculture in their own country, followed by the formulation of an aquaculture policy and plans for the of this policy.” The meeting underlined the need to integrate into rural development programmes. Most delegations at the meeting stressed the need for further technical and financial assistance at the development of aquaculture through research, training and demonstrations. As you can see, these are the basic elements of activities. Recognizing the funding problems, it was the Policy Phase of the World Conference next year, should make plea to donor groups and international agencies to increase to this sector. It will be a matter of great satisfaction to several country representatives praised the quality of by FAO/UNDP projects. The establishment of the global regional aquaculture centres was considered a major achieve strengthened in the future by the creation of new Centres them with national centres. There was unanimously long-term financial and other arrangements should be the continuity of the network.

The main objective of the World Conference on and Management is to formulate a strategy for fishery an action plan for its implementation. However, is concerned, a strategy has already been formulate Conference on Aquaculture in 1976, and ADCP and on the basis of that strategy. The meeting in and suggested that it should become part of the proposed strategy for fisheries management and development to be considered by the policy phase of the World Conference. It was also recommended that an International Year for Aquaculture be observed in the near future to focus attention on the need for research, pilot projects, exchange of information and increased flow of credit from international financing bodies.

In its deliberations on Action Plans, the meeting decided to have a separate Action Plan for Aquaculture. The elements of this Plan, as presently proposed, are the continuation and strengthening of the regional and interregional activities that we have already started.

I have taken time to summarize the conclusion of the Rome meeting because they represent the wishes of the governments. Surely, ten years ago, there would not have been such a strong and enthusiastic support for aquaculture. To a large extent, the developments in the fisheries sector account for this.

In discussing the programme of work of NACA and its future, we should take into account these significant developments. I am sure that you will be able to provide the necessary guidance to the Network to accomplish its increasing role in aquaculture development in the region.