The Fish Farming Centre project (UTFN/SAU/010/SAU) demonstrates little productive progress for its four years of existence. This appears to be due to three factors, namely (1) the initial relocation of the site which caused some logistical difficulties but primarily established a lack of enthusiasm towards the project by the staff, (2) the lack of a well defined short-term programme with objectives attainable for an inexperienced national team, and (3) lack of well directed and determined leadership by the expatriate staff. Of the three factors, the third has been the greatest constraint to the project, as firm leadership could have resolved the first two.
With the present low level of project outputs and technical progress, the author opines that the project could be discontinued without any loss to the advancement of the art of aquaculture. However, it would be a loss to the country which has stated its intentions to assist the private sector to exploit suitable opportunities in aquaculture.
After reviewing (1) the facilities of the Fish Farming Centre, (2) the current aquaculture operations and past results with the project staff, and (3) the construction drawings for the proposed facility, the author has worked with the staff to draw up some well defined short-term goals to be fulfilled in the interim before the new facility is completed (about July 1986), and which can be continued with the new facility. These agreed immediate objectives are summarized below:
operate a demonstration unit for the production of Tilapia spirulus with a minimum monthly output of 0.5 t to be supplied to local markets;
operate a production system for Tilapia fry, with a minimum monthly output of 15 000 for any private sector demands;
begin a simple programme of applied research and development by broadening experience in a few defined aquaculture systems, and with a few selected local species of commercial importance. These objectives are detailed in Section 2.1.
With these objectives, and with knowledge and experience in the design and operation of many aquaculture centres worldwide, the author has reviewed in detail the concepts and principles used in the construction drawings for the proposed facility. The facility seems to have been designed without any specific purpose in mind, or based on biocriteria developed for the species to be cultured. The design is obviously indicative of a costly facility, as evidenced by the expansive seawater intake system, the large quantities of reinforced concrete work with detailed forming and finishing as well as the requirements for drainage slope, the large quantities of earthwork for the berms of the ponds which are not useful to the work of the Centre, and concrete raceways which are costly to construct and which demanded nearly 40% of the seawater budget but which are now almost redundant in marine aquaculture facilities as they are being superseded by sea cages. Consequently, the author has proposed a number of changes which are primarily made to be responsive to the needs of the Centre's programme of objectives, but which are secondarily responsive to a more useful and functional facility as well as contributing to reduced capital and operational costs.
In summary, the recommended changes are as follows:
immediately seek assistance from the appropriate government department to drill one or more testwells and pump-test to determine if subterranean seawater is available. The chances for this are high (as the nearby Marine Science Centre uses two such wells) and one or more wells will replace the need for the long intake line. The wells should be deep enough to draw the cooler seawater filtered through the coral (probably 5–12 m deep);
redesign the seawater distribution network from the pumphouse from a gravity flow flume system to one of pipes and valves. A sealed filtration system would replace the gravity sand filter. Both the raw seawater reservoir and the filtered seawater reservoir will be excluded and replaced by any necessary alarm system at the pumphouse with auxiliary generators and a portable pumping unit;
reduce the number of tanks and pond facilities to those which will fulfill the goals of certain sub-projects as described above. In particular, the number of ponds will be reduced to four fry-production ponds and four grow-out ponds. The effluent water from the site should be discharged directly into the sea and not through the oxidation pond;
omit the oxidation pond, the seawall and its fill, and the effluent canal;
make minor modifications in the hatchery.
The basis for these changes is described in detail in Sections 2.2 to 2.9.
It should be noted that modifying the design at this stage will be costly in that the consulting engineers, ARCH.CENTRE, will have to repeat much of their work and prepare new specifications. This will delay the project. If the change orders for ARCH.CENTRE can be initiated by FAO promptly, the revised drawings and specifications can be ready for bidding by 1 June 1985. The consulting engineers estimate that the time for construction of this revised and simplified civil engineering project will be 9–12 months (about June/July 1986).
The implementation programme for the future has been developed by the author based on the level of experience of the project staff to date. The programme has been discussed with the staff. The work plan is scheduled initially for the interim period up to completion of the facilities. Seven main topics have been suggested, some of which have several components. These are: (1) a demonstration production of Tilapia with a goal of 0.5 t/month to be sold in local markets; (2) the construction of a modular cage unit offshore for trials and production experiments; (3) two surveys, one for the continuous hydrography of the lagoon in front of the site and the other for the potential of relying on captured natural resources of fry to provide seed for aquaculture production; (4) begin to collect broodstock of selected species and learn husbandry and management; (5) improve laboratory standard practices and set up the new laboratories; (6) improve administration and planning activities, recommending the early preparation of the 1986–90 proposal for funding complete with its work plan, prepare also five short working manuals and instruction leaflets in anticipation of new staff, and to improve the Centre's collection of information, especially trade catalogues and brochures.
None of this can be achieved without the support and advice of a strong leader, who has broad experience in aquaculture and has a record of initiative. It is recommended that a Project Manager or Senior Technical Adviser is recruited quickly, but with thoroughness in evaluating his credentials and references. Furthermore, it is necessary for FAO to monitor the progress of the project closely throughout the next twelve months.
