3. RESEARCH NEEDS

3.1 Basic principles

(31) There are a number of research facilities in the country and additional ones are planned. What is required is a set of principles or guidelines on the basis of which the scope and programmes of the various institutions will be established in order to derive the maximum benefit from them. The following main principles are suggested

1. Give first priority to research in areas of economic importance, while maintaining basic level research in other fields.
2. Avoid duplication of facilities and programmes.
3. Establish an institutional framework through which research findings are effectively made available to policy-making bodies, the extension service, and the industry.
4. Provide solid training to research staff and make use of experienced research staff to train extension workers.
5. Have a strong review and monitoring system.

(32) There will be three broad categories of activities that are to deal with the promotion of the economic development of the fisheries and fish culture sector, viz. research, extension and training. It will be the task of the projected National Institute of Fisheries Research and the specialized research stations to conduct research.

This will cover the whole field of developing new techniques and solving practical problems with respect to the fisheries sector and adapting existing techniques to conditions prevailing in Bangladesh. In view of the requirement of cost-effectiveness and the present elementary stage of development of the sector, an important part of research will be adaptive research.

Research programmes and projects will aim at short and mediumterm practical results with a time span of a few years at most. Long-term fundamental research with no foreeable economic application on the short or medium term should not take place at the research stations but should be conducted at the universities.

(33) The requirement of cost-effectiveness, the scarcity of scientific and technical staff, and the limited availability of funds make it necessary to identify a limited number of research programmes with a high priority and to distribute these over the research stations while avoiding duplication of research. This will result in a reduced number of research sections and staff and an increased effectiveness of research.

(34) The clients of research will be policy-making bodies, the extension service, and the processing and export industry. Policymaking bodies will need statistical, socio-economic and technical data for the establishment of rules, regulations and procedures. The extension service will be the channel through which the research findings will be made available to fishermen and fish-farmers. The research stations should, therefore, also serve as training and demonstration units for extension officers.

Research for industry is considered to have a low priority as it is largely able to look after its own affairs.

(35) Research cannot be conducted by staff which has not been sufficiently trained and exposed to the actual practice. It is a requirement that research staff be trained both overseas and on-the-job. This will be a sine qua non for the success of the programme.

At the same time, effective research will result in experienced staff in various fields of specialization. This personnel will in turn be best qualified to train extension workers.

(36) The effectiveness of research programmes will depend on the actual application of the research findings by the clients, ultimately resulting in better statistics, increased production, improved product quality, etc. Programmes that do not meet basic standards of costeffectiveness should be weeded out. For this purpose an institutionalized review and monitoring system should be established within the NIFR, on the basis of which personnel, facilities, and funds are allocated to research programmes.

3.2 Research programmes

(37) In total six research subjects will be distinguished, viz. production management, reproduction, feed and nutrition, health care, processing, and socio-economics. In Fig. 1 they are combined with the main production categories (mariculture, brackish water culture, etc.) leading to 14 research areas, each of which can be subdivided into a number of research programmes. In Table 3 the research areas and programmes are listed. Each research programme has been given a priority rating, which is partly based on the rating given in Table 2 and partly on other considerations. Processing technology, for instance, is considered important, but as there is a full-scale processing research programme in progress at the Institute of Food Science and Technology in Dhaka, this programme is given a low priority (5) for inclusion in the overall programme. The programmes of the Institute for Food Science and Technology and NIFR with respect to processing of fish and shrimp should be co-ordinated. This requires much consultation and co-operation and should be considered a long-term objective to be realised during the five year project period. In Annex A a short description is given of each of the research programmes. In 1985 and 1986 the research programmes will be worked out in detail as part of the detailed planning of the NIFR.

3.3 Research stations

(38) Five specialized research stations are envisaged as follows:

• Freshwater Culture Research Station (FARS), Mymensingh, specialized in freshwater fish culture in ponds and small water bodies.
• Brackishwater Culture Research Station (BARS), Satkhira (formerly named after Khulna), specialized in Penaeid and Macrobrachium Shrimp Culture.
• Riverine Fisheries Research Stations (RFRS), Chandpur, specialized in riverine fisheries, fisheries in large water bodies and freshwater pen and cage culture.
• Marine Fisheries and Mariculture Research Station (MFRS), Cox's Bazar, specialized in marine fisheries and mariculture.
• Fisheries Technology Research Stations (FTRS), Chittagong, specialized in feed technology, processing and marketing.

Fig 1 - Research Matrix

Table 3 - Research Areas and Programmes

Table 4 shows for each research station the research programmes allotted to it. Fig. 2 shows the proposed organizational diagram of the NIFR and its five research stations.

(39) FARS, Mymensingh will have five sections (or divisions, the terminology is secondary and will be decided upon later). The pond production section will concentrate research on the production management of ponds and small water bodies as existing in Bangladesh. It will be of no use to try to reach yields of 6000 kg/ha in neat experimental ponds if the first objective is to raise the average yields of ponds in the country from 60 kg/ha to 600 kg/ha. For that reason part of the research will be conducted in existing low-productive ponds (tanks) in the neighbourhood. In FARS as well as in MFRS and BARS, research with respect to nutrition and diet testing will be focussed on growth response and economy of feeding. Feeding will be one of the factors in culture management and will be studied in relation to factors such as species composition, stocking density, and aeration. The subject of nutrition and diet testing should not be isolated from the other aspects of culture management. For that reason the pond production section will include a fish nutrition and diet testing programme. In this respect a distinction is made between additional feeding and full diet feeding. Both will have to be studied. Certain additional feeds, especially agricultural byproducts such as rice bran, can be purchased from the local market. Full diet feed will, however, not be produced in FARS, but in the Fisheries Technology Station in Chittagong, see (43).

Table 4 - Research Stations with Research Programmes

The reproduction section will deal with artificial reproduction of freshwater fin fish species. To avoid duplication, reproduction research will not be conducted in the Riverine Fisheries Research Station, Chandpur. The health care section will deal withfresh water fish pathology, including parasites. To avoid duplication a health care section has not been planned in Chandpur.

The pen/cage culture section will deal with a new area of research in Bangladesh. As little is known about this subject in the country, much has to be studied, including availability and suitability of sites, gear to be used and feeding, and such socio-economic aspects as scale of operation and prevention of poaching.

The section will deal with pen and cage culture in rivers and flood plains on the one hand and stagnant water bodies on the other. The section could be equally well situated in Chandpur as in Mymensingh. To avoid duplication of work and facilities, however, it is proposed to establish only one pen and cage culture section. The section will be situated in Mymensingh, but the experimental work will be conducted in the field outside the station.

The socio-economic section will deal with social, financial, economical and legal aspects of freshwater, brackish water and marine cultural and captural fisheries. This section has been projected in FARS, Mymensingh, as here the tough problem of multi-ownership of ponds and other small water bodies will have to be dealt with. The socio-economic section should be located in one station in order to guarantee the build-up of the required expertise. Staff of the socio-economic section may be temporarily assigned to other stations to deal with particular problems.

Each of the stations in Mymensingh, Satkhira, Chandpur and Cox's Bazar will have a section for training of extension officers, which will be responsible for training and refresher courses for extension officers. For that purpose these stations should be equiped with training, demonstration and hostel facilities.

There seems to be sufficient demonstration capability to demonstrate freshwater fish culture to the farmers, so that the freshwater stations in Mymensingh and Chandpur will not have to double as demonstration and training units for farmers. In fact it is felt that, in order to avoid fragmentation and duplication, the present freshwater fisheries demonstration capability consisting of the 95 seed production farms and other facilities, mentioned under (24 d) should for the time being not be expanded, but their use should be intensified. With respect to the demonstration capability in brackish water and marine aquaculture, the situation seems to be different, see (40).

Each of the five research stations will have a section for administration and support services, including facilities and personnel for operation and maintenance of ponds, buildings, equipment and vehicles.

(40) BARS, Satkhira, will be located in the tidal area, where the water is brackish (10–20 ppt salinity) during 5–8 months, with a drop in salinity (2–8 ppt) during the rest of the year. This makes the area suitable for alternate cultivation of Penaeid shrimp during the high salinity brackish water period and Macrobrachium shrimp during the low salinity period. In this area also the rotation rice-shrimp is found.

The culture section will deal with various forms of brackish water pond culture with emphasis on the culture of Penaeid and Macrobrachium shrimp in mono- and polyculture; in extensive, semi-intensive and intensive culture; culture in rice fields, and culture in rotation with rice. A feed nutrition and diet testing programme will be included; experimental feeds will be prepared in the Fisheries Technology Research Station in Chittagong.

The resources section will include a research programme to survey existing stocks of Macrobrachium shrimp species in the tidal area, a programme to study the effects of seed collection of Penaeid shrimp in the Sundarbans and the measures required to safeguard a stable supply of seed and a programme to survey and test the availability and suitability of sites for shrimp farming.

The reproduction section will deal with the reproduction of Macrobrachium shrimp, Penaeid shrimp and brackish water fin fish species. For this purpose an experimental hatchery will be built which will include a recirculation system in which the salinity of the brackish water is upgraded to the required level with sea salt. Such a hatchery with a recirculation system may be needed in areas where sufficiently saline water is not available.

The health care and extension sections will serve the research needs of Penaeid and Macrobrachium shrimp and brackish water fin fish species.

The training and extension section will be responsible for training of extension personnel. It is also proposed that a training and demonstration unit be located at the research station, for which a certain area of land should be reserved. This unit would fall under the responsibility of the Extension Service of the Fisheries Department. So far the training and demonstration facilities for brackish water fishfarming are limited. There are strong arguments in favour of concentrating such facilities in one location rather than spread them over the region. In the first place land is scarce and it will be cheaper to transport farmers to a central location for training and demonstration, than to construct several demonstration farms. Secondly, concentrating training and demonstration facilities in one place will allow for better facilities and services, and will require less staff. Finally, having the research station and the demonstration and training centre in one location, will mean a concentration of activities, staff, houses and facilities, making it more attractive for research and other staff to live at the station.

It is proposed that the present FAO Shrimp Demonstration Farm near Satkhira be relocated at the site selected for BARS, to form the nucleus of the Demonstration and Training Centre. Relocation should take place after a period of 3–5 years, when BARS is fully operational. We urge that the projected training centre at the Shrimp Demonstration Farm, scheduled for construction in 1985, is relocated to the site of BARS and that planning and design be done in consultation with the planning team for NIFR.

(41) RFRS, Chandpur, will have as its main task, research with respect to riverine fisheries. The riverine fisheries section will deal with Hilsa ilisha, as this is the singular most important species of riverine fisheries and it is feared that as a result of water development works its access to spawning grounds may be diminished and the spawning grounds reduced. Other species will also be studied. The emphasis will be on management of living riverine resources to maintain production levels. Research will include ecological and environmental aspects.

The large water bodies section will deal with the Oxbow lakes and Lake Kaptai. Research in these areas can only be done on location, for which reason it is proposed that staff be assigned to these lakes and that all work be carried out there. For reasons of economy and co-ordination it is proposed that facilities are not to constructed for this purpose, but staff assigned to existing facilities, such as the Oxbow Lake Fisheries Project, Jessore, of the Directorate of Fisheries.

The present Technology Laboratory will be moved to the FTRS in Chittagong, see (43).

(42) MFRS, Cox's Bazar, will deal with mariculture and marine fisheries research. At present various projects in mariculture and marine fisheries are in progress. However, the situation with respect to conception, implementation, and co-ordination of projects and programmes is not satisfactory. In 1985 proposals will be prepared by the NIFR planning team to incorporate part or whole of the present projects in the research station.

The mariculture section will conduct research with respect to marine cage and pen culture and the culture of molluscs. During the preparation of the detailed plan of operation in 1986 (see Fig. 3) an analysis will be made of suitable fin fish species for culture in pens and cages. If in the future new opportunities for profitable sea farming arise, these will be included in the research programme. Also feeds for mariculture provided by FTRS in Chittagong will be tested.

The fisheries section will conduct research and surveys with respect to the dynamics of marine and brackish water fish distribution, species composition and abundance as a function of the total catch effort. The pelagic fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone will be studied in detail. Also research will be conducted on the dynamics of the Hilsa population, the findings of which will be correlated with the findings of the riverine Hilsa fisheries research in Chandpur.

Establishing the fisheries section of MFRS in Cox's Bazar rather than in the Fisheries Technology Research Station in Chittagong presupposes that the research vessels will be able to moor in Cox's Bazar. This point will be considered in more detail in 1985.

The training section which is to serve extension officers will only be established after the station and its associated projects are in full operation.

(43) FTRS, Chittagong will exclusively deal with feed technology, processing and marketing. It is strongly advised that the station be established at the premises of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation where there is laboratory space over, eliminating the need for the construction of a building. Furthermore, there is a fish meal plant at that site, fish and fish offals are available, there is an ice plant and ample cold storage room. The Department of Fisheries has indicated and alternative site downstream of Chittagong. However, all facilities including building and land facilities would have to be built, which would make the station too expensive in relation to its research programme; it is, therefore, not considered suitable.

The feed technology section will be equiped with a laboratorytype feed mill with ancillary equipment. Any feed research programme consists of a feed technology programme (to be conducted in Chittagong) including diet formulation and feed production, and a fish nutrition and diet testing programme (to be conducted in Mymensingh, Satkhira and Cox's Bazar). In Chittagong a simple feed and quality-control laboratory will be established for analysis of total proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals. Sophisticated analyses needed for diet formulation and testing (vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, trace elements, etc.) will be conducted at existing laboratories, such as the Institute of Food Science and Technology in Dhaka.

It is proposed that the activities of the processing section be limited to aspects of quality control. The processing technology programme should, for the time being, be postponed as there is a programme at the Institute of Food Science and Technology in Dhaka. A detailed research programme for processing will be established in consultation with the institute and the industry. On the basis of that programme it will be determined what, if any, processing research will be conducted in FTRS, Chittagong. Not much should be expected from the Technology Laboratory which is to be moved from Chandpur to Chittagong. This laboratory is understaffed and has little, partly defunct equipment.

The marketing section will deal with all aspects of marketing, including packaging, pricing, advertising, regulations, etc.

3.4 Site selection for the Brackish Water Culture Research Station

(44) The Benerpota Agriculture Research Station of the Bangladesh Water Board has been proposed as the site for the Brackish Water Culture Research Station, and it has been the task of the consultants to advise with respect to the suitability of that site. The location of the research station should be selected on the basis of its representativeness for the major brackish water crustaceans and fin-fish producing areas, with respect to location, water salinity and water-supply.

(45) Location. The site is near the town of Satkhira (5 km) which is an advantage for convincing research staff to take up permanent residence at the research station. It is on the northern fringe of the shrimp producing area and not in the middle of it; this is considered a negative fact. The Benerpota Station is governmentowned land which makes acquisition relatively easy; this is a positive fact in a region where land is very difficult to come by.

(46) Salinity. Records of water salinity in the Khulna Division are limited, with a maximum observation period of four years. In Table 5, average water salinity data are provided for a number of sampling stations in the Khulna Division and compared with salinity data of the tidal water at the Benerpota Station. Though actual salinities may strongly vary from day to day and from year to year, the average salinities as the Benerpota Station (column F, Table 5) are in the same range as the water salinities measured elsewhere in the Khulna Division.

Penaeid shrimp can tolerate a wide range of salinities. The following minimum values are indicated for productive pond culture: Penaeus semisulcatus 19 ppt, P. indicus 4 ppt, P. monodon 3 ppt. Macrobrachium shrimp can be produced in the salinity range of 0-3 ppt. On the basis of these figures may be concluded that the Benerpota site is representative for the Khulna Division with respect to salinity and that Penaeid shrimp, especially P. monodon can be cultured in the period January through June and Macrobrachium in the period July through December.

The prevailing salinities are not sufficient for hatcheries of P. monodon (required salinity 26–32 ppt) and M. rosenbergii (required salinity 10–15 ppt). This is why Cox's Bazar has been selected as site for a Macrobrachium hatchery for the Coastal Area Prawn and Fish Culture Project. This seems to be a debatable point. The major present and potential Macrobrachium production area is located in the Khulna region. If Macrobrachium hatcheries are to be located in the production area, such hatcheries would then be based on the principle of recirculation of brackish water of which the salinity is upgraded with sea salt. In the Brackish Water Culture Research Station, research with respect to simple small-scale hatcheries based on that principle, will be conducted.

Table 5 - Water salinity in Khulna Division (in ppt)

A = Nilaki River at Kapupara
B = Ichamati River at Satkhira
C = Batua-Kholpetua River at Benerpot
D = Jamuna River at Kaligan
E = Rupsa-Pasur River at Bagerhat
F = Tidal water-supply to Benerpota Agriculture Research Station

(47) Soil. The soils of the Benerpota Agriculture Research Station are considered to be representative for the region to establish an agriculture station. By the same token it should be representative for shrimp farming. The precise representativeness with respect to soils can only be determined after completion of the survey on availability and suitability of sites for shrimp farming, see (40).

(48) Topography. Topographical data are needed to determine whether the required water-levels and exchange of water in ponds can be obtained. A local engineering firm will be contracted to conduct a topographical survey of the site, see also (61). On the basis of that survey a definitive assessment of the suitability of the Benerpota site for shrimp farming can be made. So far, however, permission has not been obtained from the authorities to conduct the necessary investigations at that site.

3.5 Tasks and organization of NIFR

(49) The main tasks of the NIFR will be as follows

1. To conduct research with respect to fisheries, including freshwater, brackish water and marine fisheries and aquaculture, and related activities.
2. To co-ordinate all research with respect to fisheries, conducted by other parties in Bangladesh.
3. To advise the government with respect to fishery research, training and extension, and management of living aquatic resources.
4. To channel the findings of research to the extension service through training of extension workers, demonstration and publication.
5. To make the findings of research available to the fishery industry.

(50) Fig. 2 provides a skeleton organizational diagram of the NIFR, showing the main features of the proposed organization form. This diagram differs to some extent from the proposals of the National Fisheries Research Plan. Below the main principles underlying the functioning and organization of the NIFR will be discussed in general terms. After agreement has been reached on the main functions of fisheries research and the schematic form of the organization, these principles will be worked out in detail in the second half of 1985.

Fig 2 - Skeleton Organizational diagram for NIFR and Research Stations

The GOB has decided that the top position in the NIFR will be ranked “Director”. In Fig. 2 the affix “General” has been bracketed on the assumption that at some later date the top positions may be upgraded in line with the national importance of fisheries research.

The Director will have overall responsibility for the NIFR and he will maintain high level outside contact with GOB, BARC, funding agencies including international and bilateral donors and lending organizations, and with the Board of NIFR, see (52). For this purpose he will have the assistance of the Secretariat.

The Deputy Director Research Wing will be responsible for the planning, co-ordination and implementation of the research programmes. For this purpose at headquarters he will have the support of the Programme Division, responsible for planning and monitoring of research, collection and processing of statistics, and preparation of cost-efficiency studies for research programmes, and the Co-ordination Division responsible for the co-ordination of training and extension, publication and documentation of research findings and library services.

The Deputy Director Support Services Wing will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the technical facilities of the five research stations, for which purpose he will be supported by the Technical Department. He will also be responsible for administration and finance, including budgeting and financial reporting. For this purpose he will be supported by the Administration and Finance Department.

(51) For reasons of cost-effectiveness headquarters will remain relatively small. Scientific work proper will be done at the research stations and it is there where the scientific staff should be assigned. In 1985 detailed proposals will be submitted for the staffing of NIFR.

It is proposed that not all positions be filled from the start, but that a beginning is made with a small effective team that is allowed to grow at a controlled rate. As of February 1985, when the planning mission for NIFR will start its work, the following team should be available at least. No titles are indicated as the personnel may initially be assigned at a lower rank:

• Director,

• Chief Research Wing: senior specialist,

• Chief Programme Division: perferably an economist with at least 6 years of experience,

• Chief Co-ordination Division: preferably a training/extension specialist with at least 6 years of experience,

• Design engineer (civil): with at least 6 years of experience,

• Chief Administration and Finance,

• Bookkeeper,

• Secretary,

• Typist,

• Office boy.

(52) The NIFR should be supervised by a board comprising appointees by the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance, and representatives of universities and the private fisheries sector. The tasks of the board would be to supervise the NIFR and to advise the Minister of Fisheries and BARC with respect to the functioning of NIFR. The board should be limited to the above mentioned supervisory and advisory tasks, and should not take over executive tasks of NIFR such as advising with respect to fisheries research to external bodies. As the board will only have a function with respect to NIFR it should be called “the Board of NIFR”. It should not be endowed with a special designation such as Fisheries Research Asvisory Board" as proposed in the National Fisheries Research Plan, as this would suggest a role far beyond the one intended.

In 1985 detailed proposals will be prepared for tasks and membership of the Board of NIFR, of procedures to be followed, and of the relation to BARC.

(53) The tasks of headquarters of NIFR will be to manage the research conducted at the five research stations, to co-ordinate the activities of NIFR with those of other institutions and, especially in the first five years, to build up and develop the research stations and the research organization. This will be a considerable task requiring regular consultation with governmental departments in Dhaka, international and bilateral donor agencies, also located in Dhaka, and frequent liaison with the research stations. According to present plans NIFR headquarters will be housed in Chandpur in the building that will be vacated by the Technological Laboratory, which is to be moved to Chittagong. Consultants advise very strongly against locating NIFR headquarters in Chandpur. The tasks of the management of NIFR require their presence in Dhaka. And as they need the help of the supporting departments it is strongly urged that headquarters be located in the vicinity of Dhaka. Locating the Directors in a town office in Dhaka and the supporting departments in Chandpur would disrupt internal communication and would seriously endanger the whole operation. The location of NIFR is considered a point of major importance, especially in the first five years of its existence.

A rough calculation shows that for the first three years, with some economizing on individual office space, a total office area of 225–275 m² would be sufficient. It is proposed that an attempt be made to rent such office space in or near Dhaka.

(54) One of the tasks of NIFR will be to co-ordinate research in fisheries conducted by other parties in Bangladesh. At present many internationally or bilaterally financed fisheries projects in research, demonstration, training and extension are going on, with little or no co-ordination between them. It is proposed that the Fisheries Master Plan Study, to be conducted early 1985, establish rules and procedures for such co-ordination in consultation with the present NIFR consultancy team.

With respect to fisheries research the following general procedure is proposed.

1. Research components of all ongoing projects will be integrated in the work programme and brought under the responsibility of one of the five research statons. This will be done gradually so as not to disrupt the orderly progress of such projects.
2. The NIFR will prepare research programmes and projects including estimates of personnel, facilities and budgetary requirements. International and bilateral lenders and donors may then select projects from this list. Research projects financed in this way will be integrated in the work programme and brought under the responsibility of one of the five research stations.

A next major task of the NIFR is to advise GOB with respect to fishery research, training and extension, and management of living aquatic resources. The question whether and how this should be institutionalized will be dealt with in 1985. This point will also be discussed with the Fisheries Master Plan Team.

The most important task of NIFR will be to channel the research findings to the extension service. For this purpose it is essential that the research stations be used as training grounds for extension officers. The research stations in Mymensingh, Satkhira, Chandpur and Cox's Bazar should be provided with hostel and training facilities, and regular training and refresher courses should be given. Here again the need for overall co-ordination with respect to training is felt (52).

There seems to be sufficient demonstration capacity to demonstrate freshwater fish culture to the farmers, so that the fresh-water stations in Mymensingh and Chandpur need not serve as training and demonstration centres for farmers, see (39).

With respect to the Brackish Water Culture Research Station in Satkhira it is proposed that a training and demonstration centre for brackish water fish farmers be located near or at the stations, see (40).