6.1 Blood cockle and hard shell clam meats may become an excellant source of protein for starter feeds in the shrimp and sea fish culture in Bangladesh. Clam meat was included in the National Feedstuffs Survey but only in the dried state. Fresh material is currently being harvested and used by the commercial shrimp hatiheries at Cox's Bazar. Testing of this material for both protein and essential fatty acid content may justify developement of commercial culture of both molluscs in appropriate beach or mud flat areas of Southern Bangladesh. The first WU to initiate studes with freshwater shrimp is listed under 3.11 but should be expanded with additional WU to cover various formulations best suited to starter and grower feed for several species of shrimp or fish.
6.2 Bycatch utilization is an important area to develop for aquaculture in Bangladesh which has many demands on its limited protein resources. Options to prepare and preserve this resource should be included in the near future research efforts of FRI. One major technique could be tested for effectiveness to prepare fish protein hydrolosates (FPH) for larval or starter feeds in aquaculture. One FPH technique published for shipboard preparation of minced flesh which is then hydrolyzed by the peptic enzymes present in the gut of carnivorous by - catch species captured incidental to shrimp trawling is outlined in Annex L. This material can be direct flame concentrated to about 40% solids and then used as an excellent protein source for larval or starter feed formulations. It also is an outstanding feedstuff binder in manufacturing techniques. Cost analysis of this simple effective procedure will determine applicability to industrial use in the feed industry. This procedure was requested by the secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
6.3 Bycatch utilization using ensilage techniques may prove effective for low cost preservation of ground fish and other marine or freshwater uderutilized fishes. The technique involves grinding bycatch aboard ship and storing the minced tissues with formic, sulfuric or phosphoric acids. Often 1% of propionic acid is added as a mold inhibitor. Fish silage can be kept stable for several weeks until neutalized and then used as fish feed components in semi-moist or extruded then dried fish feeds. A materials flow diagram of the ensilage technique is found in Annex M. This procedure was also requested by the Secretary, MFL.
