Annex IX
REPORT OF THE COORDINATOR TO THE THIRD PROVISIONAL
GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING

I. INTRODUCTION

Scope of this report is January to December 1988. It also includes the highlights of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, the Second Meeting of the PGC and the Tripartite Review. The progress of project implementation and achievements, and the problems encountered are briefly described. The details of activities of the Regional Lead Centres will be presented by the respective Centre Directors.

As some delegates will be attending the PGC Meeting for the first time, the background of the NACA Project and its achievements in Phase I and II, as presented in the previous PGC Meeting, is largely reproduced for their information. The main part of the report for the year begins from Section III on page 5.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

1. Origins

The establishment of NACA as an UNDP-funded FAO-executed regional project was in response to the recommendation of the Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Planning in Asia held in Bangkok in 1975 and the FAO Technical Conference on Aquaculture held in Kyoto in 1976. Established under the UNDP/FAO project RAS/ 76/003 approved in June 1979, NACA started its field operation in August 1980. With 11 participating governments, the project operates under the principle of technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC). The participating governments are represented in the Provisional Governing Council (formerly Advisory Committee), along with UNDP, FAO and other collaborating governments, agencies and organizations. The 11 governments are Bangladesh, China, Hongkong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

2. Rationale for Networking

Asia has vast and varied aquaculture resources and farming systems. While Asia holds high potential for fishfarming, the countries in the region are at different stages of aquaculture development. Individual countries have different priorities of development related to the types of farming systems and fish species.

It was this diversity in species, aquaculture systems, and national and regional priorities that had contributed to the lack of success in attracting the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in supporting an international centre for aquaculture research. In its broadest form, fish is unlike some major agricultural commodities like rice, maize, rootcrops and livestock; it covers aquatic food organisms in the plant and animal kingdoms with the latter comprising both the invertebrates and vertebrates.

Under the circumstances, FAO considered that the pooling of resources available in the region through collaboration among countries would be an effective way of accelerating the development of aquaculture at both the national and regional levels, while the sharing of responsibilities in training, research and information exchange would allow the optimal use of existing capabilities with minimal duplication of effort.

Since none of the existing national aquaculture institutions in Asia has all the facilities and manpower to carry out the essential activities, the need to set up a network of aquaculture centres to share these responsibilities was recommended at the 1975 Aquaculture Planning Workshop and endorsed by the 1976 Kyoto Conference on Aquaculture.

3. Objectives of the Project

a. Original Objectives

The following are the Project's original immediate objectives under RAS/76/003:

• conduct interdisciplinary research on selected aquafarming systems for adoption and improvement of existing technologies and the development of new technologies;

• train core personnel needed for aquaculture development;

• establish and maintain a regional information system for the provision of appropriate data and information for development planning, research and training.

b. Objectives under Phase III

The Project is now on Phase III under a different project number (RAS/86/047) which started in July 1987. Accordingly, the objectives have been expanded as follows:

• consolidate the establishment of an expanded network of aquaculture centres to share the responsibilities of research, training and information exchange essential to aquaculture development in the region;

• strengthen institutional and personal linkages among national and regional aquaculture centres through exchange of technical personnel, know-how and information;

• achieve regional self-reliance in aquaculture development through the establishment of a self-supporting mechanism of the Network to ensure its continued operation within the framework of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.

4. Financial and Implementation History

The NACA Project implementation in the field started in August 1980 as Phase I. It has been extended on three occasions for different periods (namely, 1982–83, 1984 and 1985-June 1987) under Phase II. Total UNDP input amounted to US$5,446,413.

Representatives of participating governments served as members of the Advisory Committee (ADCOM) and Tripartite Review Team along with FAO, UNDP and other collaborating organizations, agencies and institutions.

The First ADCOM Meeting was held in December 1981 in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. Subsequent meetings were held annually, each time at a different place where a Lead or National Centre is located; Bangkok (1982); Wuxi, China (October 1983); Bhubaneswar, India (December 1984); Kathmandu, Nepal (November 1985). The First Meeting of the Provisional Governing Council was held on 25–28 November 1986 in Surabaya, Indonesia, where two national centres of NACA are located. The Tripartite Review was held annually immediately after each ADCOM Meeting at the same venue. Since 1985, it has been held concurrently with the ADCOM/PGC Meetings.

5. Project Achievements under Phase I and Phase II

Since NACA started its field operation in 1980 it has made significant progress in attaining its objectives. It has been commended by all concerned for its major achievements, which would not have been possible without the strong support of the tripartite partnership of the participating governments, UNDP and FAO, as well as the colleagues in the Regional and National Centres, and the collaborating institutions such as SEAFDEC, UPV and IDRC.

Under the NACA Project, four aquaculture institutions, one each in China, India, the Philippines and Thailand, were selected and strengthened to serve as Regional Lead Centres, thereby establishing the initial nucleus of the Asian Network. Linkages between these countries and five National Aquaculture Centres - two each in Indonesia and China, and one each in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and the Philippines - were also established to form an enlarged Network.

NACA has placed strong emphasis on TCDC activities for manpower development, research and information development and exchange.

Regular and short-term training courses have been organized. To provide broad-based training for senior personnel involved in planning and implementing aquaculture development projects, six one-year post-graduate training programmes have been organized through the Philippine Centre, with 119 senior aquaculturists from 20 countries graduated from the course. A total of 150 senior technical personnel from 24 countries were also trained in integrated fish farming through the four-month regular training programme organized by the Lead Centre in China for seven consecutive years. Under different short-term courses, 139 technicians received training in different aquaculture technologies while 7 junior scientists have been seconded to lead centres for in-service training in research methodologies and participation in their research programmes. Total number of personnel trained in Phase I and II are 415 from 44 countries, 26 in Asia, 10 in Africa, 7 in Latin America and 1 in Europe.

The Project has assisted in implementing disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research programmes and published and disseminated research findings, training manuals, lecture notes, a newsletter, instructional video tapes, and initiated the process of establishing a regional aquaculture information system. It has also placed strong emphasis on the programme for technology transfer through the exchange of national experts under its TCDC mechanism.

Besides organizing the workshop on the socio-economics of aquaculture development in the region, three working group meetings were organized to prioritize research and training needs and to study the legal and financial issues and questions of establishing NACA as an intergovernmental body. The latter led to the Conference of Plenipotentiaries (held in January 1988) for the adoption of an Agreement which would enable NACA to be established as an intergovernmental organization.

The Project has collaborated with other agencies and organizations, especially SEAFDEC, IDRC and UPV. It has also generated extra budgetary support of about US$ 2 million to supplement the cost of implementing its activities. Most participating governments have contributed partially to the operating costs of the Network under some cost sharing arrangements, with a pledged amount of US$ 281,500 for the period 1985–1987.

Further details of project achievements in Phases I and II are contained in the Interim Report (1980–1986).

III. PROGRESS OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Nineteen eighty-eight was marked by several significant events and developments in the implementation of the NACA Project. It started off in january 1988 with the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption of the NACA Agreement, the Second PGC Meeting and the Tripartite Review Meetings of the NACA Phase III project (RAS/86/047) and the Seafarming project (RAS/86/024). Besides taking follow-up actions on the recommendations of the PGC and TPR meeting and implementing planned activities, the preparation of the 5-year Work Programme (1990–94) for the Intergovernmental NACA and the implementation of the fish disease programme are among the highlights of project activities for the year.

With the interim approval of the terms and conditions of employment of nationally recruited project professional personnel (NPPP), the phasing in of national experts and phasing out of international experts in project management have been initiated.

Throughout the year, NACA has played an effective role as the UNDP/FAO regional field mechanism for aquaculture development. Besides managing the regional Seafarming Project, it has continued to provide advisory and support services to many other UNDP/FAO projects, both regional and in-country.

The Asian aquaculture network of centres has considerably expanded with the management of the Seafarming Project under the NACA umbrella. In effect, the implementation of the NACA and Seafarming projects under the same management has mutually enhanced the activities of both and expanded the NACA Network. Thus, the TCDC and networking mechanisms of NACA have become more cost-effective.

The progress of project activities during the year is summarized as follows:

1. Conference of Plenipotentiaries

The Plenipotentiary Conference was held at the FAO Regional Headquarters (RAPA) in Bangkok on 6–8 January 1988 in which the NACA Agreement was adopted, thereby setting in motion the formal establishment of NACA as an intergovernmental organization. The adopted Agreement appears as Annex XIII of Second PGC Meeting Report (NACA/PGC-3/REF/1).

Five governments, namely, China, Hong Kong, Korea (DPR), Nepal and Sri Lanka, have signed the Agreement with several more in an advanced stage of doing so. Opportunity will also be provided to the governments to sign the Agreement at the next PGC meeting.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the first non-participating government to sign the Agreement. Other non-participating governments which have expressed interest in joining NACA are Bhutan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Pakistan and Vietnam.

2. Second PGC Meeting

The Second Meeting of the Provisional Governing Council was hosted by the Royal Thai Government and held at RAPA on 12–15 January 1988. The Meeting was attended by representatives of ten of the eleven participating governments, as well as representatives from UNDP, FAO, SEAFDEC, IDRC, ICLARM and UPV. Other governments represented in the Meeting for the first time were Korea (DPR), Korea (Rep.) and Laos. Bhutan also sent a representative to the Meeting, as it did in the previous PGC meeting held in 1986.

In his Keynote Address, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, General Harn Leenanond, stressed the need for further strengthening of the TCDC and networking approaches in aquaculture development. As aquaculture was undergoing an exciting transitional phase, from a largely resource-based practice to a more technology-based industry, he expressed the need to start another series of bold and innovative steps towards strengthening and expanding the present NACA into an umbrella network.

The Council noted with satisfaction the progress made in project implementation in 1987 and endorsed the future direction of NACA along with the Reports of the Coordinator and the Lead Centre Directors. While the participating governments appreciated the benefits derived from the training programmes, ADCP (a UNDP/FAO interregional project) felt the need to assist NACA in evaluating these programmes. The Council also noted that ADCP could not conduct an evaluation of the AQUIS programme because of funding constraints.

The major recommendations and decisions of the Council were:

1. In view of the urgent need to contain the fish disease problem in the region, additional funding from UNDP should be provided to implement the fish disease programme.

2. The Report on the Employment Conditions to be used as guidelines for the recruitment of national experts was endorsed.

3. While participating governments were urged to increase their cost-sharing contributions the Council reiterated that financial assistance from UNDP and other agencies was still required during the interim period when NACA became an intergovernmental body.

4. In preparation for the governments to assume full responsibility in NACA management, the Council appointed a 3-person Working Group to develop a long-term strategy and 5-year Work Programme along with detailed budget for generating funding support.

The Council noted with appreciation the pledged contribution of their governments for 1988 amounting to US$81,500 with US$80,000 from the national treasuries and US$1,500 from IPF.

3. Tripartite Review Meeting of the NACA Project

The TPR meeting of RAS/76/003 (NACA Phase II) and RAS/86/047 (NACA Phase III) was held on 13 January 1988 in conjunction with the PGC Meeting. Its decisions and recommendations as summarized by the representative from UNDP were:

1. more funding from the governments of the participating countries and region should be arranged;

2. the computerized information system, especially the numerical information system, should be developed with greater speed;

3. though the training courses had been successful, the reports of the trainees had not been sent to NACA nor to UNDP. It was agreed that information about the usefulness of the courses should from now on be sent both to NACA and UNDP;

4. strengthening both institutional and personal linkages among national and regional aquaculture centres through exchange of technical personnel, technical know-how and information should be continued; and

5. emphasis should be given to promoting the role of women in aquaculture development.

The representatives from Sri Lanka and Malaysia urged UNDP to reconsider the possibilities to fund the fish disease programme.

4. TPR of the Seafarming Project

The TPR Meeting of the Seafarming Project (RAS/86/024) was held on 14 January 1988 within six months since project implementation started in July 1987. It was also held in conjunction with the PGC Meeting. Its decisions and recommendations as summarized by the representative from UNDP were:

1. To continue with the good progress on networking;

2. To re-prioritize the activities in the Work Plan in collaboration with FAO, UNDP and the participating countries;

3. To give more emphasis to the private sector;

4. To promote the role of women, more so in this sector, where women played a major role;

5. Considering that both demonstration and training courses were important and given the budget limitations, contributions by the participating countries for the training would be welcome; and

6. The formulation of a seafarming information system providing data for planning and management should also be given more emphasis.

A project revision was not considered by the Review Team on the basis that a revision exercise within six months of project implementation was deemed too early.

5. Follow-Up Actions

The follow-up actions on the recommendations and decisions of the PGC Meeting and the two TPR meetings have been taken. These are reported under relevant sections of this report.

6. Project Revision (Code B)

In response to the recommendation of the Second PGC Meeting to reconsider the possibility of funding the fish disease programme, UNDP approved the Project Revision B with a total budget of US$1,753,451, and increase of US$526,681 the breakdown of which is as follows:

7. Government Contributions

From 1985 to 1988 pledged contributions from participating governments amounted to US$363,000 comprising US$240,000 from national treasuries and US$123,000 from IPFs. Actual amount received todate is US$264,000, comprising US$191,000 from national treasuries and US$73,000 from IPFs. These contributions are voluntary, and the details are illustrated in Table 1.

It is noteworthy that Nepal, being a small country, has made a positive contribution of $6,000 in 1988.

Table 1. Voluntary contributions pledged by the Participating Governments to the operation of NACA (US$)

Aside from these indicated in Table 1, other contributions were made to the project activities, such as those from China TCDC and Thai Aid Programmes; since 1983 a total of US$400,800 has been contributed.

While actual cost-sharing contributions have been transferred to the UNDP Contribution Account (A/C #OL5-002284) with the Chemical Bank, UN Branch, New York 10017 U.S.A., a dummy project as recommended by UNDP Headquarters has been formulated to absorb contributions from national IPF's. However, the latter is no longer applicable as of now.

8. Preparatory Actions for Intergovernmental NACA

(i) Five-Year Work Programme (1990–1994)

In preparation for the governments to assume full responsibility in NACA management and operation, the Provisional Governing Council, at its second meeting, appointed a 3-person Working Committee to develop long-term strategy and 5-year Work Programme (1990–1994) along with detailed budget for generating funding support.

Through extensive consultations with governments and concerned agencies, organizations and institutions in the region, the Working Committee prepared the Work Programme at a workshop help in the regional lead centre in Thailand (RLCT) on 29 October-4 November 1988. The Work Programme (NACA/PGC-3/WP/9), sent earlier to the governments, will be submitted for consideration at the next PGC meeting.

(ii) Administrative and Financial Regulations and Procedures

During the year the NACA project has also prepared the drafts of administrative and financial regulations and procedures. As in the NACA Agreement these drafts adhere closely to those in use by INFOFISH. However, the terms and conditions of employment were developed based on the conditions prevailing in Thailand. Some indicators and guidelines from other existing intergovernmental organizations based in Thailand were also used. These draft documents to be submitted to the next PGC meeting for consideration and adoption are as follows:

1. Employment Conditions of NACA (NACA/PGC-3/WP/10)

2. Staff Rules of NACA (NACA/PGC-3/WP/11)

3. Rules of Procedure of the Governing Council and Financial Regulations of NACA (NACA/PGC-3/WP/12)

(iii) Schedule of Government Contributions to the Intergovernmental Organization of NACA

Following the guidelines developed by the Legal and Financial Working Group and adopted by the Provisional Governing Council at its first meeting in Surabaya, Indonesia in 1986 a schedule or scheme of government contributions to the NACA organization has been developed. This will be tabled for the consideration and endorsement of the next PGC meeting as document NACA/PGC-3/WP/13.

9. Project Professional Staff

Dr. V.R.P. Sinha, Senior Aquaculturist, returned to India in June 1988 after completion of his contract. His two years of service which has contributed much to the development of aquaculture in the region is very much appreciated. A national expert is being recruited as his replacement.

In line with the policy of phasing in national experts to take over the management of NACA, the project has recruited three national experts under Special Service Agreement (SSA) during the year. They are Ms. Rebecca R. Cajilig (Information Officer), Ms. Gilda L. Po (Training Coordinator) and Mr. A.M. Jayasekera (Programme Officer). A Senior Aquaculturist (Dr. M.N. Kutty), an Economist (Mr. D.B.S. Sehara) and a Seafarming Expert (Mr. Chen Jiaxin) will shortly join NACA.

10. Training

Two regular courses, namely, the senior aquaculturists course and the integrated fish farming training programme, were implemented along with three other training programmes, namely, the backyard shrimp hatchery in-service practical attachment programme, the fish disease diagnostics course and the in-service training in research under the secondment programme for junior scientists.

Under the Seafarming Project, four short-term demonstration and training courses and one training workshop were also organized, making a total 10 different types of training programmes implemented during the year.

Regular training programmes

1. The 7th session of the one-year training course for senior aquaculturists began in March 1988 with 18 participants from nine countries, namely, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Fellowship support comes from NACA, SEAFDEC/ Japanese Government, Asian Development Bank, IDRC, UNDP and U.P. Visayas.

2. The 8th session of the four-month training on integrated farming systems was successfully implemented from April to August 1988 with 38 participants from 11 countries, namely, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Zambia. Of this number 13 were supported by UNDP (with 7 from China/TCDC), 4 by IDRC, 2 by the Chinese Government, 1 by the Canadian Government, 18 by the Iranian Government. The 9th course will start in April 1989.

Secondment Programme for in-service training in research

In addition to the 7 who have completed their secondment programmes between 1986 and 1987, 3 more (2 from Indonesia, 1 from China) began their programme at RLCT in 1988. Two others, 1 each from China and the Philippines, are scheduled for secondment in RLCI.

Short term courses

1. The backyard shrimp hatchery training programme implemented by the Department of Fisheries of Thailand through its Brackishwater Aquaculture Division trained 14 technicians. A highly intensive 23-day hands-on programme, it was offered over five batches with two trainees per batch, except on the last course when four were accommodated. The participants came from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

2. The first fish disease diagnostics training programme started in July with 9 participants coming from Bangladesh, Indonesia, India,Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was organized in collaboration with IDRC and is implemented by the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.

3. The NACA Project provided extensive technical back-stopping to the four training courses and the training-workshop on Geographic Information Systems that were implemented under the Seafarming Project. The training programmes are: oyster culture which was implemented by the Republic of Korea, Eucheuma seaweed culture in the Philippines, seabass culture in Thailand, netcage culture of finfish in Singapore. The Geographic Information Systems workshop was held in collaboration with the FAO fishery department's fishery resources and environment division and the Asian Institute of Technology. The total number of technical personnel and farmers trained under the various training programmes of NACA and the Seafarming Project is detailed in Table 2. Table 3 and 4 give the number of participants by country who have undertaken the short-term courses and the Seafarming courses, respectively.

A survey of trainees aimed at assessing how their training has been useful was started in April 1988. Questionnaires were sent to all the NACA alumni (about 427 as of April this year) with about 30 per cent responding so far. Returns are being inputted in a trainee feedback data base. Returns from two previous tracer surveys of graduates of the senior aquaculturists training course are being incorporated in the data base.

A review of the two regular training programmes was conducted by ADCP in April 1988. While it commended the efficient organization of the two courses, it recommended that the broadbased multidisciplinary Training Course for Senior Aquaculturists be conducted by a university, a recommendation which was already preconceived in its terms of reference. The Council is requested to make decision on this “informal” recommendation.

11. Research

The Project continued to assist the regional lead centres as well as national aquaculture centres in terms of technical assistance, equipment and essential research supplies. The bio-economic modelling study in RLCC received expert advice from the NACA coordinating unit while the fish disease research participating institutions continue to receive both expert assistance and essential chemicals and equipment for field research.

Aside from the bio-economic modelling study which is also partly supported by IDRC, RLCC carried out studies in seven other problem areas relevant to integrated fishfarming specifically on pond dynamics and culture.

RLCI carried out disciplinary studies along the following areas: intergeneric hybridization of Indian and exotic carps; nutrition, specifically protein requirements of carps and catla fingerlings; diseases and parasites in fishponds; and physiology, particularly on protein, lipid and energy digestibility of feed ingredients and formulated feeds. Interdisciplinary research was also carried out on broodstock management, culture of catfish, and soil and water management in undrainable ponds.

Studies on the production of shrimp and finfish seed are continuing at RLCP. At the RLCT, the 3 seconded junior scientists are participating in multidiscplinary research projects particularly on feed and nutrition and fish diseases. RLCT has further intensified studies on fish and shrimp diseases. It also coordinates the regional fish disease research programme which is carried out in 11 countries.

The accomplishments of the regional lead centres will be reported in detail by the Centre Directors.

Due to the urgency and importance of the regional fish disease research and development programme to the aquaculture in the region, UNDP approved the activity as proposed in Project Revision B. The fish disease diagnostics course was organised to provide greater depth in research expertise for fish disease studies in the region and, specifically, to train the personnel for the development and implementation of a wide-ranging regional programme on fish disease control and health management. Meanwhile a regional research programme on the establishment of a possible relationship between the aquatic environment and the incidence of ulcerative syndrome in fish was organized early this year. It is participated in by scientists from 11 countries and coordinated through RLCT. A workshop will be held in mid-March 1989 to analyse the results obtained and develop further research on the subject.

Role of women in aquaculture

A preliminary study on the role of women in an aquaculture village in Northeast Thailand has been done. The paper will be produced as NACA working paper series. A survey on the kind and extent of participation of women in the various aquaculture institutions participating in the NACA as well as Seafarming Project has been started.

In an effort to promote women in aquaculture, the Project has recruited two women professional staff and selected qualified women candidates to participate in its various training courses.

Socio-economics research programme, based on consultations with staff of various centres and institutions in the region has been formulated. The expressed priority areas for a study include impact assessment of aquaculture on small farms.

12. Information

Publication of the technology series, newsletter, working papers, manuals and reports is a continuing activity. Considerable information support was given to the Seafarming Project in which training manuals for each of the four production-oriented training courses, technical reports, commodity status reports, and slide sets were produced. RLCC was assisted by the project coordinating unit in formulating a programme for upgrading the information and development support communications capability of the centre. The RLCI information system has begun to operate. Data input sheets have been prepared and starting to be stored in the computer.

AQUIS on the overall has not performed as envisioned. The project has taken the initiative-now that ADCP no longer backstops the activity - to revitalise AQUIS. Action has been taken to develop new applications for the AQUIS particularly for the collection and analysis (as well as storage and retrieval) of farm performance data in selected priority aquaculture species and farming systems under the NACA and Seafarming Projects.

A list of technical papers published by the Project in 1988 is found in Annex A.

13. Technology Transfer

The various training courses, the secondment programme, information exchanges, study tours, staff visits among centres as well as staff advisory activities serve the purpose of transferring technology among countries. At the country level, the centres are assisted in developing and implementing in-country training and extension projects as well as adaptive research programmes. The NAC in the Philippines which is being back-stopped by NACA, trained government extension workers, private hatchery technicians as well as graduating fishery students. It also supplies shrimp fry to government demonstration farms as well as small private farms.

14. Upgrading of National Staff

The Project provided assistance for the upgrading of national staff through various training programmes, workshops and seminars organized under NACA, other projects, or other agencies. Study tours were arranged for national aquaculture centre staff, the project staff assisted the regional and national centres in the implementation of project activities, and regional lead centre staff provided assistance to national centres in implementing their research and development programmes. The training programmes serve to upgrade national capabilities for aquaculture management, research, extension and production.

15. Network of Interlinked Aquaculture Centres

Linkages between the RLCs and NACs are continuously strengthened; exchanges of information, technical know-how, as well as staff visits and study tours is a continuing activity. The secondment programme for national experts and junior scientists is a means to further strengthen manpower capability of participants centres. It also enable host centres to utilize the services, even as they provide the methodological training, of the seconded researchers in their research programmes.

Overall, the Asian network of aquaculture centres has been considerably expanded and strengthened with the implementation of the Seafarming Development Project under the NACA umbrella. The Seafarming Project with its 8 national nodal centres have become part of the resources available to NACA for regional aquaculture development programmes.

The Network now has 20 linked aquaculture centres. With this expanded network, the NACA Project is in a better position to provide technical and support services to participating governments, as well as other UNDP/FAO field projects in the region.

16. Seafarming Development and Demonstration Project

The Seafarming Project started its field operation in July 1987. It is executed through NACA to enhance cost-effectiveness. The NACA coordinator is also the coordinator of the Project NACA's Economist and Information Specialist are also part-time staff of the Project.

The Project Office also shares facilities with the NACA Head Office at the National Inland Fisheries Institute (NIFI) in Bangkok.

Participating governments are: China, India, Indonesia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Republic of Korea (ROK), Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The Seafarming Project collaborates with other externally funded projects in the region, particularly the Asian Regional Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries Development Project (RAS/86/016), the Development of Small-Scale Fisheries in the Bay of Bengal Project (GCP/RAS/040/SWE), the Indonesian Seafarming Development Project (INS/81/008), the Chinese Marine Culture Development Project (CPR/81/014), and the Strengthening National Shallow Sea Farming Research Station at Kosong Project (DRK/86/005).

The eight national focal points or nodal centres are:

1. Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Qingdao, China

2. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin, India, and its field stations

3. Seafarming Development Centre, Lampung, Indonesia

4. Shallow Seas Farming Research Institute, Kosong, Korea (DPR)

5. Fisheries Research Development Agency, Pusan,Korea (Rep.) and its Chungmu Fisheries Research Laboratory

6. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Manila Philippines and its demonstration centres

7. Coastal Aquaculture Centre, Changi Point, Singapore

8. Brackishwater Fisheries Division, Department of Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, and its fisheries field stations

Project implementation has been satisfactory since it started 18 months ago despite the shortfall in budget resulting from miscalculation of UNDP input in the Project Document. Under the management of NACA (RAS/ 86/047) and using its network mechanism, all project activities were initiated early without difficulty. In effect, the implementation of both projects under the same management has enhanced the activities of both and expanded the network of NACA.

During the 18-month period, the project set up a regional seafarming group of 8 National Coordinators (NCs) along with designation of 8 nodal centres, one from each participating country. Two NCs annual meetings were organized in which all project activities were planned and prioritised. The NCs are a cohesive and responsible group and played an active role in implementing project activities, including: organization of 4 demonstration/ training courses in which 45 farmers and 36 technicians participated; one workshop on GIS Application in Aquaculture for 15 officers, production of 4 training manuals and 4 seminar reports, 3 sets of audio-visual slides as training materials; collection and processing of various national data for various aspects of work related to seafarming development management. The project also produced technical papers and compiled seafarming statistics and bibliography. Information exchange system has been established through the NCs.

The full details of the progress and achievements of the Project are contained in NACA/PGC-3/WP/4.

17. Technical Assistance and Support Services to Other Projects

The Regional Seafarming Development and Demonstration Project with 8 participating countries is executed by NACA. The Project staff assisted in formulating proposals for Burma and the DPRK. Support services and technical assistance continue to be rendered to several UNDP/FAO projects in various countries in the region which include CPR/82/002, CPR/81/014, TCP/CPR/86/8760, DRK/86/005, DRK/88/002, IND/85/020, IND/85/059, INS/81/008, TCP/PHI/6651, THA/87/004, VIE/83/002, VIE/86/010, VIE/86/011, and many more. The Project assisted the FAO project in Bangladesh by providing a fish disease expert to investigate the outbreak of ulcerative fish syndrome.

Various study tours for staff of development projects were arranged and facilitated by NACA. For instance, a study tour for officers under the South Pacific Aquaculture Development project was arranged and facilitated by the NACA project. Likewise, a study tour to China of officials sponsored by the CIDA-funded fishery project in Northeast Thailand was arranged through NACA.

18. Relationship with other Agencies and Organizations

NACA in 1988 collaborated with IDRC, which continues to support fellowships and research, though at a reduced rate, in the organization of the fish disease diagnostics course, and with SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, ICLARM and the University of the Philippines in the Visayas; Universiti Pertanian Malaysia which is implementing the fish disease course; and Stirling University on the regional fish disease research programme. Other institutions include the Kasetsart University, Chulalongkorn University, Asian Institute of Technology, as well as the Bombay-based Central Institute for Freshwater Education. Collaboration with various other national and regional projects such as the ASEAN Small Scale Fisheries Project of UNDP/FAO and the Bay of Bengal Programme has been maintained or expanded. The ASEAN/EEC ADCP also assisted NACA in the preparation of the 5-year Work Programme.

19. Major Problems

No major problem occurred to seriously affect project implementation. Some difficulties were encountered, as follows:

1. Limited funding did not permit the implementation of some of the scheduled short-term courses such as mass seed production of Indian carps and composite fish culture and shrimp seed production and growout.

2. There has been a delay in the scheduled secondment of junior scientists from China and the Philippines to the RLCI even as the plan to place junior scientists from China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam to RLCP has been snagged. In the first case, it is being caused by some delay in government clearance, in the second it is awaiting approval from the SEAFDEC Council since the three above-mentioned countries are not members of SEAFDEC.

20. Conclusion

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the project is well on its way to become an intergovernmental institution. Project activities in 1988 were aimed at attaining this objective.

The most significant impact of the project has been to increase the importance given to aquaculture in national development planning. It has also generated multiplier effects in terms of efforts of agencies and organizations collaborating with the various centres of the network.

Ironically, however, the success of project implementation may have generated unhealthy competition for limited funds and for recognition by some organizations and institutions to the detriment of governments interests. With the establishment of the intergovernmental NACA, it is hoped that a more conducive environment for support will be created and that complementarity will prevail for the benefit of the peoples of the region.

Attachment

LIST OF NACA WORKING PAPERS, 1988

Working Papers

64. Effect of Green Manure on Fish Production in Polyculture Ponds with Siver Carp and Bighead Carp as Major Species.

65. Preliminary Studies on the Effect of Fresh and Fermented Pig Manure on Fish Production

66. Preliminary Studies on the Analysis of Bacterial Types in Fishponds Applied with Four Kinds of Animal Manure and the Effect on Ecosystem and Fish Yield

67. Effects of the Different Animal Manures on the Ecological Factors and Fish Yield in Fishponds

68. A Study on the Optimum Demand of Protein by Blunt Snout Bream (Megalobroma amblycephala

69. Preliminary Studies on the Effect of Livestock Manure Application on Bacterial Fish Disease and Human Hygiene

70. Preliminary Studies on the Effects of Frequencies of Manure Application on Fish Yield

71. Bamboo Plot-Fishpond and its Economic Appraisal

72. Formalin: Its Toxicity to Aeronomas hydrophila and Plankton and Degradation

73. Toxic and Sub-Lethal Effects of Formalin on Freshwater Fishes

74. Induced Spawning by Using HCG Produced from Urine of Pregnant Women

75. Studies on the Culture of the Freshwater Prawn M. rosenbergii at Various Stocking Size and Density in Rice-fields

76. Experiments on Sex Determination in the Giant Freshwater Prawn M. rosenbergii Through Application of Steroid Hormones, Queen Bee Hormone and Androgenic Gland Hormone Analogue

77. Realized Response of Thai Red Tilapia to Weight-Specific for Growth (3rd to 5th Generations)

Publications under the Seafarming Project

1. Status of Scallop Farming: A Review of Technique

2. Status of Oyster Culture in Selected Asian Countries

3. Seminar Report on the Status of Oyster Culture in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand (Seafarming Seminar Report Series)

4. Status of Mollusc Culture in Selected Asian Countries

5. Seminar Report on the Status of Seaweed Culture in China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand (Seafarming Seminar Report Series)

Training Manuals

6. Culture of Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas in the Republic of Korea

7. Seaweed Farming: Euchema species

8. Marine finfish netcage culture in Singapore

9. Culture of seabass (Lates calcarifer) in Thailand

World Food Day Publications Series

Title

Freshwater Prawns: Status of Global Aquaculture (World Food Day Publication Series No. 6)

Table 2. NACA Training Programme - Number of Participants by Country

Note: Tables 2 and 3 are respectively the number of participants by country for NACA (RAS/76/003 and RAS/86/047) and Seafarming Project (RAS/86/024)

Table 3. Short-term Training Courses and Workshops

Table 4. Seafarming Training Courses