3.1 Extension services in the region
3.2 Training of extension agents
3.3 Seed production facilities in the region
3.4 Manufacturers of feed and fertilizers in the region
3.5 Manufacturers of equipment for the industry
3.6 Other services for the industry
3.7 Local credit programmes
3.8 Trade publications for producers
3.9 Technical assistance projects in the sub-sector
In Eastern European countries extension work has become more of a cooperation between the government research institutions and the State Cooperatives and Farms than a traditional extension service. Representatives of State Cooperatives and Farms also advise and participate in the activities of the government department responsible for aquaculture, and in the preparation of short- and long-term plans for research institutions. Research is therefore very much applied work, responsive to the needs of the producers. A considerable part of research is carried out on the farms themselves, where the research workers provide advice and carry out typical functions of extension. In some cases the research institute is an integrated part of a large-scale production operation, or is integrated with several small fish farms which make up a cooperative. A typical example is the Fish Culture Research Institute at Szarvas in Hungary, which is a focal point for research and development, and the extension of its R & D results to the national sector through the Ministry of Agriculture.
In most Northwestern European countries there is little organized extension, with some exceptions, such as Norway. In Norway extension workers are employed by regional organizations or through the county administration. In Sweden one county administration supports the development of freshwater crayfish production.
In the Northwestern countries extension is provided through both semi-public organizations (such as parastatal authorities and national universities) and private consultants. The Sea Fisheries Industry Authority in the UK, for example, has research and demonstration facilities, provides technical advice, and publishes technical information for the industry.
Biotechnical training in aquaculture is given in most countries of the region for farmers, extension workers, and technicians who operate hatcheries and other rearing facilities. In areas where aquaculture is particularly active, short courses are given in high schools, with special emphasis on practical training in the operation and management of farms. Special technical courses on breeding techniques, feed formulation, water chemistry, and many other subjects, are included.
Special courses for individuals who carry out the function of extension are given at universities, fisheries colleges, agricultural colleges, research institutes, and even by professional societies. These may be separate courses, or part of higher education for undergraduates or post-graduates. For example, typical universities providing technical training courses are Wageningen Agricultural University (the Netherlands), the University College of North Wales, Heriot-Watt University, and the University of Stirling (UK), Galway University's Shellfish Research Laboratory, and Cork University (Ireland); technical institutions include the Regional Technical College, Galway (Ireland), Inverness Technical College, Lews Castle College, Stornoway, Plymouth Polytechnic, and Portsmouth Polytechnic (UK), and Horsens Technical College (Denmark); agricultural colleges include the Sparsholt College in Hampshire, Barony Agricultural College in Scotland, and Bishop Burton Agricultural College (UK).
Organizations which handle courses include the Highland Regional Council, Inverness (UK), Danish Aquaculture Centre (Denmark), the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (Ireland), and Artemia Reference Centre, State University of Ghent (Belgium). Some advanced courses are given by organizations such as the Council of Europe, and the European Communities Biologists' Association. Finally, private companies which hold courses include Clearwater Ltd., Isle of Man (UK).
Because of the large number of courses available, the trade papers often produce features and lists of institutions and organizations holding courses, as well as carry announcements and advertizements. There are also public and private clearing-houses for information on courses.
In the Eastern European countries practical and technical training courses are available from the farm level through to agricultural college and university level. Training is also given by secondary technical schools for fisheries and agriculture. In Czechoslovakia, for example, training is given at institutions and centres at Vodnany, Trebon, Brno, Nitra and Bratislava; in the GDR, at Potzdam, Rostock, Köningswarth, and Stoskow; in Hungary, at Tata, Debrecen, and Szarvas; in Poland at Olstyn, Krakow, and Sczecin; and in the USSR at Astrahany, Vladivostok, and Kaliningrad.
In most of the Northwestern countries the production of seed is organized by private entrepreneurs, and the operations are relatively small. There are considerable numbers of producers who have their own facilities for the production of salmon and trout smolts. For example, the number of producers reported for Norway is 611, followed by Denmark (400), Finland (300) and Sweden (170).
In addition to private hatcheries there are government hatcheries for programmes to replenish natural salmon resources along the coasts of Finland and Sweden. They are usually located near hydroelectric power stations, and dams. These are usually large hatcheries for the production of 2-year old smolts.
The Northwestern region of Europe has many hundreds of hatcheries which vary in size. Resources of fingerlings are available for Atlantic salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, Arctic char, whitefish, grayling, tilapia, sole, turbot, European eel, sturgeon, pike-perch, pike, common carp, European crayfish, signal crayfish. Pacific cupped oyster, flat oyster, and scallops. The following list of commercial hatcheries indicates the range of species available for producers.
In Belgium there is Artemia Systems which produces the eggs and nauplii of the brine shrimp (Artemia), and the Université Libre de Bruxelles which produces tilapia and trout. In Denmark there is Musholm Lax A/S, which produces salmon and trout. In the FRG there are Arno Knof KG for Artemia; Goetz Aquacultural-Agricultural Techniques and Engineering for Artemia, carps, and tilapia); Inter-Fish Export GmbH for carps and catfish; Staehler for carps, catfish, sturgeon, and tilapia; and Fischtechnik Fredelstoh for trout.
In Finland there is Laukaa Central Fish Culture Research Station, which produces salmon, sea trout, brown trout, and whitefish. In Norway there are Finnmark Akvakulturseutu A/S for Arctic char, salmon, and trout; Det Norske Osters Compagniet A/S for oysters; Nors Biotech A/S for salmon and turbot; Reinhartsen & Co. A/S for salmon and trout; and Sea Farm A/S for salmon and trout. In Sweden there are Scandinavian Silver Eel AB for eels; Vattenfall for salmon and brown trout; Vilhelmina Fish AB for salmon, brown trout, Arctic char, and trout; and Simontorp Akvatiska Avelslaboratorium for signal crayfish.
In Ireland there are Taighde Mara Teo., for clams, mussels, and oysters; Fish Farming Services Ltd., for oysters; and Manannan Marine Farm Ltd., for oysters and scallops. In the UK there are Aqua-Labs Shrimp Farms and Red Lion Farms for Artemia; Newhay Fisheries Ltd., for carps and ornamental fishes; Tewin Mill Fish Farm Fisheries for carps, ornamental fishes, tench, and trout; Howietown Fish Farm, University of Stirling, for carps and salmon; Clearwater Trout Ltd., for lobster, oysters, salmon, scallops, trout, and turbot; Eynort Seafood Company for mussels, oysters, and scallops; Guernsey Sea Farms Ltd., for oysters; Ardvar Fish Farmers for oysters and salmon; Golden Sea Produce for salmon and turbot; Heriot-Watt University for sole and turbot; Scott David for trout; Barony Agricultural College for trout; and Kames Fish Farming Ltd., for trout.
In Iceland there are 38 companies which produced 4.6 million smolts in 1987, of which Fjallalax HF, Sudurland, was the largest producer. The total production capacity in 1988 was 21.5 million smolts.
In the Eastern sub-region the production of fingerlings is carried out in large government hatcheries, which may be independent, or on the sites of State cooperatives and farms. Most of them have a capacity to produce 100-300 million larvae annually. In Hungary, for example, there are six well-equipped hatcheries which have a capacity of 100-200 million carps and other fish species. Hungary has also designed portable container units which can function as a fish hatchery for both marine and freshwater species. The containers have configurations which make up hatcheries of varying production capacities, and they can be transported easily to any site and installed within a short time.
The USSR, and some other Eastern countries, operate a number of ships designed as freshwater hatcheries. The Russian PRZ-01, for example, can produce about 24 million young fry of trout, sterlet, sturgeon, and pike. The ship has a displacement load of 640 t.
In most Northwestern European countries there are many large and small manufacturers who produce feeds for the industry. These national producers usually satisfy the local demands for feed. Not all of them specialize in fish feeds, but they are prepared to process batches of fish feed between their primary outputs of animal and poultry feeds. For example, there are manufacturers who are prepared to supply fish feeds in Denmark (6), Norway (3), Sweden (4), and the UK (4). A number of the companies are international and manufacture their own brand feeds, or under license, in several countries of the region.
Among the specific or specialist feed producers for the industry are the following: in Belgium there is Artemia Systems specializing in hatchery feeds; in Denmark there is Dansk Ørredfoder A.S; and in the FRG there are Alma Futter Friedrich Botzenhardt KG and Inter-Fish Export GmbH.
In Finland there is Finnish Sugar Co. Ltd.; in Norway there are Norsildmel, Norsk Biofor A/S, Sjøfor A/S, Skrething T. A/S, and Feitsildfiskernes Salgslag; and in Sweden there are Ewos AB International, Lactamin, and Silver Cup.
In Ireland there is Escambia Ltd., and in the UK there is Frippak Feeds.
Because of the EEC economic trade agreements, other producers in EEC member countries are important. These include in France Aqualim, Aquarium Systems, Lorientaise des Produits de Pêche, and Syndicat des Produceurs de Levure-Aliment de France; and in Spain Agrupacion Biofer S.A.
In the Eastern European countries fish feed is also supplied by large local manufacturers who also produce feed for terrestrial animals and poultry. A number of special fish feed factories have been developed, for example, in the GDR and the USSR. The equipment used in many of these plants comes from both Eastern and Northwestern countries, and in the USSR there is a plant constructed with the assistance of a Japanese company.
In most of the Northwestern countries there is a variety of small and large companies producing equipment for their own national aquaculture sectors, and for the region as a whole. Norway, for example, in a sales edition of the journal, Norsk Fiskopptrett, reported more than 500 Norwegian companies producing equipment for the national and international markets. The European Aquaculture Society (EAS) published a European Trade Directory of suppliers and manufacturers in 1984, and plans to publish an International Aquaculture Trade Directory in 1989. The EAS advertized that it circulated some 6 000 businesses for information for the Directory.
Most of the suppliers and manufacturers attend trade shows which may be separate events, or attached to regional technical conferences (see section 4.5). Each trade show usually publishes a catalogue of exhibitors, and typically their number may be about 100 at the smaller conferences to 500 or more at special events.
In summary, information on manufacturers and suppliers to the trade are well published and advertized in all trade papers and magazines. In the EAS Aquaculture Trade Directory the resources are listed by country for 76 categories of equipment and materials.
In addition a number of companies producing chemicals and additives, among which are anaesthetics, antifouling agents, artificial seawater, bacterins, disinfectants, drugs and pharmaceuticals, feed ingredients and additives, fertilizers, herbicides, hormone preparations, and laboratory chemicals.
In the Eastern countries there is a limited capacity for the production of farming equipment and materials. This is constraining development of the industry and not keeping pace with research results. In most countries, the State Cooperatives and Farms fabricate their own equipment and have their own technical development programmes which serve both themselves and other farms.
In the USSR different types of machines have been developed for the most labour-consuming operations, such as feeding and fish harvesting. Although the production of these machines is on a large-scale there is little or no export to other Eastern European countries.
A coordination programme has been started through COMECON among member countries for the standardization and manufacture of fish farming equipment.
Aquaculture health care services in Eastern countries are centrally controlled, generally under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture. Often health care services are combined with quality control services, which are both responsibilities of a veterinary department within the Ministry. These services are well organized. This is not entirely the case in the GDR and the USSR, where all health-related problems are handled by specialized ichthyopathologists. However, all official regulations and authorizations are in the hands of the veterinary network.
In Northwestern countries disease diagnostics and control are handled by veterinarians and fish disease biologists. Such individuals are either attached to a university laboratory, a state fisheries institute, or a private consultanting company. There are often one or two principal centres in each country with, in some cases, provincial branches.
In the region as a whole, where the industry has developed rapidly within the last decade, the shortage of diagnostic services is constraining stability and further development. In some countries there is a move to train the farmer on disease diagnostics and control through short-term courses to reduce the number of visits by specialists.
The health of the farm animals is closely associated with product quality control. Most Northwestern countries adopt the standards and practices of the FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products has decided to try to include a code for the quality and safety of aquaculture products. Components of the code will include product safety and quality, water quality, off-flavours, residues of veterinary drugs, and the public health significance of diseases and parasites.
There are many consultants and consulting companies offering services to the aquaculture Industry. They provide specialized services in water analyses, diagnostic services, design engineering, systems design, computer service, and other activities relevant to the industry.
Local credit is readily available throughout the Northwestern countries, as part of normal commerce. It is therefore handled by national and local banks. Credit is mostly for investment, rather than operational costs.
As most farms in the sub-region are small family enterprises, many have qualified for credit under national programmes promoting small business initiatives. For example, between 1984-87 the industry in Sweden received a total of about S.Kr. 90 million in economic aid as subsidies, loans and grants. In Norway grants of between 10-35% of capital costs are given for investment, as well as state guarantees for financial requirements.
In addition, international capital is available for the national sectors through subsidies, loans, and structural grants. Producers within EEC member countries are eligible for 25-40% of their investment costs (see section 2.6).
There are many trade publications which are accessible to and useful for producers (and others) in the region, most of which contain international information. These include Fish Farming International (UK), Fish Farmer (UK), and Irish Aquaculture (Ireland). Published outside the region are Aquaculture Magazine, Aquaculture Digest, Progressive Fish Culturist, Water Farming Journal, and Aquaculture News, all published in the USA, and AustAsia Aquaculture Magazine (Australia). Technical information is periodically available in INFOFISH International published six times yearly, which has articles on aquaculture practices both within and outside the region (see 1.6). All are obtainable through subscription.
A number of other publications often contain relevant information to producers as well as professionals. These include the Quarterly Newsletter of the EAS (Belgium), which is obtainable through membership of the Society (see 4.6), as well as the publications of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), and the American Fisheries Society (USA).
There are two Trade Directories of aquaculture products (Buyers' Guides) which are published annually. One is available through subscription to Aquaculture Magazine (USA), and the other through the European Aquaculture Society (Belgium).
There are several trade papers and magazines in languages other than English. For example, in Norway there are seven papers and journals for the industry, all in Norwegian.
There are no international technical assistance projects in the region which support local infrastructure for the sector.
