ANNEXES

Annex I

Annex I-1
Regional Study on the Taxonomy, Ecology and Processing of Commercially Important Red Seaweeds (GCP/INT/553/FRA)

TRAINING WORKSHOP

21–28 April 1992
Bangkok.

1. TRAINING WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS

In a plenary session on 28 April 1992, the Training-Workshop discussed the concept and methodology of the regional study. After a thorough discussion, the participants developed and endorsed a Plan of Action for the Regional Study on Taxonomy, Ecology and Analysis of Commercially Important Red Seaweeds.

Several genera of red seaweeds were reported as occurring in the participating countries, including: Eucheuma; Hypnea; Gelidiales; Gracilaria; and Porphyra. In view of the common interest and the regional importance of Gracilaria species, the workshop recommended that the regional study would concentrate on Gracilaria species. The species to be studied will depend on the countries, but the number would be narrowed down to the ones that are shown to have high commercial potential after the initial analyses.

To expand the development of the seaweed industry in the region, the participants recommended that urgent problems for national studies be tackled. They identified priority problems that NACA could assist in developing proposals to address and in seeking assistance for their implementation. The problem areas were identified as follows:

In addition to the above national-level activities, it was recommended that socio-economic studies of the seaweed industry be included. The participants requested NACA to officially advise their respective Government authorities of the results and recommendations of the Training Workshop and to reiterate the support needed from the Government to successfully implement the regional study.

A final regional technical workshop will be held to analyse at the regional level the results of the study, develop the required outputs and formulate recommendations for further action.

2. PLAN OF ACTION

1. NACA would advise Governments of the results of the Training-Workshop, participants would consult with the concerned authorities on the support required to implement the study.

2. Field activities would start during May 1992.

3. Samples would be collected once every two months or bimonthly over a period of one year for a total of six samplings. Identification of samples and agar yield and quality analysis would be carried out

   • Researchers should report to NACA the results of the bi-monthly collection.

   • Analysis should be done immediately.

   • Analytical results should be accompanied by a report on the status of the study, problems encountered and assistance required from NACA, including fielding of experts to monitor the status of study and provide on-site advice.

4. The Kasetsart University Faculty of Fisheries, and the Biopolymer Research Unit of the Srinakarinvirot University will be the referral centres for taxonomic identification and agar quality determination, respectively.

5. Herbarium specimens and agar samples extracted from the collected seaweeds, properly labelled and packed, shall be sent to NACA for onward referral to these institutions.

6. The data collection forms as shown in this annex, include: (i) data sheet/field notes for the taxonomic and ecological aspects of the study; (ii) data sheet for the analytical work done on the samples; (iii) recommended labelling for the herbarium specimens; and (iv) the standard analytical procedure to agar quality. These forms are to be used for reporting results.

7. The participants will draft a final report based on the results of the field research.

8. NACA, with the assistance of resource persons, will review the country reports and develop a format for the required study outputs.

9. The Final Workshop will draft the study outputs and develop recommendations for further action.

10. NACA, with assistance from the referral centres and Resource Persons, will finalise the outputs from the study, and publish and disseminate them to governments and interested parties.

REGIONAL STUDY ON THE TAXONOMY, ECOLOGY AND ANALYSIS OF RED SEAWEEDS

DATA SHEET I

FIELD NOTES

(To be completed for each sample)

Note: Collect and prepare a minimum of 5 complete samples for each species for the herbarium and 1 kg (wet weight) of seaweed for analysis.

Sample code number: ________

REGIONAL STUDY ON THE TAXONOMY, ECOLOGY AND ANALYSIS OF RED SEAWEEDS

DATA SHEET II
ANALYSIS

(To be completed for each sample)

Recommended Labelling for Herbarium

EXTRACTION OF AGAR

Annex I-2
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Annex I-3a
SPEECH

Dr. Kitjar Jaiyen,
Deputy Director General Department of Fisheries - Thailand and Member, NACA Governing Council.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet you all at the opening ceremony of this Final Workshop of the Regional Study on Commercially Important Seaweeds. It is especially gratifying to recall that I participated similarly in the initial training workshop of this study in 1992 and indeed I recall associating with several of you as co-participants in the initial programme.

As you know, this study is funded by the French Government Trust funds with FAO and I am happy that representatives from FAO, the French Government and IFREMER are with us this morning. In addition, we also have representatives from University Rene Descartes, Paris and University of Lille, as inter-regional resource persons in this workshop. We also have the regional resource persons, notably from the two Regional Referral Centres of the study in Thailand, the seaweed taxonomy centre in the Fisheries Faculty of Kasetsart University and the Biopolymer Research Unit, Srinakarinvirot University, as the Regional Centre for seaweed processing. Regional resource persons from the Marine Science Institute, University of Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City and Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Qingdao, China, have also been advising effectively on this study.

The regional study focused on taxonomy and processing, with specific reference to agar yield and quality, of the red seaweed Gracilaria, with institutional participation from nine countries in the region, namely Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition, we have representatives from Sri Lanka and Iran at this workshop. As you can see, considerable effort in the regional context has been put into this study, which was extended for a longer period by the additional funds graciously provided by the French Government through FAO.

We look forward to the presentation of the results of the country studies as well as the learned resource papers by the regional and international experts and their recommendations for follow-up activities and guidelines for further development of an important aquatic resource in the region which has vast scope for development. What is significant here is that much of the activities reported have taken place through co-operation among the participating member countries of NACA. The efforts began with the FAO/UNDP Sea Farming Project, under the NACA umbrella. The project with eight original participating centres in the Network now has expanded further with the implementation of the present study.

It is hoped that the results of the present study will be utilised to further expand Gracilaria and other seaweed culture in the region and bring the benefits leading to the improved socio-economic status of the coastal communities in the countries of the region as is indeed envisaged under the holistic aquaculture development programme of NACA.

I am pleased to note the enthusiasm and interest in this regional seaweed study among the country study participants. I am sure that, with the continuing co-operation and guidance of the regional and inter-regional resource persons, this workshop will achieve its objectives and appropriate recommendations for follow-up activities for the further development of seaweed production in Thailand and other countries in the region will emerge.

I wish all the participants a very successful workshop and our visitors a pleasant stay in Thailand.

Annex I-3b
ADDRESS BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF FAO

Dr. Veravat Hongskul,
Regional Fisheries Officer, FAO/RAPA, Bangkok.

Mr. Deputy Director General, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen:

It is a great pleasure to welcome you, on behalf of FAO and the Regional Representative, to the Workshop of the Regional Study on Red Seaweeds which is a joint effort between FAO, NACA and the Government of France.

The importance of seaweeds is now generally recognised world-wide. Various seaweeds have been utilised throughout the world for centuries. Recent development and discoveries on the use of seaweed colloids has further expanded new areas for seaweed utilisation. World production of red seaweeds, which accounted for 20 % of the total world seaweed production of 6.2 million tonnes in 1992, for example, has increased by 24% from about 1 million tonnes in 1983 to 1.26 million tonnes in 1992. More important is the fact that about 90% of production of red seaweeds came from Asia and the Pacific.

While China and Japan remain the principal producers in the north-west Pacific, the Philippines continues to be the main producer in Southeast Asia. The production of red seaweeds in this region also increased considerably, by about 143%, in the last decade that is, from 200,000 tonnes in 1983 to 538,000 tonnes in 1992, accounting for 43% of the world's seaweed production in 1992. Undoubtedly, such success has been a result of various efforts at promoting seaweed production in the region, including a FAO/UNDP project on seaweed production development in the Philippines of which Dr Nyan Taw, is the Chief Technical Adviser. I am happy to note that he is also participating and hope to hear more from him. I also note the participation of Prof Kanjanapaj and Dr Suwalee, the noted experts on seaweeds from Thailand, in this workshop to which I am sure they will provide valuable information on the development of seaweed culture and utilisation in the region.

The regional study on taxonomy, ecology and processing of economically important red seaweeds was developed as a recommendation of the seaweed training workshop in April 1992. NACA was requested by FAO to carry out a research programme on the culture of red seaweeds, review country reports covering the taxonomy, ecology, and processing of agar and recommend follow-up action at both national and regional levels at this present workshop. It is our sincere conviction that, despite the current marketing problems, the future of seaweed culture, utilisation and the use of seaweed extracts is enormous. The uses of agar, carrageenan and other emulsifiers are well known. More products for medicinal, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, industrial and agricultural uses are on the way. Potential uses of seaweed as feeds for aquaculture are being developed. Marine biotechnology in seaweed tissue culture including genetic engineering is already on the list for future research. These efforts, of course should also address potential markets in actual implementation.

In anticipation of the outcome of the workshop, I wish you all success in your deliberations. I look forward to your conclusions and recommendations for future activities in order to promote seaweed culture in the region to its fullest extent.

Annex I-3c
SPEECH

Mr. Alex Brayle,
Director, Scientific and Technological Centre,
French Embassy, Bangkok.

I am pleased to be with you this morning for the Opening Ceremony of the Final Workshop of the Regional Study on Commercially Important Red Seaweeds. I am glad that this project is supported by the French Government Trust Funds with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is indeed gratifying to see that the funds provided for the project has enabled the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) and its participating countries in the region to complete an important aspect of the study on red seaweeds.

The present study focuses on Gracilaria species, which is cultured in several Asian countries, and which has the scope to expand its production and yield of the very valuable phycocolloid, agar, which has applications in different fields of foods, Pharmaceuticals and the emerging field of biotechnology. I understand that very important contributions have been made by the participating countries in this study on the ecology, taxonomy and processing (agar yield and quality) of Gracilaria.

It is also very interesting to see that the study by the national participants has been guided by the regional and inter-regional resource persons/experts notably from Thailand (where the two Regional Referral Centres for the study are located), China and the Philippines, countries which are in the forefront of seaweed production and utilisation in the world.

Advanced technology and high applications of phycocolloids are available in the developed countries and France especially has considerable expertise and industry in this field. I am particularly pleased that French experts from IFREMER, University Rene Descartes of Paris and University of Lille, are here to interact and guide the activities of the workshop and advise on the outputs and evolving suitable follow-up activities.

I am especially pleased to see the co-operative efforts, goodwill and enthusiasm of the participating countries, the regional and international organisations and the organising groups at Bangkok in this get-together for development of a major aquatic resource in the region.

I am certain that in the next few days you will have very important and valuable deliberations and I look forward to the outcome of the workshop and specific recommendations for the follow-up activities.

I wish you a very successful and rewarding workshop.

Thank you.

Annex I-3d
WELCOME SPEECH

Dr. Banchong Tiensongrusmee,
NACA Co-ordinator, Bangkok, Thailand.

Ladies and Gentlemen: It is indeed a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to welcome all of you in this Final Workshop of the Regional Study on the Taxonomy, Ecology and Processing of Commercially Important Red Seaweeds. On behalf of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, I would like to express my gratitude to the Royal Thai Government through the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives for facilitating the preparations and providing many of the valuable resources needed to conduct this activity. As you know, the funding for this Regional Seaweed study came from the French Government Trust Fund with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). On behalf of the participating Governments and the NACA Organization, I wish to express my deep appreciation to FAO for continuing to provide funding as well as technical support to this Project as well as activities in other areas. I also thank the French Government and IFREMER for the funding and technical support for the Project.

I wish to thank the participants from eleven countries in the regions, namely: Bangladesh; China; India; Indonesia; Iran; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Sri Lanka; Thailand; and Vietnam for their commitment to this regional activity. I wish also to thank the resource persons, particularly Prof. Gavino C. Trono of the Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, the Philippines; Dr. Annette Alfsen, Director of Research, CNRS, Universite Rene Descartes; Dr. Olivier Barbaroux of IFREMER; Dr. Christophe Destombe, CNRS, University of Lille, France; and Dr. Chen Jiaxin, Director, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Qingdao, China, (our former associate in the Sea Farming Development Project with NACA), for sharing their expertise with NACA in this study, despite their undoubtedly crowded academic and scientific commitments. Our special thanks are due to Prof. Khanjanapaj Lewmanomont of the Fisheries Faculty of Kasetsart University and Assistant Prof. Suwalee Chandrkrachang, of the Biopolymer Research Unit of Srinakrarinvirot University, Thailand, who headed the respective Regional Referral Centres in taxonomy and processing of Gracilaria for the study.

I am very pleased to welcome the participation in this morning's opening activities of the representatives of FAO, the French Embassy, and various divisions of the Department of Fisheries, Thailand as well as the officials of Kasetsart and Srinakarinvirot University. Your collective presence is a most encouraging sign to the NACA Organization which, as you are aware, is seeking the further co-operation of various organisations to support and implement the regional programme for aquaculture development. This workshop is the final activity of the Regional Study on the Commercially Important Red Seaweeds which was taken up as a priority topic under the seaweed development programme and is one of the projects under the large regional programme of NACA that adopts a holistic approach to aquaculture development.

This study was started with a training-worship in Bangkok in April 1992. The project is a clear example of the close and strong collaboration among various national sectors including the academe and regional as well as international agencies in a regional activity for benefit of countries in the region. I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all concerned and our wish for a close and continuing relationship.

I look forward to the recommendations and guidelines from the workshop for facilitating further success in seaweed production in countries in the region as well as appropriate mechanisms for supporting the future activities. NACA would be most keen to collaborate further with the participating countries and various regional and international organisations concerned in this respect.

It is my pleasant duty to extend to you a warm welcome and to wish all the participants a most fruitful and successful workshop.

Annex I-4
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

Tuesday, 24 January 1995,
Morning Programme.

1. Registration

   0830 – 0900   Arrival of Guests and Registration of Participants.

   0900 – 0915   Assembly at NIFI Meeting Hall.

2. Opening ceremony

   0920   Welcome address
   Dr Kitjar Jaiyen, Deputy Director General,
   Department of Fisheries, Thailand.

   0930   Speeches
   Dr Veravat Hongskul, Regional Fisheries Officer, FAO RAPA.
   Mr Alex Brayle, Director, Scientific and Technological Centre, French Embassy, Bangkok.
   Dr. Banchong Tiensongrusmee, Co-ordinator, NACA.

   0940   Adoption of the Workshop Agenda

3. Description of scope and objectives of the workshop

   0945   Dr M. N. Kutty, Senior Aquaculturist (Research and Training), NACA.

4. Presentation of Country Reports

   1000–1230   Bangladesh.
   China.
   India.
   Indonesia.

   Afternoon Session.

5. Presentation of Country Reports (continued)

   1400–1545   Iran.
   Malaysia.
   Myanmar.
   Philippines.
   Sri Lanka.
   Thailand.
   Vietnam.

6. Discussion of country reports

   1600–1730

   Wednesday, 25 January 1995,
   Morning Session.

7. Presentation of Regional Overviews and Resource Papers

   Afternoon Session.

8. Discussion of the Overview and Resource Papers

   1400–1530

9. Final Discussions and Recommendations

   Thursday, 26 February 1994,
   Whole Day.

10. Field Trip

    Friday, 27 February 1994,
    Morning Session.

11. Adoption of Workshop Report

    0930 – 1200   Summary report of the Workshop will be presented for adoption.

12. Closing Ceremony

    1200–1205   Vote of Thanks.