2.1 Communities to be Served
2.2 Expectations for Aquaculture Development
2.3 Tasks to be Undertaken
Prior to examining alternative production systems, the Task Force reviewed the requirements as perceived and reported by the countries involved, and examined some of the underlying factors that should contribute to the success of the Centre. Although the need to develop intensive methods of aquaculture production in Latin America is widely recognized and the importance of an experimental development centre acknowledged, steps that should be taken to best achieve desired effects have yet to be specified. Several basic postulates arose in defining the role of the Centre. The Task Force considered that programmes should reflect the following:
(i) local needs and desires of the people concerned;
(ii) impact on human nutrition;
(iii) feasibility of the science and technology;
(iv) least time required for implementation;
(v) environmental compatibility, and;
(vi) contributions to local as well as national planning of social futures.
Some general features of the region were also noted. The twelve countries sponsoring the proposal to establish the Regional Centre for Aquaculture in Latin America at Pirassununga, Brazil, could exercize national control over a large portion of both the inland and coastal areas suitable for fish production. They represent about 10 percent of the world's population, and all except Argentina, Chile and Uruguay have expanding population growth rates exceeding the world average. Wide discrepancies can be found within this bloc as to the fulfillment of micro-regional needs (Herrera et al., 1976). For example, El Salvador has less than one-fifth the per caput animal protein consumption of Argentina or Uruguay (Bell and Canterbery, 1976). Diversity of animal protein sources is also likely to be limited; wild fish resources usually being harvested far from centres of high population densities. With the exception of Chile and Peru, fish and shellfish consumption is low, and even in these countries there is concern as to the adequacy of animal protein supplies for people (particularly native Indian people) in remote areas, far from the sea. Thus, protein choices available to many consumers are limited.
Large-scale expansion of traditional fish harvesting in the Latin American region cannot be assured. Growth in this sector is likely to be through displacement of fishing efforts made by other nations, but such growth requires large capital investments for fleets and distribution networks. Some benefits could accrue to the southern - most countries if an Antarctic krill fishery were to develop, however little reliance can be placed upon discovering other unexploited wild resources.
Aquaculture, on the other hand, should be located close to markets and communities that need its produce, but it has been commercially practised to only a limited extent. Present aquaculture in Latin America tends to be restricted both in scale and in variety, although numerous trials on aquaculture have been conducted by national research institutions and by the private sector. Thus fish culture research in Latin America is still in its infancy in spite of the fact that according to Swingle (1971), South America has almost half of the total species of fish in the world.
The Task Force then turned to examine in greater detail the expectations for aquaculture development in Latin America. Suffice to say, they run high. Target figures calculated at the Workshop in Caracas project production to a total of 1 250 000 metric tons in the foreseeable future (FAO/UNDP, 1976). Land areas suitable for pond construction are not a limiting factor; natural water bodies and reservoirs are numerous, and the participating countries control more than 40 000 000 ha of coastal area suitable for fish production (Bell and Canterbery, 1976). There is good reason for optimism if adequate production systems are established.
Methodologies of production in Latin America must by necessity vary with climate and geographic factors. A review of the national aquaculture development plans suggest the following culture systems to be of particular relevance:
(i) pond culture of local species, such as Cichla ocellaris, Colossoma bidens, Mylossoma bidens, Pimelodus spp., Prochilodus spp. and Mugil spp.;(ii) pond culture of tilapia, particularly hybrids, in ponds in the plains;
(iii) cage culture of tilapia in lakes in reservoirs;
(iv) pond culture of carps under Latin American conditions;
(v) pond culture of trout in the upland areas;
(vi) raft and line culture of oysters and mussels in coastal waters, and;
(vii) shrimp farming in brackish water impoundments.
Pressures to obtain greater food production cannot be satisfied by mere transfer of technology, expanding the size of rearing impoundments and increased capitalization; first must come modifications to suit local conditions, refinements and intensification in the production techniques with increased inputs of scientific and technical knowledge. There are substantive differences between the forms of aquaculture production now in use, and there are many options for refining these forms and adapting them to untried conditions. Thus, even the transfer of existing production techniques requires well designed and structured experimentation to provide an informed assessment as to their potential before existing information on them can be extrapolated widely, and appropriate forms of aquaculture production selected.
A further look at the tasks to be undertaken suggests that the forecasting of possible aquaculture activities in Latin America and determining feasibilities should be ongoing activities. New knowledge must continuously be evaluated against existing knowledge and interpreted against the needs and anticipations of the region. Some exploratory experimentation may need to be conducted. However, many ideas and proposals are likely to be discarded at this stage, and only a few production forms that are likely to work in Latin America should be investigated further and refined for application within the region.
It quickly becomes apparent that each form of aquaculture must be considered in all parts, be production-oriented with a view to satisfying relatively exact market specifications, and be compatible with socio-economic and environmental constraints. These requirements dictate the need to use applied systems approaches for its assessment and evaluation of its practicability. The Regional Centre for Aquaculture in Latin America offers a unique opportunity to study food production methodologies in fresh and salt water using applied systems approaches. Production systems for investigation must be selected on the basis of their usefulness to the region; but it Should be possible for the Centre to make changes as required in the cause of its work. Funds available to the Centre will be limited and therefore considerable focus must be built into its investigations. Research programmes must be carefully structured to provide some short-term payoff, as must be the Centre itself.
The planning and refining of production approaches, therefore, must involve largely applied or adaptive research on the "total systems" selected. The Centre should pioneer multi-disciplinary research in aquaculture. Even though the problems identified at present may be limited to certain disciplines, it is most likely that associated problems will arise during the course of studies and inter-relations, and cost effectiveness of different procedures have to be examined at all stages. It is, therefore, essential that research be conducted by multi-disciplinary teams. Pilot-scale studies should be undertaken, with careful analysis of cost-inputs and market returns so that economic assessments can realistically be made. Aquaculture production by its basic nature constitutes applied nutrition systems which must consist of three main parts:
(i) the organism(s) used as the bioconverters;(ii) the feed for its nutritive value, and;
(iii) management, or the manipulation of factors that can be controlled by the operator on the site.
Organisms are selected upon availability and cost, survival tendencies, resistance to and freedom from disease, and inherent capacities to produce a product in the desired form. Selection of feed is affected also by availability, cost, chemical composition and physical properties of ingredients, besides ease of production, palatibility and mode of feeding, and above all the ability to promote growth and health of the organism. Management will depend upon facilities design, intensification of the production system, complexity of the system, etc., but also most heavily upon the knowledge and skills of the operator.
Three types of research and development can be identified:
(i) testing of technology and technological innovation;
(ii) flexible, multidisciplinary applied research and experimental development; and;
(iii) discipline-oriented fundamental research.
Only the second type is likely to be carried out at the Centre. The testing of existing technology and technological innovation tasks may best be carried out within the national institutes and programmes. The discipline-oriented, fundamental research tasks may best be conducted in universities or similar institutions in Latin America or elsewhere throughout the world. Cooperation with such centres should be encouraged. Moreover, the establishment of the experimental development programmes at the Regional Centre for Aquaculture in Latin America will in no way distract from the establishment of other centres that wish to conduct fundamental research applicable to aquaculture development.
More effective use of the scientific knowledge pertinent to aquaculture development is more likely to be assured if policies and appropriate infrastructures are built up within each participating country. Such efforts may be assisted by the FAO/UNDP Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme. However, the Regional Centre for Aquaculture in Latin America can also contribute substantially, if appropriate communication links are established. These could be achieved through the proposed "Advisory Committee" of the Centre with representation from member countries, donor agencies and invited specialists. Terms of reference for this committee could include the following:
(i) serve as an aquaculture strategic planning body, with the responsibility of undertaking comprehensive long-term evaluation of aquaculture development needs and the implications of introducing new production systems to the region;(ii) provision of guidance to programmes at the Latin American Regional Centre for Aquaculture, identifying options, priorities, and approaches to aquaculture development, and evaluating the performance of the Centre;
(iii) provide a major communication channel to all participating agencies, promoting cooperative efforts in aquaculture development in the region.
The committee should operate as far as possible "in the open" and become an element of public thinking and public opinion. Its success will rely heavily upon staff support from the Centre, and the quality of documentation made available. Thus, the committee may be envisaged as an integral part of the strategic planning role assigned to the Centre.
The training and information programmes proposed to be developed at the Centre are not considered in this report. It may be said, however, that the Centre lends itself to a "holistic" approach, to practical as well as scientific training in aquaculture, and to the promotion of information exchanges. The Centre is also likely to be called upon to draft model regulations on such matters as zoning, disease control, financing and insurance, that could have application to several countries, and must prepared to do so.
