5.1 Government policy in the region
5.2 Government organization in the region
5.3 Aquaculture legislation
5.4 Trade and business associations
5.5 Information resources for management
5.6 Technical assistance projects in the sub-sector
In most countries of the region there is an awareness of the potential of aquaculture to provide additional fish supplies and, in some cases, to reduce imports from abroad. However, in some countries, such as Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait, there is active government encouragement for the development of aquaculture; in other countries, such as Oman, there is only little interest from the Government.
In Iran the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture is actively encouraging the development of aquaculture through the Shilat organization, and is providing technical and financial aid as well as making land and water resources available. The Government has stated its plan to try and produce 100 000 t per year of cultured fish in 10 years' time (1997). This would require an estimated 35 000 ha, and the Government is trying to provide sufficient land for the private sector.
In Iraq the State Board of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is providing assistance to the aquaculture sector. The Government has recently initiated policies to encourage the private sector to enter into productive activities like agriculture, etc., and this has led to a surge in freshwater fish farming which is one of the most viable ventures.
In Jordan the Government has stated in its new five year plan the aim of increasing local fish production to 1 250 t per annum.
In Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, the Governments are giving encouragement to the development of aquaculture through support of their national aquaculture research stations.
In most countries responsibility for the aquaculture sector is under the Department of Fisheries which is usually within the Ministry of Agriculture. The fisheries staff therefore administrate all aquaculture issues. A list of the respective departments which deal with aquaculture is as follows:
|
Bahrain: |
Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture |
|
Iran: |
Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture Shilat (Iran Fisheries and Fish Culture Section) |
|
Iraq: |
State Fisheries Establishment, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation |
|
Jordan: |
Department of Production and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Supply |
|
Kuwait: |
Fisheries Division, Agriculture Department, Ministry of Public Works |
|
Oman: |
Fisheries Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries |
|
Qatar: |
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Industry and Agriculture |
|
Saudi Arabia: |
Department of Fisheries, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Water |
|
UAE: |
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries |
|
YAR: |
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Fish |
|
PDRY: |
Ministry of Fish Wealth. |
In Iraq and Iran there are staff with full time responsibility for aquaculture within the respective departments.
In most countries new legislation for the development of aquaculture has had to be introduced, or old legislation for agriculture or fisheries adapted to requirements for aquaculture. Each country has produced its own particular legislation for granting licences and permits to farmers, and imposing regulations on certain activities.
A licence to start an aquaculture venture is required in most countries and is a means of regulating the development of the industry.
In GCC countries there are few if any taxes on agriculture and fishing equipment imported into the country. In Jordan taxes on imported equipment for aquaculture have been lifted.
In the GCC countries taxes on profits from agricultural investments are comparatively low, if any, and there are no favourable tax advantages for aquaculture compared with the fisheries or agriculture sectors.
Most countries in the region are aware of the potential problems of pollution from farm effluent water. In Iraq the State Fisheries Department makes regular visits to private fish farms to test water quality of the farm effluent and monitor pollution. In Saudi Arabia legislation is presently being passed which will require an environmental impact study with the feasibility study to secure a licence for farming.
In most countries there are regulations for the importation of live animals and fish which require certain documentation prior to customs clearance at the border. The regulations usually require a Certificate of Origin of the species and a Certificate of Health. In most cases the Certificate of Health must state that the fish or eggs are free of any infectious disease or infestation of parasites. In most countries there are no regulations or facilities for the quarantine of fish at introduction, or in the subsequent outbreak of any disease. Saudi Arabia imposes quarantine restrictions to ensure disease-free importations.
There is concern for the genetic conservation of indigenous fish in Iraq where the Central Fish Hatchery is regularly restocking Inland waterways with seven million fry of indigenous fish annually. In Iran there are significant efforts to increase the inland fisheries of kutum with over 50 million fry released for stocking in 1986. However, stocks of common carp (from foreign strains) have been introduced in the region as well as foreign strains of marine shrimp species.
There are no trade and business associations specifically for aquaculture in the region at the present time, primarily because most aquaculture production is for the national markets and little, if any, is exported. Each country has the national Chambers of Commerce which encourage bilateral trade and assist with import documentation. Most of the national overseas embassies help the industry by sourcing equipment and advising on import regulations through their Commercial Attaches for international trade.
There are no publications in the region produced for management. Any general information about the sector is usually in association with publications for producers (see 3.8) or for the professionals (see 4.6).
Through the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (ADCP) in FAO a number of documents are produced which deal with planning and management of the sector; and ADCP produces a Newsletter, called Aquaculture Minutes, for administrators and managers.
There are no technical assistance projects in the region concerned with aquaculture at the level of national sector management. There are a number in the field of fisheries but none of these has an aquaculture component.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) assisted in the development of a new Marine Science Research Centre for fisheries in Oman. The project supplied technical assistance through international experts to help with the management of the sector, collection of statistics, and to quantify fishery resources in the offshore waters.
The international staff of the FAO-executed Trust Fund project in Saudi Arabia assists the government in aquaculture development by being on the Technical Committee for Fisheries in Saudi Arabia; this committee helps coordinate the development of aquaculture and fisheries and assists in the preparation of new legislation for aquaculture.
Iraq has requested technical assistance from FAO to strengthen the capabilities of the State Board of Fisheries, to conduct specialized research in fish breeding, and to provide extension services to owners of the fish farms.
FAO through the ADCP provides interregional assistance indirectly by the publication of planning materials for governments.
