1. INTRODUCTION

The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic through its Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through its Technical Cooperation Programme are engaged since March 1995 in the implementation of the project TCP/SYR/4552(A) “Assistance to Artisanal Fisheries”.

The objectives of the project are:

1. to optimize the utilization of the presently exploited marine and freshwater stocks and the marketing, distribution and consumption of stocks that are underutilized; and

2. to provide independent advice on measures to optimize the human resources available to the Department of Fisheries (DOF) in order to meet the requirements of the fishing industry and the Government.

As part of the project operation, FAO assigned Mr D. Lisac as consultant in Marine Aquaculture from 27 March to 26 April 1996.

1.1. TERMS OF REFERENCE

The terms of reference for the consultancy mission on Marine Aquaculture Development were as follows:

1. to identify the most suitable species for mariculture;

2. to assess the economic viability of marine aquaculture at General Establishment for Fisheries' (GEF) Sinn Farm, or suitable alternative location;

3. to prepare an outline proposal for the establishment of a pilot mariculture operation in GEFs' Sinn Farm, including requirements of facilities design and equipment, nutritional aspects and technical assistance;

4. to prepare an outline plan for the training activities of GEFs' personnel in the fields of:

   -   marine aquaculture;
   -   feeds formulation;
   -   hatchery design;
   -   management and economic analysis of marine aquaculture.

At the start of the mission a request was received to extend the terms of reference so as to include an assessment of the freshwater aquaculture sector, identify its main constraints, and recommend a strategy for the development of this sector. The exact terms of reference, listed above, were cleared prior to departure from FAO Rome, and explained to the DOF of the MAAR.

During the mission GEF acted as the principal counterpart through its offices in Damascus, Latakia (Marine Fisheries Branch (MFB)) and Jeble (Head Office).

The consultant visited key marine fisheries locations and perspective fish farming areas along the Syrian coast, concentrating on the analysis of prevailing physical, biological and socio-economic conditions in order to examine marine aquaculture development options most appropriate for the local context. The operating base from which the major activities were performed was the MFB of GEF in Latakia.

A field visit was also effected to GEFs' Tishreen 16 Dam cage farms for carp and tilapia, and to two small trout farms near Damascus.

Wide ranging discussions were held with officers of GEF, MAAR, Latakia Tishreen University, port authorities, fish wholesalers and retailers, national and international project consultants and staff from the international agencies.

The consultant would like to thank Mr Moaeen Ismael, Director General of GEF and Dr Issam Krouma, Head of the DOF, MAAR for their assistance and advice. The consultant would like to express particular thanks to Mr Fouad Bishara for his ability and patience in securing essential expertise and logistic support during field work along the coastal area, and Mr Awad Shubat for his full assistance in Damascus. In addition, the consultant wishes to thank Dr Adib Saad and the staff of GEF, the DOF and the FAO Representative for their understanding, patience and assistance.

1.2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Syrian Arab Republic has a population of 15 million inhabitants, of which approximately 60% are under the age of 20. The capital city is Damascus (population 4 million) and other major cities include Aleppo (population 1.5 million); Horns (population 0.S million) and Syria's main Mediterranean port Latakia (population 0.3 million).

The economy is characterized by a real high growth rate estimated at 5% (1995), and a per caput Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $US 963. Industry accounted for 56% of GDP in 1993 and agriculture a further 31%. The agriculture sector is important with 32% of the estimated total of 3.7 million (1993) employed. The fisheries sector is relatively unimportant, accounting for 0.002% of Gross National Product (GNP).

Freshwater fisheries predominate, contributing over 80% of the total production of 10 200 t (Medina Pizzali, 1996). Fish production from freshwater aquaculture has increased substantially in the last decade, while marine aquaculture activity is non-existent in Syria.

Table 1

ESTIMATED TOTAL SUPPLY OF FISH IN SYRIA (1994–1995)

Source: Medina Pizzali, 1996

Annual per caput fish consumption is presently less than 1 kg, compared to about 2 kg in 1980 (Ferlin, 1983; Medina Pizzali, 1996), and to 17.5 kg for meat products. A limited domestic production, a ban on imports of fresh and frozen fish, an expanding population, and a rise in fish prices (particularly for marine species) have all contributed to this decline in per caput fish consumption.

1.2.1 Marine fisheries

Fisheries production is limited by the narrowness of the coastal shelf. Although the Syrian coastline is 183 km long, only 40 km are trawlable. Pelagic fish constitute a greater portion of the landings, particularly in summer months. Small-scale fishermen, operating feluccas (open boats 6–9 m long), contribute a major part of the total catch.

The catch has been relatively steady over the past years, but with an increase in fishing effort (Kelleher, 1996). Official figures report total landings of around 2 000 t/year. This may be an underestimate since fishermen are taxed according to the declared landings, and could hardly afford the purchase, operation and maintenance of their vessels with returns from declared landings (Smith 1996, personal communication).

The individual size of fish caught is steadily declining, and it is unreasonable to expect any increase in marine landings.

1.2.2 Freshwater fisheries

Production has greatly increased over the past two decades, following the implementation of Lake Assad and other dams which created large freshwater areas, and is presently nearly double that of marine fish. The catch composition from these fisheries, with a high proportion of large individuals, indicates the main fisheries to be in a healthy state of exploitation, at or near the maximum sustainable yield (Kelleher, 1996). Over 80% of production is from the waters of the largest dam project, Lake Assad.

1.2.3 Freshwater aquaculture

The production of fish from freshwater aquaculture has increased steadily from 750 t in 1982 to the present level of 5 000 t. GEF has had an important role in pioneering modem freshwater aquaculture practices, although the present output is dominated by private producers.

A range of production techniques are utilized, ranging from subsistence pond farming to cage culture of tilapias and carp. The prices of freshwater fish have remained relatively stable in the past years, reflecting a degree of market saturation. There are periods of the year when the GEF is not able to sell the produced fish, but has to retain them in cages longer, with a negative effect on production costs due to excessive feed consumption in this period.

Whilst the fish supply of the freshwater sector (from both capture and culture) is over 80% of supply by volume, the sales price of freshwater fish is lower than that of marine fish, particularly when compared to demersal marine species.

1.2.4 Marine aquaculture

There has been an interest to develop marine aquaculture in Syria since the late 1970s. However, at the time technical expertise and economic and technical background information was lacking.

In 1981 the MAAR requested FAO, through its Technical Cooperation Programme, to undertake a review of marine aquaculture development possibilities and propose initial development activities.

The Technical Cooperation Programme, project TCP/SYR/0103, fielded a mission for this purpose. The mission proposed a plan for mariculture development, and outlined the actions that the MAAR should take to initiate its implementation (Ferlin, 1983). This plan envisaged the construction of a pilot marine hatchery and ongrowing in raceways, with an initial output capacity of 5 t of sea bass. The pilot facility was planned next to the National Oceanographic Institute in Latakia, to be subventioned by the Syrian Government, with technical and financial assistance from abroad.

As a follow up on this project proposal, FAO through the Mediterranean Regional Aquaculture Project (MEDRAP), effected another field mission in 1984–1985 and defined in greater detail the technical design, investment and operating budgets for the pilot facility in Latakia (Loix and Seltz, 1985). This project document provided also details of training requirements of national staff, detailed the external technical assistance required to carry out the project, and the funding sources.

There has apparently not been much action undertaken since, to implement marine aquaculture projects in Syria. A further pilot project was proposed by the Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER) in 1992, and a plan for a commercial land-based farm facility north of Latakia was suggested by a private French company in 1993 (A. Saad, personal communication).

The GEF is now considering the implementation of a marine aquaculture pilot project in order to:

-   form a base of personnel trained in marine aquaculture;

-   provide a demonstration facility for private investors;

-   integrate and/or substitute uneconomical freshwater culture operations;

-   gradually phase out the fisheries trawling operations;

-   provide marine fish fry to ongrowers.

Since the last appraisals of the feasibility of mariculture activities in Syria, significant developments have been made in marine aquaculture in the Mediterranean region. There has been a great expansion in the farming of marine species, principally sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Output has increased five fold, from 5 620 to 28 600 t in the period 1990–1994 (Stephanis, 1995). The expansion of bass and bream farming is even more dramatic if we compare the 1988 production level of 2 200 t (Josupeit, 1995) to the 35 000 t produced in 1995 (provisional data).

This increase in production was possible due to rapid advances in biological knowledge of the species and production technology, but has also resulted in a dramatic fall in market prices for bass and bream. Producers are looking at new species for farming, amongst which Diplodus puntazzo and Pagrus major have already reached full technical viability (Gatland, 1995; Lisac, 1989). Other species with promising results at pilot scale include Pagrus pagrus, Epinephelus sp., and hybrids obtained from crosses between P. major, Dentex dentex and Sparus aurata (Barbato and Corbari, 1995; Al-Thobaiti, 1995; Gracia Lopez et al.. 1995).

Technological advances have led to large scale and predictable productions of fry in hatcheries in many countries of the Mediterranean, and to the development of cage systems for the open sea (particularly in Spain, Italy, Malta and Cyprus). Ten years ago the main problem was how to produce bass and bream in large quantities for an undersupplied luxury market. Today it is how to produce the fish at a competitive price.