At the beginning of the mission the Syrian counterpart requested a pilot fish farm facility with output capacity of 50 t/year. During the mission, after defining the most suitable site for the pilot facility, an economic analysis was perforned, comparing investment and operational expenses for a 50 t and a 100 t facility. In addition, other factors were examined, as shown in the table below where they are compared on a relative basis:
| Item | 50 t | 100 t |
| Investment Cost | 85 | 100 |
| Required Personnel | 90 | 100 |
| Production Cost/kg | 130 | 100 |
| Required Technical Assistance | 100 | 100 |
| Required Training to Local Staff | 100 | 10 |
| Polivalency of Pilot Facility (Adaptability for Phase two) | 30 | 90 |
| Ability to function as a stand-alone viable commercial product unit | 30 | 100 |
On the basis of the above, and following discussion with the project counterpart, it was decided to design the pilot farm facility for a production output of 100 t. In this version the relative contribution to the project from the Syrian Government compared to the inputs from the external donor is increased, which should also raise the commitment of the local counterpart in ensuring that the project is given full support during operation and follow-up.
The table in Annex 16 provides a general overview of the proposal for marine aquaculture development in Syria.
In phase one the plan is to implement a pilot cage facility for the production of 100 t of marine fish, utilizing standard culture techniques generally adopted in sheltered marine areas. The objective of setting-up and operating this facility is to provide a small-scale production facility which can operate on a commercial basis and serve as a first step in the introduction of marine farming technology to Syria. The facility will allow for training of local staff at all levels in the operation of cage culture. Required financial and technical inputs, as well as expected results are given in the table.
Phase two indicates a possible route to the expansion of marine aquaculture in Syrian waters. This phase considers the transformation of the pilot facility into a service station for the pregrowth stage of production, and the culture to market size in offshore cages located in the vicinity of Latakia (e.g., in Tinat el Kabat, at a water depth of approximately 30 m , and a distance of some 500 m from the coast). Fingerlings of 20 g would be stocked in the offshore cages (e.g., Tension Leg Cages or rubber-hose cages), where they are reared to market size. When ready for market the nets of these cages, with the fish inside, can be conveniently transported to Latakia harbour and placed within the floating walkways of the phase one cages. From here the fish can be harvested with ease, at the time and in the quantities required to best meet market demand. Thus the phase one facility becomes a pregrowth and harvesting support structure which can service the requirements for a 300–400 t farm. The required financial and technical inputs, as well as expected results of this phase are also given in the table.
Both above phases can rely on the purchase of fry from neighbouring countries to obtain initial fish stocks for stocking the cages. An option worth considering is the construction of a marine hatchery to supply fry for the cage culture operations. The high level of technology required for the operation of the hatchery, combined with relatively high investment costs, rises doubts concerning the justification of establishing it immediately from the first phase. In the present proposal we have thus indicated it as an option whose implementation can be decided at a later stage, depending also on available resources for the project as a whole.
The mission has identified an area at the entrance to the port of Latakia as most favourable for the first phase pilot cage facility (see map in Annex 11a1). This site provides some unique characteristics which allow the positioning of a standard, easy to operate cage system:
The site is located at the extreme tip of the external harbour jetty, where ships are normally moored awaiting deployment. In recent years the harbour of Latakia is suffering from a reduction in traffic and the berths are seldom, if ever, fully occupied. The size of the cage facility is dimensioned so as to occupy a surface area inferior to that normally occupied by a small ship moored in the same place, and it can also be transferred if needed.
The cage flotilla is placed at a distance of about 10 m from the jetty, to which it is connected by a movable walkway (see Annex 11a2 and 11b). A galvanized steel cage system with wide walkways around the net-cages has been chosen so as to provide a secure and stable working platform for the personnel, facilitating routine operations. The walkways are configured so as to provide space for 4 net-cages of 15 × 7.5 m each, plus 4 net-cages of 15 × 15 m each. There is the option of placing either 2 net-cages of 7.5 × 7.5 m or one net-cage of 15 × 7.5 m in each 15 × 7.5 m module (Annex 11b.). Between the jetty and the cages is a galvanized steel floating platform of 6 × 10 m in size, providing additional working surface, and on which a small storehouse is positioned. Details of the cage construction can be seen in Annex 11c.
The facility is comprehensive of all nets, including replacements and reserves, which would normally be required over an 8-year exploitation period. Provision is made for all equipment normally utilized in modern cage culture facilities: a centralized feeding system, diving equipment, laboratory and control equipment. Machinery and materials required for fish harvesting and packing are included, as well as principal communication and office equipment.
It is planned to utilize an existing structure in Latakia as the administrative office base for the farm, preferably to be provided by the local project counterpart.
Annex 12a contains a detailed specification and investment budget for the 100 t pilot cage facility.
The operational expenses for the facility are detailed in Annex 12b.
The expenses for the training of local staff and for the technical assistance in the first season of operation have not been included in the analyses of the above costs. These are assumed to be obtained from international aid agencies.
The expected time required to implement the project is 24 months, based on the following schedule: (Please refer also to Annex 8a “Growth Rate of Fish in Syrian Temperature Conditions”, for details of production cycle.)
| September 1996 | - | Executive design of facilities, begin overseas training of local personnel |
| October 1996 | - | Ordering of facilities |
| January 1997 | - | Begin installation |
| February 1997 | - | Facility ready |
| March 1997 | - | Stock first fish fry |
| April 1997 | - | Continue fry stocking |
| July 1997 | - | Stocking first generation fry completed |
| December 1997 | - | Begin fish harvesting |
| March 1998 | - | Begin stocking second generation of fish fry |
| June 1998 | - | Over 50% of first generation fish harvested |
| October 1998 | - | Harvest of first generation fish completed. |
The mission has identified three sites which appear to be favourable for the construction of the pilot hatchery. These are Sinn Farm, Tinat el Kabat (adjacent to the National Oceanographic Institute), and Baniyas power station (see Table 4).
In the present analysis we shall examine the Sinn Farm site, since there is the advantage that the land is property of GEF, local staff familiar with freshwater culture is available, and considerable infrastructure exists. The mission thus expects it could be more straightforward to establish a hatchery here than at the other locations, provided GEF is the local project counterpart.
The area in question is located between Jeble and Baniyas, along a long stretch of beach characterized by coarse sand and compacted fine gravel sediments. The section of Sinn Farm nearest to the coastline, where also the farm buildings are located, is shown in Annex 13a. This area of the coast is used as a petroleum terminal, and could be subject to oil pollution in case of accidents. On the other hand, the coarse sand beach represents a good natural filter, allowing a simple and efficient filtration of the intake sea water for the hatchery. In addition good quality freshwater is available from the spring which also feeds the existing freshwater farm. Within the farm, and near the existing buildings, sufficient unused land is available for the construction of a pilot marine hatchery. Some of the buildings are not exploited and can serve as structures for hatchery staff accommodation, guardhouse, changing rooms, etc. Other buildings (feed store, workshop, electricity station and emergency power generator), can be utilized by both the existing farm and the perspective marine hatchery .
The map in Annex 13b indicates the proposed siting of the pilot hatchery in relation to the existing farm structures.
The principal layout of the pilot hatchery is shown in Annex 13c, while more detailed layouts and sections of individual hatchery sections are presented in Annexes 13d to 13j.
This pilot hatchery is designed for producing one million fry of sea breams (S. aurata, P. major and D. puntazzo) and sea bass in the initial years of operation. Within the hatchery the broodstock holding section has been over-dimensioned to allow space for trials with other local species, and/or the production of greater quantities of fry in the future. The size of the plankton section is also relatively important, and will be able to produce sufficient live food for almost double the initial capacity after one or two running-in seasons.
Annex 14a contains a detailed specification and investment budget for the pilot hatchery facility.
The operational expenses for the facility are detailed in Annex 14b.
Similarly as with the pilot cage facility, the expenses for the training of local staff and for the technical assistance in the first season of operation have not been included in the analyses of the above costs. These are assumed to be obtained from international aid agencies.
The establishment of a land-based marine farm in Syria has been temporarily discarded on the basis of economic considerations. The specification and investment budgeted calculated for a land-based farm facility is provided in Annex 15.
