RECOMMENDATION 1
Advisory Panel to FAO
The Symposium,
Having reviewed the present status in the development of warm-water pond fish culture and the existing knowledge on the subject on a world-wide basis,
Clearly recognized the importance of fish culture in the economy and nutrition of both developing and developed countries, and
Further noted that in many aspects, such as the exchange of technical information and of cultivable species and selected strains, fish culture had achieved an international character.
It cautioned that while rapid progress was being made in some countries or regions, a plateau of development, especially with respect to the maximum annual production per unit area, appeared to have been reached in other regions; that there were still areas in the world where development was very slight indeed, and in some there was even retrogression.
In examining the reasons for this state of affairs, it noted that both present and future development were handicapped by a rather wide range of factors sometimes geographic, partly socio-economic, and in part because of lack of applicable basic scientific knowledge.
It noted particularly that there was not only a great diversity of opinion on the relative value of types and methods of fish pond operation, but also on the procedures and techniques used in investigations of fish ponds.
The Symposium drew attention to the gaps in knowledge and the diversity of opinion on the subject, and also indicated some of the major lines on which future work should be carried out to improve fish culture. For sustained progress in the field, it was felt necessary that some continuing means should be provided not only to achieve the ends indicated here but to further coordinate and stimulate critical studies, especially on an international basis.
The Symposium therefore recommends the formation of a panel of experts advisory to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the Symposium, and on a continuing basis to study and advise him on the Program of Work of the Organization concerned with fish culture in fresh and brackish waters.
RECOMMENDATION 2
Fish Culture Research Manual
The Symposium,
Recognizing that lack of adequate knowledge of research techniques and experimental design has led to a considerable amount of unprofitable research in fish culture,
Considering that the availability of a suitable manual can contribute very greatly to the adoption of proper standardized techniques in research and the training of research personnel,
Recommends that FAO consider the possibility of preparing a suitable manual of fish culture research methods with the assistance of competent specialists.
RECOMMENDATION 3
Fish Feeds and Feeding
The Symposium,
Recognizing that feeding plays a very important role in all levels and forms of fish culture,
Recommends that feeding trials should be standardized; that efforts in the study of digestion, absorption and metabolism of feed ingredients should be intensified; and that more research should be conducted to determine the actual nutritional requirements of cultivated fishes.
Taking into consideration that in developing countries cheap natural wastes must for some time remain a major source of fish feed, it is also recommended that more research should be directed to methods of improving such wastes by microbial digestion, biosynthesis and by other methods.
It is further recommended that, because in some countries excessive fat in the tissues of fish is regarded as undesirable, due attention should be given to the influence of feeds on fat production and distribution in fish.
RECOMMENDATION 4
Collection of Relevant Information on Rice Field Soils
The Symposium,
Recognizing that information on the role of soils in fish culture is inadequate, and being aware that extensive studies have been carried out on rice field soils,
Considering that the ready availability of the results of such studies can be of appreciable help in investigations on fish pond soils,
Requests the FAO Department of Fisheries, with the cooperation of the Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO, to collect and disseminate relevant information on the subject to fish culture research workers.
RECOMMENDATION 5
Brackish-water Fish Culture
The Symposium,
Recognizing the great possibilities that exist in the utilization of brackish-water areas for fish culture,
Noting that facilities for the establishment of commercial fish farms are likely to be greater in the extensive estuarine and coastal areas of the world,
Recommends to fisheries organizations that greater attention be given to studies on the culture of brackish-water fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
RECOMMENDATION 6
Chemical Nomenclature
The Symposium,
Noting that there is a lack of consistency in the nomenclature of herbicides, insecticides and molluscicides,
Recognizing that these chemicals are sold under trade names and with varying content of active ingredients,
Recommends to research workers that
the full chemical name be given the first time it is cited in a paper,
all treatment rates be based on percentage of active ingredients, and
fish toxicity data on the chemical tested include formulation, chemical and physical characteristics of the water, and whether it is a field or laboratory experiment.
RECOMMENDATION 7
Basic Research in Fish Culture
The Symposium,
Taking into account that there are major gaps in our knowledge of fish pond ecosystems, cultivated fishes and biotic interactions in ponds,
Recognizing the need for stimulating basic research on fish ponds, and noting that the International Biological Programme (IBP) at its General Assembly, Paris, April 1966, urged that all countries in which fish farming is practised should include in their national IBP programs investigations on the productivity of fish ponds,
Recommends that such IBP programs as well as all available resources in existing research institutions be fully utilized for conducting basic studies relevant to pond fish culture.
RECOMMENDATION 8
Directory of Fish Culture Research Institutions
The Symposium,
Recognizing that there is a need for closer cooperation between fish culture research institutions and proper coordination of their research programs, to avoid duplication of effort and enable better utilization of resources,
Considering that the first step in this direction is the compilation of full information on the existing research institutions and their research programs,
Noting that FAO has already prepared a draft list of fish culture research institutes,
Recommends that FAO develop the draft list of fish culture institutes into a complete directory, including in it all available information on current research programs, and
Further recommends that the directory be revised at regular intervals.
RECOMMENDATION 9
Fish Culture Extension Services
The Symposium,
Recognizing that a large body of knowledge already exists which could be utilized for increasing fish production in ponds,
Emphasizes that in many cases it is the lack of well organized extension services that is the major deterrent to fish culture development, therefore
Recommends that high priority be given to the organization of proper extension services and the training of extension personnel in every country undertaking fish culture development.
RECOMMENDATION 10
Training of Fish Culture Personnel
The Symposium,
Having recognized that the lack of an adequate number of trained personnel is one of the major problems facing the development of fish culture,
Aware that inadequacy of trained personnel is more pronounced in developing countries of the world, where there is an urgent need for development of fish culture,
Considering the need for training personnel at all levels, for research, and extension,
Recommends the better utilization of existing training facilities and the establishment of additional fully-equipped national or group country training centres where feasible, and further
Recommends that FAO intensify its program of training and organize training centres in selected aspects of fish culture work, such as induced breeding and brackish-water fish culture.
RECOMMENDATION 11
Regional Manuals for Extension Work
The Symposium,
Noting that FAO, with the financial assistance of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has already published a manual of ‘Fish Culture in Central East Africa’,
Considering the value of such manuals in organizing fish culture extension,
Recommends that FAO, in cooperation with UNICEF, arrange to prepare and publish similar manuals covering other areas of the world.
RECOMMENDATION 12
Central Registry of Fish Introductions
The Symposium,
Noting that world-wide interest in fish culture and the development of quick and easy means of fish transportation has led to widespread and frequent introductions of exotic fishes into various countries,
Recognizing that serious difficulties have already arisen in determining the identity of strains or even species of some of the fishes so introduced,
Realizing that such difficulties are bound to multiply, especially with the increasing use of hybrids in fish culture,
Feeling that there is a definite need for:
A clear knowledge of identities,
A need for knowing where such transported stocks are and where they may be obtained, and
Obtaining information on the usefulness and possible dangers of introducing these particular fish,
Recommends that (i) a Central Registry be established by FAO or some other agency to record all fish introductions, and (ii) all agencies concerned with fish culture cooperate with the Central Registry by providing all pertinent details of introduction and consequences.
It is felt that a system of designating strains and stocks by code numbers would greatly facilitate their identification and that the matter deserves further study.
RECOMMENDATION 13
Survey of Laws Relating to International Exchange of Fishes
The Symposium,
Being aware that the European Inland Fishery Advisory Commission (EIFAC) at its 4th Session, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 9–14 May 1966, considered the question of sanitary control of international traffic in live fish and fish products and
Realizing that this question had already been discussed at previous sessions of EIFAC and at the FAO/OIE/WHO Meeting on Basic Principles for the Control of International Traffic of Animals and Animal Products (Berne, 12–17 October 1964),
Wishes to support the recommendations of EIFAC that (i) the Director-General of FAO be asked to undertake a survey of laws and regulations governing imports and exports of live fish and fish eggs. Such a survey should cover not only EIFAC member countries but all the countries of the world, (ii) in line with the recommendations of the 13th Session of the (FAO) Conference (1965), the closest possible cooperation and coordination be maintained with the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) during the course of this study.
RECOMMENDATION 14
Introduction of Aquatic Plants
The Symposium,
Considering the rapid spread of some introduced aquatic plants potentially harmful to the full development of fishery resources,
Recommends that governments take cognizance of the dangers of their indiscriminate introduction.
RECOMMENDATION 15
Need for Surveys and Pilot Studies
The Symposium,
Recognizing the proven value of fish culture to national economies, but also
Taking note of the damage that can be done to the development of fish culture by over-selling and implementation of over-ambitious, ill-balanced programs,
Urges that appropriate surveys and pilot studies should precede large-scale fish culture development programs.
RECOMMENDATION 16
Fish Culture in Relation to Development Projects
The Symposium,
Recognizing that fish culture can form a valuable and integral part in farm homesteads and in land and water development projects,
Urges agricultural departments and land and water development authorities to give early consideration to fish culture and, wherever possible, to include it within their schemes at an early stage.
RECOMMENDATION 17
Fish Culture Statistics
The Symposium,
Having recognized that statistics essential for the development of fish culture are not available in most countries of the world,
Recommends that all countries with fish culture programs organize the collection of data on the extent and type of areas devoted to fish culture, annual yields, etc., and further
Recommends that FAO help standardize the collection of such data and include them in its Year Book of Fishery Statistics.
RECOMMENDATION 18
Coordination of Studies on Public Health Hazards in Fish Culture
The Symposium,
Recognizing that although properly managed fish ponds do not constitute a health hazard to man, and may even act as a control of disease vectors, badly managed ponds may pose public health problems,
Recommends that there should be close consultation between fish culturists and local health authorities, particularly if large-scale development of fish ponds is envisaged, and
Further recommends that FAO seek the cooperation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the preparation and dissemination of literature on the possible health hazards and their prevention, and for the international coordination of relevant studies on these hazards.
RECOMMENDATION 19
Fish Culture Newsletter
The Symposium,
Having taken into account the various types of periodicals which deal wholly or in part with fish culture,
Considering the need for some means of rapid dissemination of information on recent developments in fish culture,
Recognizing the value of quick transmission of such information to the institutions and agencies concerned in furthering research and development,
Recommends that FAO consider the possibility of publishing a fish culture newsletter.
RECOMMENDATION 20
Future Symposium on Fish Culture
The Symposium,
Recognizing the stimulating value of international contacts, exchange of views, experience and research results clearly demonstrated during the preparatory period and during the deliberations of this Symposium,
Proposes that a similar symposium on fish culture should be held in five years' time to review the major changes, trends and innovations which may have occurred in this period.
RECOMMENDATION 21
Fish Culture Staff in FAO
The Symposium,
Having noted that a principal reason for re-organization of the fisheries activities in FAO was to enable the Organization to function more effectively as the leading inter-governmental body in world fisheries,
Taking into account the various actions in the field of fish culture that have already been outlined in its Program of Work as well as those that the Department of Fisheries is being requested to initiate through the Symposium recommendations,
Considering the very limited staff that exists in the Department for fish culture work,
Recognized that for the proper fulfillment of the Program of Work and follow-up of these recommendations, additional staff and funds are essential and
Recommends that the Director-General of FAO give early consideration to strenghtening the Inland Fishery Branch, especially its Fish Culture Section.
