The Consultation was called by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to assist the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and others interested in support of international programmes for research in aquaculture, to decide whether to provide financial support to such work, and if so, to advise on where and how such support should be given. The following excerpt from the minutes of the 22nd meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the CGIAR, held in Hyderabad, India, 3 to 10 July 1979, summarized the purpose of the Consultation:
“In the light of the above considerations the Committee recommended that to identify the needs for advancing and reinforcing aquaculture research on an international basis there be further consultations between main interested parties (experts and supporting agencies) with adequate representation of the developing regions concerned, so as to harmonize and intensify national, regional and international efforts in aquaculture research and development. TAC would welcome an initiative by bilateral and/or international institutions concerned to convene an informal ad hoc consultation.
“TAC expressed the hope that this consultation might, in the light of the existing reports on priorities for international support to agricultural research and other informaton available on ongoing bilateral and multilateral programmes, identify gaps and possible areas of overlap and consider ways in which these gaps might be filled either by strengthening existing institutions, including the sub-contracts with universities and other advanced institutions involved in basic research, or new initiatives harmonizing and coordinating ongoing activities. TAC would welcome the opportunity of being represented by an observer at this meeting. TAC would be ready to consider the report of such consultation at its next meeting.”
