The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA): Coordinating Regional Research and Development in Aquaculture

Transcription

1 The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA): Coordinating Regional Research and Development in Aquaculture A. SUMMARY NACA started as a regional project of FAO/UNDP with the title, Establishment of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia. It had 11 participating governments 1. The project began field operations in August 1980, went through three phases, and terminated in December It was transformed into an autonomous regional organization owned and operated by its member governments on 12 January 1990 when five governments ratified the NACA Agreement. The Agreement was adopted at a Plenipotentiary Meeting convened by FAO in Bangkok in January Its present membership is now 14 governments. The objective of NACA was to promote expansion of regional aquaculture development to increase food production, improve rural income, and employment, diversify farm production, and increase foreign exchange earnings and savings. NACA operates on the principle of technical cooperation among developing countries. This costeffectively carries out the basic activities of research, training, and information. Research is done in the centers associated with the Network 2. Results are shared through technical cooperation. Regionalscope studies are coordinated by the Secretariat. Training is of three types: regular courses, shortterm ad hoc courses, study tours and secondment of young scientists. Training purposes range from transfer of technology to upgrading of skills for production and research, and for planning and execution of projects. Information and expert exchange supports research, training, and planning and investment for aquaculture projects. Information exchange is effected through a blend of traditional means and new information technology and media. Initially, the programme was geared to improving yield and increasing production by development and/or exchange and adoption of known and improved technology through networking and technical cooperation. This remains a major function. Subsequently, the social, economic and environmental aspects of development were infused into its research, training and information programmes, aimed at sensitizing governments of issues (i.e. environmental, social as well as trade and food safety and quality issues), providing them guidelines for policy formulation and implementation, and strengthening the capacities of government and their private sectors to implement policies and management systems that address sustainability issues and problems. The geographical scope of NACA is the Asia-Pacific. Aside from the current 14 member governments 3 6 others are actively participating 4 in all or selected regional activities. 1 Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Hongkong, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand. 2 NACA had designated and strengthened national aquaculture research institutions in aquaculturally advanced countries (China, India, the Philippines and Thailand) to serve as Regional Lead Centres. These shared the responsibility for overall aquaculture development without deviating much from country priorities. The RLCs the nucleus of the Network. National centres were designated and developed for linkage with the RLCs. A number of national institutions have since participated in various regional activities. The RLCs have common function in research, training and information exchange. Each focuses on the species and farming systems of national and regional importance while the national centres adapt to local conditions RLC-developed technologies. 3 Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hongkong SAR, India, Korea (DPR), Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam 4 Indonesia (also pays a yearly voluntary contribution), IR of Iran (in the process of accessing), RoKorea, Lao PDR, Japan, The Philippines (about to sign up as regular member), and Singapore.

2 B. STAKEHOLDERS Direct beneficiaries of results of the Organization s activities are the national agencies that oversee aquaculture development in its 14 member- and 6 participating governments and the various national R and D institutions associated with it that include Regional Lead Centers, National Aquaculture Centres and participating universities and institutions. In manpower development, NACA has trained 137 senior aquaculturists in a regional degree-oriented training programme that ran for 8 years, more than 550 technicians in a regional course on Integrated Fish Farming, numerous young researchers in research skills and methodology through secondment and exchange programmes among centres and institutions, and more than 2000 that have trained in various ad hoc short term skills and technology training activities. Many of these are workers in government institutions but lately training has also directly involved farmers, workers of community-based and non-government organizations, civic groups and industry. Regional studies have provided investment houses including the ADB, multilateral and bilateral assistance agencies, and other regional organizations with guidelines for their policy and programmes on regional and national aquaculture development. Results of pilot projects have aided investors and entrepreneurs. An estimated 25 million small-scale fishfarming households operate in Asia. China alone has half a million entrants yearly. Farmers are the ultimate beneficiary. Being a network organization of interlinked centres and the R and D institutions, the entities considered as partners of the Network organization include collaborating agencies and organizations such as specialized agencies like FAO, OIE (World Animal Health Organization), and WHO; bilateral assistance organizations including ACIAR, DANCED, and DFID; NGOS such as WWF, CARE, and CARITAS, regional organizations such as SEAFDEC, and national agencies such as India s Marine Products Export Development Authority and Universities. The NACA Project was operated for 9 years by FAO and funded by UNDP with a total amount of $7.231 M. Some $400,000 was contributed by governments while China s TCDC and Thai Aid programmes contributed another $400,000 to project activities especially training. Other funding assistance for specific activities came from various sources. As an independent organization, the core fund of NACA (government contributions) is close to $290,000 a year while donor contributions received within the four-year period have totalled US$ 1.97 M from 11 different agencies. Member governments pay a mandatory contribution ranging from $10,000 to $60,000.a year. On top of this, they render staff and resources contribution that are applied to coordinated regional activities. B. PROJECT RESULTS AND IMPACT The major impact of NACA from a policy viewpoint was the increase in government priority accorded to aquaculture and recognition of its potentials for social and economic development. In national planning and policy, aquaculture as an industry and food producing sector became elevated to a level close to fishery. With the structures for aquaculture R and D set up, and more resources allocated to strengthen capacities for research, extension and project management and operation, yield levels improved. The training of researchers and technicians in the NACA regional lead centres served two purposes: improvement of skills to manage and operate the industry and the wide dissemination of packages of technology or key components of a technology. Trainees went back to their countries and introduced the new practices and ideas. This exchange of known and improved technology accelerated their wide adoption. It was also inexpensive for developing countries because they did not have to reinvent the wheel.

3 The manpower development program developed professionals to manage the sector, enabling more focus on the role of and thus the planning for aquaculture in the context of the national development programme. Information additionally gave support to the rational planning and organized operation of development projects. Pilot projects yielded useful guidelines for entrepreneurs and investors in fishfarming projects. As it gained technological impetus, aquaculture underwent rapid expansion and intensification of production so that eventually, the environmental and social issues arose that threatened the sustainability of the industry. In response NACA developed a holistic programme that took into consideration the social, economic and environmental aspects of aquaculture development. The result of this shift in emphasis from production orientation driven by technology to an integrated approach to aquaculture development were guidelines emanating from various regional and sub-regional projects aimed at addressing the emerging sustainability issues. Annex 1 lists the various projects under this new development orientation. Asian aquaculture production in 1998 was 8-fold higher than that reported before NACA was established in The regional average rate of growth since 1980 has been more than 12%. Compared to capture fishery landings, growth in aquaculture is 4 times higher in 22 Asian countries. The breakthrough technology was the induced breeding of popular species like carps and other important foodfish, that led to mass production of seed, which is essential for any primary production activity to develop into commercial scale. The other components of the technology including hatchery, nursery, culture, water management, feed and nutrition and disease control developed rapidly and promoted for adoption which enabled higher production. NACA cannot lay claim to causing the region s tremendous production increase, but it has certainly stimulated many activities that have collectively contributed to it. From the standpoint of policy makers and government fisheries administrators, a significant impact of the appreciable increases in production provided the technical departments the justification to ask for more support from their financial departments. It also gave researchers more time to come up with results that filled the gaps in technology. A landmark regional study on fish health management gave evidence of a strong link between disease and environmental factors and was the first attempt at quantifying fishfarming losses from diseases. The study galvanized regional action to strengthen national health management capabilities but, more fundamentally, the aquaculture sector became more sensitized to the need for environmentally responsible practices. This led to more regional projects on specific assessments of the impacts of interactions between aquaculture and the environment, and formulation of policy and development of management systems to promote sustainable aquaculture. The emphasis on integrated fish farming research and training in the NACA regional lead centres (particularly in India and China) promoted widely this system of aquaculture which is resourceefficient, productive, low-risk, and environmentally friendly. It opened up opportunities for resourcepoor rural communities. In turn, the promotion of aquaculture for rural development, specifically to the assurance of food security and alleviation of poverty by improving livelihoods prompted more studies on and the development and promotion of viable rural aquaculture systems. The research and pilot project results convinced development banks and other rural development financing sources heretofore lending only to so-called bankable and high-value profit-oriented projects to develop loan programs for the rural poor including the landless and the women. Results are fed through the governments through the Governing Council. It is disseminated by various means that include focused workshops, exchange of information, training, and publications in hard

4 copy and electronic versions. Information was initially directed towards serving production needs. Thus, the information products were manuals and guides to project development and management as well as technology manuals. These were disseminated and exchanged among the centres and other institutions. Governments assumed the responsibility of adapting the results and feeding them into their own extension systems. NACA has also taken advantage of the new information technology, developing and placing on the World Wide Web data bases, electronic newsletters, and interactive information systems. Information development and dissemination has now integrated technological and non-technical concerns in line with the integrated and holistic approach to aquaculture development. D. PARTNERSHIP The organization s structure consists of the Governing Council, Technical Advisory Committee and the Secretariat. Their nature and functions are described in Annex 2. The Council causes the development of a 5-year regional work programme based on national priorities, which the technical advisory committee translates into 2.5 -year work plans. The Secretariat develops the projects and activities that are recommended in the work plan. Collaborative support is then sought from various organizations and agencies. Negotiations involve adjustments of mechanics but never the basic purposes of the project. A memorandum of agreement is then entered into between NACA and the donor. If a project has more than one donor a separate agreement is entered into. A project coordinating and monitoring mechanism is installed that involves all parties. NACA executes the projects while governments provide the national-level coordinating services. Monitoring of projects are facilitated by NACA using the agreed mechanism. The three modes of cooperation adopted by NACA are technical cooperation among developing countries or TCDC, collaboration with other international and regional institutions and organisations, and being developed -- twinning arrangements between institutions.. TCDC is the principal mode of implementing the programme or the appropriate individual components. The scheme includes using regional expertise to provide specialised and appropriate support to national activities. Bilateral projects also benefit from TCDC. Closer collaboration is fostered with other organisations and institutions operating in the region. Cooperation in areas of mutual interests has been effective in mobilising additional expertise and the institutional support to implement regional projects, avoiding duplication of activities, and expanding the range of beneficiaries. The types of actions required to make aquaculture sustainable have required the close participation of academic institutions, governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations. Their partnership has been enlisted to address all aspects of sustainable development. Farmers organisations and industrial units are the end users of regional actions, and not much progress can be achieved in onfarm research or technology transfer without their support. Direct links with them are being developed with the establishment of a regional aquafarmers network. NACA's regional project activities involve the participation of senior level planning and technical personnel. They are designated by their respective governments as National Coordinators (NCs) who serve as focal points for the various regional networking activities and projects. The NCs serve as incountry focal points for liaison with farmer groups in the dissemination of information and extension materials, and the establishment of a strong and direct linkage with producers. The National Coordinators play a vital role in the planning and implementation of the studies and in the follow-up action to recommendations. They facilitate the overall coordination of programmes catering to the

5 priority needs of governments. This approach of involving activity-oriented and disciplinary networks of national coordinators enable more senior technical personnel attached to the fisheries and agriculture agencies but also other government agencies, to participate directly in NACA activities. The strategy has enabled a close and wider participation of governments. NACA is structured to collaborate with various agencies and organizations. There is also provision for funding agencies and donor governments to be represented in the Council as associate members. Their representatives attend meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee. Regional, sub-regional and national projects and collaborative activities compose the work programme of the organization. Regional activities, carried out through TCDC, benefit from catalytic assistance of donor governments and agencies and the collaboration of other development organizations including NGOs. The results of research and development activities in NACA are guaranteed a wider dissemination thoughout the network, assured of being incorporated into regional and national policies and programmes, and of being utilized in other network-wide projects. The upgrading and strengthening of national manpower and facilities has made it attractive for various organizations and agencies to participate in NACA s collaborative programmes, thereby contributing further to the strengthening of the network and expansion of development activities. Bilateral and multilateral projects have been implemented with various organizations. This has created a multiplier effect for various assistance programmes from the collaborating agencies. This multiplier effect is also expressed in terms of giving a regional spread to subregional and bilateral in-country activities by way of NACA s information exchange, staff exchange and links to regional projects or programmes. In brief, the multiplier effect includes wider dissemination of results, assurance of follow-up activities with governments, ensuring continuity of project-initiated activities, and utilization of strengthened national institutions by assistance programmes. The net result is intensification of regional efforts. A description of selected projects to illustrate the added impact of collaborative and coordinated action under NACA appears as Annex 3. E. CONCLUSION NACA is evidence that technical cooperation among developing countries works and the networking approach can economically provide solutions to regional and national development problems. The evolution of NACA from a project to an intergovernmental body proved that national leaderships can be sufficiently motivated to participate in regional cooperative activities and invest more resources for initiatives that show tangible benefits and clear advantages to governments and their private sector. NACA has shown that governments had been sufficiently convinced to take over the governance and operation of a project into a self-sustaining regional institution. It has also effectively illustrated that a functional network mechanism can resolve the basic and chronic shortcomings in centralized research programmes that include (a) duplication of efforts, (2) expensive method of organization of research, (3) mismatch between technologies developed and socio-economic circumstances of client countries, (4) inadequate interaction among national research and development workers, and (5) weak coverage of diverse farming systems; the Network programme embraces all aspects of aquaculture development concerns, not just a narrow field or a few problem areas. The Organization has infused a crucial element into regional cooperation: that of catalyzing the formulation of a coherent plan of action among members, harmonizing purposes and integrating diverse activities of different centres and agencies. This common forum makes it easier to sensitize

6 governments on global issues as well as emerging problems and promote collective action to address them. An example is the sustainability issue to aquaculture development and the promotion of activities to assist governments in implementing the code of responsible aquaculture practices. In the context of diminishing aid to Asian aquaculture, and limited national resources, a functional network (a) avoids investing large capital and operating costs for setting up a new or new institutions and (b) utilizes effectively scarce national resources and donor funds. Asia dominates the world in aquaculture production. But the more useful distinction is the diversity of its species, systems and therefore research and development problems. In the global context NACA has plans to bring -- through inter-regional cooperation -- its experience and collective expertise to bear into the efforts of other developing regions which are going through the phases, and facing problems, that Asian countries have already undergone and solved in the previous as well as current stages of its development. Finally, the regional development plan envisages aquaculture to be applied more towards solving societal inequities and disparities. The outlook and therefore the research and development paradigm has shifted from aquaculture development to aquaculture for development.

7 Annex 1 Completed and ongoing NACA Research and Development Projects Regional study and workshop on Fish Disease Control Health Management (with ADB) Regional study and workshop on the Taxonomy, Ecology and Processing of red seaweeds, with FAO, the Government of France, and Kasetsart University Assessment of abandoned shrimp culture areas in Thailand, with Coastal Resources Institute of Prince of Songkhla University and National Economic and Social Development Board Two studies on environmental impact assessment of shrimp farming (carried out in two ecological systems, mangrove and crop lands) with the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Government of Thailand National Workshop on Aquaculture Development and the Environment with Govt of Vietnam Capacities and Needs Matching in Sustainable Coastal and Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Management with UNDP and Myanmar Environmental Assessment and Management of Aquaculture Development with FAO Regional Study and Workshop of Aquaculture Sustainability and the Environment with ADB Key Research Issues in Sustainable Coastal Shrimp Aquaculture with ACIAR, CSIRO, Kasetsart University, and DOF, Government of Thailand Masterplan for Coastal Aquaculture Development for Sabah, Malaysia with the Government of the State of Sabah, Malaysia and UNDP Establishment of Aquaculture Microprojects under the Human Development Initiative programme of UNDP (with FAO, UNDP and UNOPS) Survey and Analysis of Aquaculture Development Research Priorities in Asia with FAO Survey of Water Pollution Sources and Coastal Aquaculture in Thailand, with the Department of Pollution Control Regional Workshop on Aquaculture and Management Coral Reef Fishes and Sustainable Reef Fisheries with UNDP and Government of Sabah, Malaysia Regional Workshop on Health and Quarantine Guidelines for the responsible Movement of Aquatic Organisms (with FAO and AAHRI) and Working Group Meeting on Regional Fish Disease Reporting System with OIE, AAHRI and SEAFDEC AQD Regional Workshop on Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Aquaculture in India and SEAsia, with International Law Institute, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and Kasetsart University Phase 1 of Mangrove Mixed Farming Systems (Socio-economic study of integration of shrimp culture with mangrove ecosystems in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam) with ACIAR, AIMS and Government of Vietnam Epidemiological study of EUS, Pakistan with AAHRI ACIAR, DFID Study of Mangrove Aquaculture Interaction, with Government, Academic, Private Sector and NGO participation) Study on Food Safety Issues Associated Products from Aquaculture with WHO and FAO Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Information Systems with FAO Establishment of Internet-based Database and Information Systems: Grouper and other reef fish research and development with AIT and ACIAR Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System, with FAO and OIE Regional Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting System Shrimp and carp aquaculture farming systems, with ADB General network information, with Regional Lead Centres (in China, India and Thailand)

8 23 Danish/South-East Asian Collaboration in Tropical Coastal Ecosystems Research and Training Project, Phase 1 that ran from has been completed; Phase 2 commenced in April with emphasis on socio-economics 24 APEC/NACA Grouper Aquaculture R and D Network with collaboration of ACIAR, SEAFDEC AQD, and numerous national institutions and individuals from Asia and the Pacific, 1998-ongoing 25 Cooperative Aquaculture Education Programme for the Asia-Pacific study phase is ongoing 26 Best Practices for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture, case studies to identify elements of good practices; also involves institutions in Latin America, Central and North America and Africa 27 Shrimp Disease Control and Coastal Management, with India s MPEDA, results to be fed into the above project as well 28 Expert Consultation on the Research Needs for Standardization and Validation of DNA-Based Molecular Diagnostic Techniques for the Detection of Aquatic Animal Pathogens and Diseases, jointly organized by FAO, NACA, ACIAR, CSIRO and DFID, in February 7-9, Regional Technical Cooperation Programme Assistance for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia which has catalysed the regional programme on Aquatic Animal Health Management of NACA, involves 21 governments and multi-agency collaboration, started in 1998 and scheduled to end in July Follow up project for a second phase being prepared. Components involve institutional strengthening, training and an information system. 30 Assessment of socio-economic costs of aquatic animal diseases in aquaculture 31 Primary Aquatic Animal Health Care in Rural, Small-Scale Aquaculture Development in Asia held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 1999, co-sponsored with FAO and DFID and hosted by the Government of Bangladesh 32 Workshop on Aquaculture Nutrition and Environmental Health Management for the Sustainable Intensification of Freshwater Food Fish Production in South Asia, scheduled for 6-9 December 1999 but postponed due to the cyclone, to July Aquaculture for Sustainable Rural Livelihood Development (ASRLD), started with an expert consultation in March 1999, a programme has been developed for funding, and collaborative implementation.

9 Annex 2 Nature and Functions of the Governing Council, Technical Advisory Committee and Secretariat The Governing Council is composed of representives of member governments. The FAO is represented in the Council without voting powers (as provided in the NACA constitution and formalized in a Cooperation Agreement with FAO). Similarly, other donor governments and agencies can have the same status. The Technical Advisory Committee advises the Council on technical aspects. Its mandate is to assess the priority needs of aquaculture development in the Asia-Pacific Region, and identify areas in which technical cooperation among the member countries and specialized institutions could make significant contributions to these needs; formulate technical programmes of work to be carried out by the Network directly or under its umbrella, and recommend appropriate strategies for their implementation. It provides expert assistance when required, individually or in sub-groups to implement specific activities; and undertake special tasks at the request of the Council. The TAC consists of an expert each from member governments, nominated in an individual capacity for his or her expertise, and an FAO representative. The Secretariat is the coordinating unit. Headed by the Director, it consists of core professional staff in appropriate fields, associate professional officers assigned to NACA by collaborating agencies, seconded staff from governments, and the administrative support staff whose services are provided by the host government, Thailand. To bolster its technical capability for project development and implementation to assist governments, non-core staff on full time assignment for the Secretariat are hired on highly specialized fields, national staff are seconded, and a roster of Reserve Staff has been established and being constantly expanded. Reserve staff are experts in various fields who can be called upon on short notice to provide technical specialist assistance for regional or national projects.

10 Annex 3 Regional and Sub-regional Projects Illustrating Added Benefits from NACA s Coordinating Role 1. Assistance to Safe Transboundary Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia -- Provides a single unified platform -- on the development of technical guidelines for quarantine, certification and reporting -- for several agencies to collaborate with governments in addressing multiple but related issues ranging from stronger capacities for diagnostics, prevention and control; more reliable and effective national information systems for decision-support on the causes, origins, seriousness and control of epizootics, and a region-wide information exchange system. It also enables other countries to benefit from a national institution participating in the project that has been strengthened by a bilateral programme into a regional centre of excellence (i.e. AAHRI). 2 Aquaculture Farm Performance Study -- Enabled the collection, analysis, organization, processing and rapid delivery of an extremely large amount of farm-level data and information from several (16) countries to guide actions at different operational levels i.e. farm, farming community or region, agency, national, supra-national; enables quick access to these data by intermediate users of information for various other purposes. The recommendations - embodied in the publication Aquaculture Sustainability Action Plan --have formed the basis for government policy, legislation and management plans for sustainable aquaculture development. 3 Mixed farming systems in Mangroves -- Multipler effect: provides a regional spread to the results of a national-level activity through the regional information exchange and links to other subregional and regional projects under NACA. It is now being fed into training and extension not only in the country in which it was conducted (Vietnam) but in other countries as well. 4 Tropical Coastal Ecosystems Project -- Also a multiplier effect providing regional spread to the benefits derived from the methodologies and results of a sub-regional project through training, information exchange and links to other network activities, such as Environmental Impact Assessment, rural aquaculture, coastal resources development and management 5 Grouper regional R and D project -- Enables the coordination of and sharp focus to separate research and development efforts of individual workers and institutions located in various countries to crack, in a concentrated manner, a technical problem that has been the major bottleneck to mass seed production. 6 Formulation of a Master Plan for Aquaculture Development, Sabah, Malaysia -- Three major features can be cited from this bilateral project the coordinated use at a very costeffective manner of regional expertise to develop the Plan, the continuing (as opposed to a one-time) assistance provided to a member government of the activities recommended by the Plan, and the expansion of one regionally relevant aspect of the Plan namely reef fish management and culture into a full-blown regional project on grouper research and development.