Scoping report: current status of index-based insurance in Bangladesh

With current and anticipated increases in magnitude of extreme weather events and a declining consistency in weather patterns, particularly challenging for agriculture, there has been a growing interest in weather index-based insurance (IBI) schemes in Bangladesh. A number of weather index-based insurance products have already been tested and applied across Asia and Africa, with varying degrees of success, as a mechanism to improve livelihood security by enabling vulnerable populations to transfer risk associated with climate change, extreme weather events and other hazards. In the process, these efforts have generated important new knowledge on how these schemes can be designed and implemented for optimal results. However, the practice of index-based insurance is still limited in Bangladesh, and the experience and knowledge generated by the different stakeholders involved needs to be better communicated.

Stray current corrosion of copper sheathing and keel cooling pipe of a 36' trawler

The results of investigations into the cause of an accelerated corrosion of copper sheathing and keel cooling pipe of a 36' wooden trawler are reported. The corrosion is attributed to the stray electric currents originating from the electrical wiring system. The sources of stray currents and the remedial measures have been suggested.

Effects of different dietary levels of vitamin E on the breeding performance of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Experiments on the study of different dietary levels of vitamin E on the growth and breeding performance of Heteropneustes fossilis brood fish were carried out in two phases. The first phase consisted of studying its ovarian development and the second phase on breeding performance. Sixty female fishes were stocked in twelve experimental chambers of a raceway. The effects of four dietary vitamin E levels viz. 0 (served as control), 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg feed, on the somatic growth, ovarian development of brood fish and on their breeding performance were studied. Each treatment had three replications. It was observed that body growth in terms of length and weight was best with 0 mg vitamin E/kg feed and 200 mg vitamin E/kg of feed gave poorest result. The gonado-somatic index and fecundity, however, was highest in the fish fed with 100 mg vitamin E/kg of feed. In case of breeding performance such as ovulation rate, fertilization rate, hatching rate and survival rate, the best result was obtained with 200 mg vitamin E/kg of feed. The overall result of this experiment indicates that 200 mg vitamin E/kg of feed is the best vitamin E dose for H fossilis brood and vitamin E content has a positive impact on ovarian development.

A proforma for assessment of the levels of sanitation in fish processing establishments

Over the past 15 years of its development, the fish processing industry in India has shown considerable improvement in maintenance of hygiene during handling of the raw material, processing and marketing of the finished product. This is best manifested in the lowering of upper limits of bacterial loads in factory environs and in processed products (Pillai, 1971). More care and attention is given by the processors in recent years in the scientific cleaning and sanitizing of utensils and equipment, chlorination of water supplies and personnel hygiene. An example of sanitation score form is given to help scientists and technologists to evaluate the hygienic status of the processing units.

Formulation, processing and water stability of pelleted feeds with varying levels of protein used in carp nutrition studies

Four dry pelleted feeds containing 20%, 30%, 40% and 45% protein were formulated incorporating casein as the main source of protein for use in carp nutrition studies. The caloric content in all the feeds was maintained constant. The method of processing is described. The formulated diets were tested for water stability. This test has revealed that the diet containing 20%, 30% and 40% protein had better stability than that containing 45% protein. This was due to the relatively higher fat content in the former three diets. However, all the feeds were sufficiently stable at the end of one hour in which time carps are known to utilise supplementary diets.

Levels of cadmium in seafood products

The concentrations of total cadmium were determined in 448 samples of processed fishery products comprising crustaceans, molluscs, marine fish and brackish water fish. Shrimp product, the major export item, contained on average 0.122 ppm cadmium and 20% of crustaceans analysed did not contain cadmium on detectable level. Average content of cadmium in 68 marine fish of 9 species was 0.153 ppm and 35% of the samples did not contain the element. Of the total number of crustaceans analysed only 2% showed a level > 0.5 ppm. All the 174 samples of molluscan products, except 3 canned oysters, showed cadmium concentration far below the limit allowed. The average cadmium content in molluscan products was 0.552 ppm.

Feeding habits and trophic levels of some demersal fish species in the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province) using Ecopath model

A trophic study was carried out in February of 2012 to January 2013 on the ecosystem in the Persian Gulf, Bushehr provience. A total of 2,948 samples of stomach contents were analyzed based on the weight and number of food items and were identified about 40 preys. Crustacean and bony fish were as a main prey in most of the stomach contents . The mean average trophic level was estimated at 3.6 by Ecopath software. In this research, the mean level were studied between eight species varied from 3.47 to 4.61, Saurida tumbil occupy the highest and the Argyrops spinifer was the lowest level. The ranges of total mortality varied from 0.7 to 3.05 per years. The food consumption rate was estimated about 69.82 per year. The overlap index showed that the prey items such as fish, crustacean, bivalve and echinoderm were shared about 65, 15, 15 and 6 percent in all stomach of individual in respectively. Mixed trophic analysis indicates that benthos have a positive effect on most of the fish species. Most species have a negative impact on themselves, interpreted here as reflecting increased with in group competition for resources. This preliminary model can be helpful to determine the gaps in the present knowledge about demersal system of the Persian Gulf.

Effects of different levels of energy and protein sources on the growth performance, feeding, survival rate and the chemical body composition of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The present study was carried out in order to establish an economical effective diet for the pacific white shrimp in the southern part conditions of Iran. With the consideration of three dietary energy levels (E1=262, E2=312, E3=362 kcal 100 g-1 diet) and six ratios of fish meal (FM) to soybean meal (SBM) [(P1=100%FM+0%SBM, P2=80%FM+20%SBM, P3=60%FM+40%SBM, P4=40%FM+60%SBM, P5=20%FM+80%SBM, P6=0%FM+100%SBM)], 18 experimental diets (with 36% crude protein) were prepared. Completely randomized design was used to assign 54 polyethylene 300 litre round tanks provided by aeration and flow through water system and was stocked by 19 juvenile as 3 replicates to each treatment. Shrimps average weight was about 0.77 grams at the start. After 56 days culture period, maximum growth and nutritional performances were observed in the P6E1 treatment (containing 100% soybean meal and 262 kcal 100 g-1 diet) and P5E1 treatment (containing 80% soybean meal and 262 kcal 100 g-1 diet). Also the highest survival rate of the shrimps was observed in the P1E1, P1E2, P3E3 and P5E3 treatments. Additionally interactive effect of different protein ratios and energy levels had significant difference on body protein, fat, fiber and ash contents (P<0.05). Results of the present study suggest the possibility replacement of at least 80% of dietary fish meal by soybean meal in the diet of pacific white shrimp in the conditions of southern part of Iran.

Interactions of dietary levels of protein and energy on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in desert brackish water

A 3x3 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the optimum protein to energy (P/E) ratio for rainbow trout in brackish water. Three crud protein levels and three energy levels at each protein level were utilized. Diets were made in semi-purified that in all of them fish meal, casein and gelatin as the sources of protein and dextrin, starch and oil as the sources of energy were used. Each of experimental diets was fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish with an average individual weight of 81.5 g in 9 2000-1 flow trough fiberglass tanks. During this experiment water temperature, dissolved oxygen, PH and EC were 15±2°C, 6.5-8.1 mg/1, 7.7-8.6 and 25400 grills respectively. The diets were fed at a rate between 1.6-2 wet body weight% per day depended to water temperature in three equal rations and adjusted two weekly for 84 days. At each of protein levels, weight gain percent (%WG), average daily growth percent (%ADG), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent net protein utilization percent (%ANPU), or percent of protein deposited, specific growth rate (SGR) and condition factor (CF) were found to increase and food conversion ratio (FCR) was found to decrease with an increasing energy levels from 370 to 430 Kcal/100g. Fish fed a 35% protein, 430 Kcal/100g energy diet with a P/E ratio of 81.4 mg protein/ Kcal PFV energy, attained the best growth performance. Fat and moisture of carcass were affected by protein and energy levels of test diets while protein and ash of carcass were relatively constant in different treatments.

Report on the current state of the fishery of the Ugandan sector of Lake Albert

Following a general outcry by the population riparian to the Ugandan portion of lake Albert about dwindling fish catches, there was concern both from the FAO Country representative in Uganda and the government of Uganda on the state of the fisheries of this lake. The FAO representative accompanied by an official from the Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA) visited the lake in July 1999 (Appendix I). The Ugandan minister of state in charge of the Fisheries sector also visited the lake in November 1999 (Appendix II). The two were in common agreement that the lake was in a stocks crisis and there was need for remedial measures. It was therefore deemed necessary to initiate a technical report updating the present state of the fisheries resources of this lake. An agreement was thus signed between the author and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations - Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare, to undertake this exercise.