National Agricultural Research Organisation. National Fisheries Resources Research Institute Annual Report 2007/2008

During the reporting period, NaFIRRI realigned its projects under ARTP II extension to focus on: 1. Determination of appropriate technologies and methods for harvesting and conservation of fish species in the Albert and Kyoga Systems 2. Impact of policies and technologies on livelihoods 3. Generation of knowledge for the management of aquatic invasive weeds and their hot spots in Lakes Albert and Kyoga 5. Determination of environmental factors influencing productivity for fisheries in Lakes Albert and Kyoga Systems 6. MSI - Nile perch project 7. Adaptation and Facilitating Dissemination of Appropriate technologies for harvesting Commercial Species 8. Identification of fish species suitable for culture and marketing, and promotion of their commercial culture in the Eastern AEZ.

Migration of fishermen and its impacts on fisheries management on Lake Victoria, Uganda

The purpose of the study was to investigate migratory movements of fishermen on lake victoria.To identify the cuases of fishrmen migration with a view to establishing the paterns of migration;determining season of migration and assessing the impacts of migration on fisheries management and development.

National Agricultural Research Organisation. National Fisheries Resources Research Institute Annual Report 2011/2012

The annual report presents present activities and achievements for the reporting year 2011/2012. The Objectives of NaFIRRI are highlighted below: a) Generation of knowledge and technologies of strategic importance for the management, development and conservation of fisheries resources and water quality. b) Establishment and management of the human, physical and financial resources of the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute. c) Provision of technical backstopping and capacity building to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institutes (ZARDIs) and other agencies dealing in fisheries research and water quality. d) Development and management of fisheries research information and ensuring collaboration with stakeholders. e) Planning, monitoring and evaluation of all fisheries research programmes undertaken by the institute to ensure conformity with national research strategy. f) Ensuring the quality of knowledge and technologies developed, multiplied and disseminated through uptake pathways. g) Generation of periodic reports on fisheries and water quality research programmes to National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and other stakeholders. h) Establishment of sustainable linkages and partnerships with local, regional and international research bodies.

National Agricultural Research Organization. National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) Annual Report 2010/2011

The Mandate of the National Fisheries Resources Research institute (NaFIRRI) is to manage, promote and undertake applied and basic research of strategic and national importance in aquaculture, capture fisheries, water environment, socio-economics and marketing, information communication management and any emerging issues in the fisheries

Shifting rice farming to fish culture in some selected areas of Mymensingh, Bangladesh: the process, conflicts and impacts

The evolutionary process of converting low-lying paddy fields into fish farms and its impact on agrarian communities in some selected areas of Mymensingh district were studied. This study was conducted through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) covering 12 villages from each of selected upazillas viz. Fulpur and Haluaghat of Mymensing [sic] district. A total of 12 PRA sessions were conducted where 90 farmers participated during 29 July to 26 August 2004. It is seen that the use of low-lying paddy fields was mostly confined to Broadcast Aman (B. Aman) rice production until 1960s. With the introduction of modern rice farming technology, the farmers started to produce Boro rice in Rabi season and B. Aman rice in Kharif season. With the passage of time, aquaculture technologies have been evolved and the farmers realized that fish farming is more profitable than rice cultivation, and then they started to utilize their paddy fields for alternate rice-fish farming and rice-cum-fish farming. Now a days, aquaculture based crop production system is in practice in more than 25% of the low-lying paddy fields. Conversion of rice fields in to fish ponds has brought up a change in the livelihood patterns of the rural farmers. The areas where the farmers involved themselves in the new production systems were fingerling collection, transportation and marketing of fry and fingerlings. During 1960s to 1970s, a few people used to culture fish in the permanent ponds for their own consumption, the species produced were rohu, catla, mrigal, ghainna, long whiskered catfish, freshwater shark (boal), snake head (shol) etc. Small fishes like climbing perch, stinging catfish, walking catfish, barb, minnows etc. were available in the rice fields during monsoon season. In 1980s to mid 1990s, some rice fields were converted into fish ponds and the people started to produce fish for commercial purposes. When rice-fish farming became profitable, a large number of people started converting their rice fields in to rice-fish culture ponds. Culture of some exotic fishes like silver carp, tilapia, grass carp, silver barb etc. also started in the paddy fields. Higher income from fish farming contributed positively in improving the housing, sanitation and education system in the study areas. It is seen that the medium and medium high lands were only used for alternate rice fish farming. The net income was high in any fish based cropping system that motivated the farmers to introduce fish based cropping system in the low-lying inland areas. As a result, the regional as well as communal income disparities occurred. However, the extraction of ground water became common during the dry period as the water was used for both rice and fish farming. Mass conversion of paddy fields into rice-fish culture ponds caused water logging in the study areas. In most cases, the participated farmers mentioned that they could be easily benefited by producing fish with T. Aman or only fish during the monsoon season. They agreed that this was an impressive technology to them and they could generate employment opportunities throughout the year. Finally, the social, economic and technical problems which are acting as constraints to rapid expansion of fish production system were reported from the interviewee.

Impacts of fish sanctuaries on the production and diversity of plankton on beels of haor region in Bangladesh

The experiment was carried out to study the impacts of fish sanctuaries on the production and diversity of plankton in beels of haor region at Mithamain Upazila of Kishoreganj district in Bangladesh during July 2004 to June 2005. A total of 75 (60 phyto and 15 zooplankton) and 74 (59 phyto and 15 zooplankton) genera of plankton were recorded in T-1 and T-2 (with sanctuary) respectively while only 50 (39 phyto and 11 zooplankton) genera were obtained in T-3 (control). Chlorophyceae and Copepoda were the most dominant group of phytoplankton and zooplankton respectively in all the treatments. The total phytoplankton numbers were found to range from 5472 to 35,833 cells/l and 5250 to 40,472 cells/l and total zooplankton from 667 to 1722 cells/l and 611 to 1667 cells/l in T-1 and T-2 respectively in sanctuary sites whereas the ranges of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the control site were 1778 to 29,333 cells/l and 56 to 1056 cells/l respectively. The maximum phytoplankton and zooplankton were recorded during winter season in all the treatments. The ranges of total plankton were 6194 to 37,500 cells/l, 6028 to 41,806 cells/l and 1889 to 29,444 cells/l in T-1, T-2 and T-3 respectively. The phytoplankton, zooplankton and total plankton recorded in treatments with sanctuary were significantly higher (p<0.5) than the treatment without sanctuary (control) indicating positive impacts of sanctuaries on the production of plankton. Between two treatments of fish sanctuaries the total plankton populations were comparatively higher in T-2 than T-1.

Impacts of environmental conditions on macrobenthic distribution along the Suez Gulf, Egypt

Increases in coastal development and human activities leading to sedimentation degrade the quality of water; disturb the natural structure and functions of aquatic communities. The Suez Gulf is a large semi-closed area (~625 km long coastline).The assemblages of bottom fauna were studied qualitatively and quantitatively in the shallow intertidal waters along the western coast of the Suez Gulf. The quality of seawater and sediment structures were analyzed. The distribution of macro-benthos included a total of 38 species of Gastropoda and 9 Bivalvia; and 25 species from the other invertebrates included 7 groups namely, Rhizostoma, Polychaeta, Cirripedia, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Decapoda and Echinodermata. The most dominant group among invertebrate groups was the Polychaeta which included 4 species: Hydroides elegans, Perinereis cultilifera, Perinereis nuntia and Ophelina acuminata. The Cirripedia were represented by 3 species namely, Balanus amphitrite, Chithamalus challengeri and Tetraclita squamosa. The variations in the numerical abundance and biomass of bottom fauna studied between the observation periods and at sampling sites. There was a marked increase in benthos biomass at St. IV (Ras Gharib) yielding an average of 318.8 g/m² in which the gastropod community represented the dominant species in collected samples reaching 270.28 g/m² (84.4% of the total biomass) and numerically numbered 116 ind./m². Veliger larvae of bivalves and gastropods appeared to be present in the plankton for long periods and their production seems to be continuous throughout the year. In the intertidal zone of the Suez Gulf, the values of pH varied within narrow limits. Water temperature and salinity seemed to be important in the distribution and abundance of the macro-benthos communities in the study areas. The organic content in shallow intertidal waters and sediments indicated high values in the central part of the Gulf of Suez.

Assessing potential of production in Lake Choghakhor

Phytoplankton productivity is the common and important factor being considered in determining the overall status of a given body of water. This is because they are found at the base of an energy or food chain, being the basic source of primary food in a given aquatic system. Hence, information on their contribution is essential in indicating how much biomass energy will be available to all other living resources in the system. Though the primary productivity of shallow lakes is characterized by mixed populations of phytoplankton and submersed aquatic vegetation in the open water. Lake Choghakhor, is a shallow lake, located in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiyari Province. This lake is the most important ecosystem in the region especially for waterfowl populations, has a recreational value and supports tourism and fisheries. During last decade Choghakhor has been influenced by some man-made impacts such as water level fluctuation, agricultural discharge and fish (Cyprinids) introduction causing a serious problem in its trophic states. So water quality for physical, chemical and biological was monitored in five sampling stations, from April 2003 to March 2004. As biological parameters we studied phytoplankton, epiphytic algae, and zooplankton and macrobenthose community structure. Chlorophyll a content for phytoplankton and epiphytes was measured to estimate production of these groups (biomass over time). Also we determined biomasses of submersed macrophytes and macrobenthose and primary production of phytoplankton (dark and light bottles technique) to estimate fish production. The results of this study showed Lake Choghakhor did not undergo stable thermal and oxygen stratification, and the lake water was mixed throughout the study (the lake mixing regime is polymictic). Now submerged plants especially Myriophyllum spicatum has covered almost the entire lake and dense macrophyte beds (Polygonom amphibium), located on the east southern end of the lake appear to act as a sink for these nutrients. Lake Choghakhor appeared to be in a macrophyte dominated clear water state with low TP (annual mean: 24± 15μg.l-1) and chlorophyll a (annual mean: 3±1.28μg.l-1) concentrations and very high Secchi depth. The grazing pressure of dominant pelagic filtering zooplankton Daphnia longespina did not seem to be significant in determining the low phytoplankton crop expressed as chlorophyll a. We expect that sequestering of nutrients by submerged plants and associated epiphytes are the dominant stabilizing mechanisms suppressing the phytoplankton crop of Lake Choghakhor.

Aquatic agricultural systems in Cambodia: national situation analysis

The objective of the current report produced for the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) is to provide basic information on key constraints driving poverty and vulnerability in aquatic agricultural systems in the Tonle Sap region in Cambodia. Six objectives and corresponding research themes are included in the program: sustainable increases in productivity; equitable access to markets; resilience and adaptive capacity; empowering policies and institutions; reduced gender disparity; and expanded benefits for the resource-poor. In this report, the authors review the main aquatic agricultural systems (status, specific policies and strategies, interventions, challenges, and options), then review the main drivers of change. This leads to an identification of plans and strategies important to AAS, with a particular focus on perspectives, gaps and opportunities in national policies, community engagement, increased benefits, adaptive capacity, and gender. This review, of potential interest to decision makers and all development partners, leads to conclusions and recommendations aimed at policymakers and institutional as well as private investors in development.

Ecological impacts of coastal aquaculture developments

The study presents the type and scale of any ecological change associated with coastal aquaculture development. These are enrichment, interaction with the food web, oxygen consumption, disturbance of wildlife and habitat destruction, interaction between escaped farmed stock and wild species, introduction and transfers, bioactive compounds (including pesticides and antibiotics), chemicals introduced via construction materials, and hormones and growth promoters.

Managing environmental impacts in aquaculture

The article presents the environmental impacts of aquaculture and the ways to manage them. The environmental impacts include issues of recreation and aesthetics, and the usage of resources and discharge of nutrients and organic matter into the environment. Likewise, the results are also discussed, such as reduced production, disease outbreak in cultured and wild populations, and an increase of regulatory restrictions being placed on aquaculture operations.

Capturing views of men, women and youth on agricultural biodiversity resources consumed in Barotseland, Zambia

This paper presents data and findings from focus group discussions in study communities selected by the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) in the Western Province of Zambia. The discussions focused on cultivated crops and vegetables collected from open fields and consumed as food. Participatory tools for agricultural biodiversity (agrobiodiversity) assessment were used to capture community perspectives on plant species and varietal diversity; factors influencing the availability and use of plants for food; unique, common and rare crop species cultivated in a community, identified through a four-cell analysis methodology; and core problems, root causes, effects and necessary actions to tackle them, using problem tree or situation analysis methods.

Research in development: learning from the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems

This working paper aims to synthesize and share learning from the experience of adapting and operationalizing the Research in Development(RinD) approach to agricultural research in the five hubs under the The CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems. It seeks to share learning about how the approach is working in context and to explore the outcomes it is achieving through initial implementation over 3 ½ years. This learning can inform continuation of agricultural research in the second phase of the CGIAR research programs and will be useful to others aiming to implement research programs that seek to equitably build capacity to innovate in complex social-ecological systems. Each of the chapters in this working paper have shown that RinD has produced a range of outcomes that were often unexpected and broader in scope than might result from other approaches to agricultural research. RinD also produces innovations, and there is evidence that it builds capacity to innovate.