Report of the ICSF-BOBLME India (East Coast) workshop: implementing the FAO voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication (SSF guidelines), 6-7 March 2015, Chennai, India

The workshop titled, ICSF-BOBLME India (East Coast) Workshop on Implementing the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) was organized by ICSFin collaboration with BOBLME project.The workshop was the third in a series of consultations held in 2015 across the globe to promote the ownership of the SSF Guidelines among different stakeholders. In the run –up to the workshop, ICSF, with support from BOBLME conducted six consultation meetings with fishworkers and fishworker organizations along the east coast of India in January and February 2015. One hundred participants from India’s eastern coastal states of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including women fishworkers, representatives of fishworker organizations, representatives from Department of Fisheries and other concerned departments at state and central level, Multilateral agencies, Inter-governmental organizations, Research Institutions met at Chennai, 6-7 March, 2015. The workshop was structured to facilitate active interaction and discussion among participants, taking into account linguistic diversity and the contextual differences of the marine and inland sectors. This publication—the proceedings of the Chennai workshop—will be useful for fishworker organizations, researchers, policymakers, members of civil society and anyone interested in fisheries and livelihoods.

Sustainable binders for soil stabilisation

Portland cement is the most commonly and widely used binder in ground improvement soil stabilisation applications. However, many changes are now affecting the selection and application of stabilisation additives. These include the significant environmental impacts of Portland cement, increased use of industrial by-products and their variability, increased range of application of binders and the development of alternative cements and novel additives with enhanced environmental and technical performance. This paper presents results from a number of research projects on the application of a number of Portland cement-blended binders, which offer sustainability advantages over Portland cement alone, in soil stabilisation. The blend materials included ground granulated blastfurnace slag, pulverised fuel ash, cement kiln dust, zeolite and reactive magnesia and stabilised soils, ranging from sand and gravel to clay, and were assessed based on their mechanical performance and durability. The results are presented in terms of strength and durability enhancements offered by those blended binders.

Impact of Bashundhara Baridhara Housing Project on the status, abundance and species diversity of fish in Bashundhara Housing lake in Dhaka, Bangladesh

A study on the status of fisheries and environmental impact assessment (EIA) was conducted on Bashundhara Baridhara Housing Project (BBHP), Dhaka, Bangladesh for prediction and measure the effects of housing project related development activities that have already been implemented and planned for future implementation. The project is still under development phase and so far allotted 10,000 plots of different sizes. The study shows that the original water bodies and natural fish production there from have greatly declined due to earth filling carried out for development of land for the housing. The physico-chemical parameters of the existing water body within the project area were found to be suitable for fish farming in the estate. A number of economically important fish species are found available in the existing lake. However, the natural fisheries resources of the existing lake is under great stress due to the changes made in the ecosystem, siltation, construction of building and dumping of house building and household waste materials. This has caused some important fish species of the lake to become critically endangered and vulnerable which have been documented in this paper. Appropriate regulatory and mitigating measures with respect to water management, disposal of construction garbage and other biomedical toxic substances far away from the water bodies are required to be taken to keep the water safe and suitable for fish production as well as for multipurpose use of the lake water.

Promoting teamwork and sustainable design

The Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE) Masters program offers practicing professionals a structured process of interdisciplinary education and professional development. The course aims to equip all its students with the skills needed to meet these challenges. Most of those taking the course have demonstrated their abilities in their core disciplines and are moving to strategic and leadership roles for which they may well be under-prepared. The objectives of the course include giving students a strategic overview of the construction industry and of the production and management of built environment, as well as a critical perspective on the everyday knowledge and assumptions made in practice. The course also raises awareness of current research in the sector and its potential and limitations, and provides an introduction to professional ethics and the responsibilities owed by engineers and their colleagues to society as a whole.

Fish-makhana (Euryale salisb) integration: a case study of sustainable aquafarming system in north Bihar

The paper deals with a technique to synchronize two crops, fish and makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb) in a pond. In such eco-friendly integration both crops are mutually benefited. Decomposed plant parts of makhana crop form organic matter that releases nutrients in the water to enhance plankton population. Organic detritus not only acts as food for bottom dwelling fishes (mrigal and common carp) but also provides a suitable substratum for the growth of zooplankton, insect larvae, nematodes and gastropods. Fishes contribute to the control of makhana pests. Their faecal matter acts as organic manure for makhana crop. Plankton population fluctuated between 1260 u/l to 4030 u/l in the control pond and 1630 u/l to 4722 u/l in the experimental pond. During the grand growth period of makhana crop (April to July) the dissolved oxygen content fluctuated between 5.02 mg/l to 6.68 mg/l in the covered areas and 6.04 mg/l to 6.92 mg/l in uncovered areas. Makhana leaves acting as blanket barrier over the water surface brought down the D.O. content in the covered areas of the pond. Free CO sub(2) content showed wider fluctuation in the experimental pond (25.2 mg/l to 30.9 mg/l) than in the control pond (25.1 mg/l to 28.6 mg/l). This could be due to decomposition of plant parts of the presiding crop lying as debris at the pond bottom. Autochthonous supply of nutrients enhanced the content of nitrogen, phosphorous and organic carbon in the soil of experimental pond. The experimental pond covering an area of 0.40 ha yielded 852 kg fish and 200 kg pops whereas the control pond covering the same area produced 777 kg fish only. The net profit per ha came out to be Rs.1,04,700 and Rs. 66,200 in integrated and non-integrated system respectively. Owing to crop diversification, the present integrated system was found to be more viable than the non-integrated system in terms of production and net profit.

Handling uncertainty in housing stock models

Housing stock models can be useful tools in helping to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of retrofits to residential buildings; however, existing housing stock models are not able to quantify the uncertainties that arise in the modelling process from various sources, thus limiting the role that they can play in helping decision makers. This paper examines the different sources of uncertainty involved in housing stock models and proposes a framework for handling these uncertainties. This framework involves integrating probabilistic sensitivity analysis with a Bayesian calibration process in order to quantify uncertain parameters more accurately. The proposed framework is tested on a case study building, and suggestions are made on how to expand the framework for retrofit analysis at an urban-scale. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

A Plant Needs Ants like a Dog Needs Fleas: Myrmelachista schumanni Ants Gall Many Tree Species to Create Housing

Hundreds of tropical plant species house ant colonies in specialized chambers called domatia. When, in 1873, Richard Spruce likened plant-ants to fleas and asserted that domatia are ant-created galls, he incited a debate that lasted almost a century. Alth

Sustainable livelihood approach of prawn production and marketing systems in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

An investigation was carried out in Phulpur upazila, Mymensingh to examine the current production practices of freshwater giant prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and its marketing systems with sustainable livelihood approach. The livelihoods of a considerable number of rural poor are associated with prawn production in Phulpur upazila. Based on a sample of 50 farmers, about 94% farmers were found to culture prawn with fish in their ponds. Only 4% and 2% farmers were found to culture prawn-fish-dike crops and only prawn respectively. Prawn marketing is almost exclusively a preserve of the private sector where the livelihoods of a large number of people are associated with its distribution and marketing systems. The market chain from producers to consumers passes through a number of intermediaries. About 40% of the produced prawns are exported and the rest 60% are sold to local markets. The price of prawn depends on quality, size and weight. The average farm-gate price of prawn varied from Tk. 110 to 160/kg, whereas it's [sic] market price varied from Tk. 150 to 350/kg. Most of the farmers and traders have improved their socio-economic conditions through prawn farming and marketing activities. However, concerns arise about the long-term sustainability of prawn farming and marketing systems due to lack of technical knowledge of prawn farming, poor road and transport facilities, higher transport cost, poor supply of ice, lack of cash and credit facilities. It is therefore essential to provide institutional and organizational support and credit facilities for sustainable prawn production and marketing systems.

Suitable sites for sustainable aquaculture development in Mymensingh, Bangladesh: A GIS methodological perspective

A GIS study was carried out to find out the sites suitable for aquaculture in Mymensingh region. A number of criteria were selected for GIS modeling followed by the approach of Kapetsky (1994). The criteria were developed from a range of existing data sources such as, surface and underground water level, availability of feed ingredients and animal wastes, sources of fish fry, market facilities, extension support and communication facilities for aquaculture development. The data were located, collected and compiled from different GOs and NGOs located in the region along with primary data from the field survey wherever necessary and then prepared for computer analyses. Using the database, a series of GIS models were developed in order to ascertain and prioritize the most suitable areas for aquaculture development in the region. Out of total 407,528 ha available lands in the region, the study identified 99,415 ha very suitable and 302,754 ha moderately suitable for aquaculture promotion. Result of the study is indicative to the modeling power of GIS for aquaculture application and could be used to refine the models in future, particularly if it is supported with further detail field data. To get a more concrete and complete model, detailed study should be made available on the availability of mustard oil cake, rice bran, wheat bran, and usable animal and urban wastes that could be used as low-cost feed for sustainable aquaculture.