Production and conservation of nutrient-rich small fish (SIS) in ponds and wetlands for nutrition security and livelihoods in South Asia: Proceedings of a World Bank/SAFANSI funded regional workshop on small fish and nutrition, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1st - 2nd March 2014

Small indigenous fish species (SIS) are an important source of essential macro- and micronutrients that can play an important role in the elimination of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in the populations of many South and Southeast Asian countries. Of the 260 freshwater fish species in Bangladesh, more than 140 are classified as SIS and are an integral part of the rural Bangladeshi diet. As many SIS are eaten whole, with organs and bones, they contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, and iron and zinc. Some SIS, such as mola, are also rich in vitamin A. SIS are often cooked with vegetables and a little oil, so they contribute to the food diversity of the rural poor.SIS are recognized as a major animal-source food group, contributing to improved food and nutrition security and livelihoods of the people of South and Southeast Asia. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together policy makers, extension agents, researchers, non-governmental and development organizations to share knowledge about small fish, their contribution to better nutrition, production technologies, and strategies for wider dissemination of pond culture and wetland based-production and conservation technologies. The workshop is expected to generate ideas for further research and development of sustainable technologies for production, management and conservation of SIS for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh as well as the South and Southeast Asian region.

Dialogue to address the roots of resource competition: Lessons for policy and practice

Conflict management is an intrinsic element of natural resource management, and becomes increasingly important amid growing pressure on natural resources from local uses, as well as from external drivers such as climate change and international investment. If policymakers and practitioners aim to truly improve livelihood resilience and reduce vulnerabilities of poor rural households, issues of resource competition and conflict management cannot be ignored. This synthesis report summarizes outcomes and lessons from three ecoregions: Lake Victoria, with a focus on Uganda; Lake Kariba, with a focus on Zambia; and Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Partners used a common approach to stakeholder engagement and action research that we call “Collaborating for Resilience”. In each region, partners assisted local stakeholders in developing a shared understanding of risks and opportunities, weighing alternative actions, developing action plans, and evaluating and learning from the outcomes. These experiences demonstrate that investing in capacities for conflict management is practical and can contribute to broader improvements in resource governance.

Prawn culture and policy options: technology import and culture through fishermen vis a vis industry

Recent developments in aquaculture has created an awareness that prawn culture is a dollar spinner, in which industry can step in to earn foreign exchange by producing an expensive food iten which has a high market demand abroad. The Government has to take a policy decision whether the prawn culture should be done through small fishermen to improve their socio-economic condition or through private industry with the high technology input and predefined objectives of export trade. Perhaps a simultaneous operation of the two could be allowed best in the interest of India. Perhaps in the interest of quick development and adoption of high production technology, through fishermen organization, the development is encouraged through the implimentation of welfare and area development schemes. In some selected areas private industry may be encoureged to use high production technology to develop prawns.

Effect of aureomycin on the behaviour of certain free amino acids in oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) held in ice storage

The course of development of a few free amino acids under the influence of aureomycin in oil sardine (Sardinella lingiceps) held in ice storage was investigated. The levels of leucines and valine regularly increased in the control and aureomycin treated fush throughout the storage period. Alanines and threonine showed similar trend in both control and fish treated with 20ppm aureomycin. These amino acids however showed a gradual fall in fish treated at 5 ppm level. The changes in tyrosine+tryptophane were found to be irregular. Most of the amino acids studied indicated a remarkable change in trend by about the 16th day of ice storage in the case of fish treated with 50ppm aureimycin.

Studies on fish lipids. Pt. 2. Fatty acid composition of lipids of oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps)

Gas-liquid chromatography has been employed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the component fatty acids in lipids of oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps). Phospholipids and triglycerides of the lipids were previously separated by column chromatography before they were converted into the methyl esters of the fatty acids. The predominant acids present in the depot fat of the fish have been found to be C14:0=8.13%, C16:0=27.9%, C18:0=3.8%, C18:1=15.4%., C20:5=10.6% and C22:6=8.8%. Apart from the above acids the distribution of minor acids belonging to Cl8, C20 and C22 groups have also been worked out. The separated phospholipid fraction contained more than 70% polyunsaturated acids of which the important constituents were docosahexaenoic (C22:6=28%) and eicosapentaenoic (C20:5=10.6%). A marked reduction was found in the amounts of polyunsaturated acids in triglycerides, their total amount registering about 20%. This fraction recorded about 48% of C16 acids of which palmitic and palmitoleic acids amounted to 25.8% and 19.1% respectively. Occurrence of odd numbered fatty acids C15 and C17 has also been noted in the phospholipid and composite samples of the fish.

Use of different glazes in frozen oil sardines

This paper reports on the relationship between the seasonal variations in the oil content of the Indian oil sardines (Sardinella longiceps) and their frozen storage life at -l8°C and on the use of various chemicals and coating materials to extent their storage life. It is observed that there is an inverse relationship between the oil content and the frozen storage life- oil content varying from 10.33 to 42.43% (MFB) and storage life from 2 to 5 months. Extension of storage life is achieved by dipping in hydroquinone solution prior to freezing or by coating with agar after freezing. Data on changes in peroxide value, free fatty acids, moisture, drip and organoleptic characteristics during frozen storage are presented.

On the canning of Sardinella fimbriata Sardinella gibbosa and Sardinella sirm in oil pack

This note gives details of experiments conducted on the canning of certain species of sardines viz. Sardinella fimbriata, Sardinella gibbosa and Sardinella sirm which are landed in commercial quantities in the East Coast of Madras State and which have not so far been tried for canning. The experiments conclusively prove that these species of sardines can also be canned in oil pack and good canned products manufactured out of them.

Studies on shark liver oil and its residue

Seasonal variation in oil and moisture contents and vitamin A potency of oil in livers from different species of sharks landed at Veraval coast were studied. Values of moisture, protein, ash and vitamins in defatted liver residue were determined.

Preliminary observations on changes in nucleotides in oil sardine and certain Penaeid prawns during chill storage

Preliminary study has been made of the changes in common 5' nucleotides in oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) and two Penaeid prawns of Indian waters during chill storage. The course of nucleotide degradation has been followed in the fresh fish and shell fish during ice storage. The level of inosine monophosphate (IMP) in prawns showed significant but steady decrease during ice storage and this appears to serve as useful indication of length of storage. Comparison has been made on the pattern of nucleotide changes in block frozen fish and individually quick frozen fish stored at -23°C.

An effective method for reducing belly-bursting in frozen oil sardines

A dip treatment in 15% sodium chloride solution for 30 minutes prior to freezing was found to be effective in reducing belly-bursting occurring during freezing and thawing of oil sardines. The effect of size and fat content of sardines on belly-bursting phenomenon and storage characteristics of brine treated sardines have been studied.

Digestible protein and energy value of fish meal, dextrin, fish oil and soybean oil for Thai sharpunti (Puntius gonionotus Bleeker)

A laboratory trial was conducted to determine the digestible protein and energy value of fish meal, dextrin, fish oil and soybean oil for Thai sharpunti (Puntius gonionotus Bleeker). A reference diet containing 35% protein was formulated in which fish meal was the sole source of protein. Five test diets were formulated using reference diet and individual test ingredients (fish meal, dextrin, fish oil and soybean oil). Each treatment had three replicates with 15 fish per replicate. Fish were fed twice daily at the rate of 5% of their body weight. The result of the study indicated that the dietary protein in both reference and test diets were well digested and the apparent protein digestibility (APD) values of test diets ranged between 82.81 and 85.99%. The APD value of fish meal protein was 88.05%. The apparent digestible energy (ADE) value for the test ingredients ranged between 70.79 and 85.80% with soybean oil having the highest and fish meal the lowest value. The ADE values calculated in terms of Kcal/g of ingredients were 3.68, 3.22, 4.38 and 4.44 Kcal/g for fish meal, dextrin, fish oil and soybean oil respectively.

Effects of natural gas pipeline condensate and crude oil spills, and comments on remediation, with emphasis on south Louisiana salt marshes: a review

This report reviews some of the natural ecological processes at work within a salt marsh as they relate to a spill of natural gas condensate - a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-hexane, benzene, toluene, and xylene. It also reviews the environmental impacts of some of the components of natural gas condensate as well as related compounds (crude oil, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarons - PAHs, linear alkyl-benzenes - LABs, etc.) on salt marsh ecosystems in southern Louisiana and elsewhere in the world. The behavior and persistence of these compounds once they have entered the environment is also considered.