PART II: PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR 2015
III. Establishment of adaptive measures supporting resource enhancement for a changing environment
2.1 Goal/Overall Objectives and Performance Indicators This Project will
1) Establish reliable mass production techniques for genetically improved strains of commercially important species and to establish seed production techniques for newly emerging species for aquaculture;
2) Develop environment-friendly, cost-effective practical feeds using ingredients available in the Southeast Asian region and establish guidelines on feeding management for sustainable aquaculture;
3) Develop farm management strategies that eliminate the risk factors through epidemiological and environmental approaches to prevent and control diseases;
4) Identify clear policies for implementing sustainable aquaculture and to recommend policies for enhancing the adoption of suitable aquaculture technologies for the lesser developed countries in the region; and
5) Verify and disseminate the project achievements especially in the lesser developed countries in the region through demonstration, training, lecture/seminar and publication activities.
The performance indicators are as follows:
1) Genetic selection in mud crab Scylla serrata, black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon, and giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii based on criteria set for producing subsequent generations that exhibit faster growth, better reproductive performance and higher disease resistance, in which genetic monitoring to maintain high genetic variability and identification of possible genetic markers for the selected beneficial traits is applied;
2) Development of hatchery technology of potential species, including breeding, seed production and grow out techniques;
3) Surveys of the availability and quality assessment of feed resources in the Philippines and selected developing countries in Southeast Asia
4) Establishment of feeding management using plant-origin diet to obtain optimal feed performance and to reduce the negative impacts of improper feeding on the environment;
5) Establishment of management scheme to prevent or control shrimp diseases based on analysis of risk factors and epidemiological data;
6) Analyses of the socio-economic impact of the transfer and adoption of aquaculture technologies; and 7) Dissemination of knowledge and technologies for promotion of sustainable and region-oriented
aquaculture practice through training courses and International workshop.
2.2 Expected Outcomes and Outputs
Methods and information gathered from all research activities are definitely useful to aquaculturists, researchers and academicians. However, there are still gaps to the practical levels. Seed production technologies based on the genetic improvement, especially, some criteria/ fundamental methodologies for appropriate selection/ broodstock management scheme of local stock having preferable performance such as growth, reproduction and disease resistance, were developed for commercially important species such as mud crab and giant freshwater prawn. However, in the case of black tiger shrimp, domestication itself has not yet established well before proceeding to the selective breeding. Culture conditions for Kappaphycus sp. were optimized only in the laboratory. It is regretful that the activity was stopped without optimizing culture conditions of in the farming areas and in the natural waters. The terminal report on the Kappaphycus production should be yet submitted. The study on the seed production technology for emerging species has obtained some outcomes, but they are still limited under the laboratory condition.
The artificial administration of hormones could be applicable for validation of the expected efficacy of the manipulation of environmental conditions under the laboratory condition. However, it is not always allowed for the practical use unless the safety and no side effects not only on the target species but also on the environment are proven as well as the cost benefit. The study on the efficient and low pollution feeds replaced to the fishmeal for giant fresh water prawn brought very valuable outcomes, and yet expected to be applied to other important aquaculture species and be verified to the commercial scale. On the other hand, the research activity on establishment of guidelines for feeding management was regrettably stopped without producing valuable results. Contrarily, the activities on “aquaculture environmental management technology” and “socio-economic assessment and impact analysis of transfer and adoption of sustainable
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aquaculture technologies” had remarkable outcomes already, which are considered to be in a practical stage. Technology extension and demonstration activities generally received the positive evaluation from participants of the respective training courses, and yet the efficacy should be discussed for the future program buildings because of very limited participants under the budgetary constraint.
2.3 Project Description/Framework
Activity 1: Genetic improvement of commercially important species and development of hatchery technology
Sub-activity 1.1 Selective breeding of mud crab Scylla serrate
It has been observed that growth of the wild seedstock was faster compared with the hatchery-reared seedstock when grown in brackish water ponds. The selection of Scylla serrata will be tried based on set criteria aimed at producing subsequent generations that exhibit faster growth and better reproductive performance. In addition, genetic monitoring will be employed to maintain high genetic variability and identify possible genetic markers for the selected beneficial traits.
Sub-activity 1.2 Selective breeding of black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon
A breeding program that considers selection for beneficial heritable traits such as improved growth, disease resistance and breeding performance needs to be implemented to improve seed and broodstock quality and lessen the pressure on wild stocks. Through the selective breeding of black tiger shrimp, the heritability of survival, growth and disease resistance will be determined in the local population.
Sub-activity 1.3 Genetic improvement of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Low seed yield, slow growth, poor production output and other problems associated with inefficient broodstock management are commonly encountered in prawn hatcheries. This study will try to improve economically important traits such as breeding performance and growth in domesticated giant freshwater prawns. Information on effective broodstock management schemes that can be adopted on farm will be generated.
Sub-activity 1.4 Mass production of plantlets with improved traits
SEADEC/AQD has developed a techniques enabling development of plantlets through tissue culture.
However, there is a need to pursue further on the different strains available in the farming areas and in the natural waters. Through this activity tissue culture techniques will be developed so that mass production of the “new and improved” plants will be obtained for commercial farming.
Sub-activity 1.5 Development of hatchery technology of emerging species
To preserve the sustainability of coastal wild resources, extreme utilization of the limited major species, of which the broodstock and fry are captured for aquaculture, should be restricted. The present study will develop hatchery technology of newly merging species not only to reduce the negative impact on the wild fish resources but also to benefit the fish farmers as well as the consumers.
Activity 2: Development of environment-friendly feeds using regionally available ingredients
Sub-activity 2.1 Development of efficient and low-pollution diets for grow-out and broodstock (freshwater prawn, milkfish, grouper, mud crab, and black tiger shrimp)
The present study will develop cost-efficient and low pollution awafeeds for the grow-out (100 g to 500 g body weight) and brooodstock stages of grouper, milkfish, mud crab, shrimp and freshwater prawn, and determine the qualitative and quantitative requirements of grouper, milkfish, and mud crab for important micronutorients.
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Sub-activity 2.2 Establishment of guidelines for optimum feeding management through survey of availability and quality assessment of feed resources
The project will survey the availability and assess the quality of feed resources in the Philippines and in selected developing countries in Southeast Asia through concentrating on feed resources that are actually used or have potential use in feed production, on their nutritional quality, and on those toxins to which fish can be potentially exposed to. Based on the results of the said study as well as Sub-activity 2.1, guidelines can be established for optimum feeding management to reduce the impacts of feeding and promote sustainable aquaculture in the region.
Activity 3: Establishment of managing technology of aquaculture environment
The best shrimp farming strategy has yet to be determined. The present study will develop pond management strategies to prevent and control viral and other disease of shrimp by eliminating the risk factors, and promote the implementation of disease of shrimp farming by using environmental based management strategies.
Activity 4: Socio-economic assessment and impact analysis of transfer and adoption of sustainable aquaculture technologies
Acceptability of the technology in the locally becomes an essential component of integrated rural development. Development of effective institutions is needed to respond to aquaculture rapid expansion with its new products and changing farming methods to foster responsible aquaculture in the region. The present study will elucidate difficulties, benefits and institutional constraints in technology adoption and establish policy bried for enhancing technology adoption.
Activity 5: Technology extension and demonstration
Sub-activity 5.1 Giant freshwater prawn production training program
There are several commercially valuable freshwater prawn species particularly under the Genus Macrobrachium, giant freshwater prawn. This activity will extend and demonstrate the production technique of Macrobrachium spp. to the trainees.
Sub-activity 5.2 Regional dissemination of mud crab farming program
This activity will disseminate the farming program of mud crab, the Genus Scylla, of which widespread interest is increasing because of the high price both in domestic and international market.
Sub-activity 5.3 Regional dissemination of black tiger shrimp farming program
The black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon is one of the predominant aquaculture species in Southeast Asia.
This training program will extent and disseminate the selective breeding technology in this species.
Sub-activity 5.4 Marine fish hatchery training program
Aquaculture of high-value marine finfish species continues to develop rapidly in Southeast Asia. This training program will extend and demonstrate the breeding, hatchery seed production, nutrition and health management in grouper, seabass, snapper etc.
Sub-activity 5.5 Abalone hatchery training program
The donkey’s ear abalone Haliotis asinine has been the focus of research and development efforts at SEAFDEC/AQD since 1994 due to its large size. This activity will offer the fundamental and essential hatchery technology of tropical abalone.
67 Sub-activity 5.6 Seaweed farming training program
(Because of constraint of budget, this training course schedule in 2014 will be cancelled.)
Ared algae Kappaphycus is cultured throughout the country, which has very useful properties as a source of carrageenan. This activity will offer the fundamental and essential information on Kappaphycus farming technology and management.
Sub-activity 5.7 On-line course on nutrition and on-site feed preparation training program
A balanced diet for fish is important in ensuring fast growing, healthy, and disease-free fish and shrimps.
This activity will offer the fundamental and essential information on fish nutrition, feed formulation and feed management.
Sub-activity 5.8 Rural aquaculture program
Training focusing on promotion of community-based freshwater aquaculture for remote rural areas of Southeast Asia will be organized by SEAFDEC/AQD under this activity, which will promote capacity building for establishing appropriate aquaculture systems applicable in remote rural areas.
Activity 6: Publication
Manuals, posters, pamphlets and flyer describing the sustainable aquaculture will be published and distributed.
Activity 7: Annual progress meeting and international workshop Sub-activity 7.1 Annual progress meeting
Annual progress meeting will be held to review the project achievement. Evaluators will be invited to join the meeting to review/evaluate the project achievements.
Sub-activity 7.2 International workshop
The workshop will not only receive participants from member countries but also invite expert scientists as key note speakers to facilitate to spread and exchange brand-new information on sustainable aquaculture between SEAFDEC and various institutions.
Activity 8: Coordination by the project leader
The project leader will coordinate and assist the research, training and dissemination, and also facilitate information exchange not only domestically but also among member countries so that sustainable aquaculture practices will be effectively promoted in Southeast Asia. Semi-annual meeting will be held on July or August to confirm the progress of respective activities and sub-activities. Project achievements will be summarized at the end of year. Annual progress report will be prepared.
3. PROGRESS/ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES IN THE YEAR 2014 3.1 Activities Achievements in the Year 2014
Achievements based on Activities Duration Remarks
1. Genetic improvement of commercially important species and