COOPERATION WITH DONORS AND PARTNER
Technical Working Group. For such events, SEAFDEC sent representatives to provide technical inputs.
Specifically on the Live Reef Food Fish Trade, the Forum came up with the “Resolution on Sustainable LRFFT for the Southeast Asian Region and CTI-CFF Member Countries”, which was subsequently supported by the SEAFDEC Council during its 45th Meeting in 2013. The SEAFDEC Council also authorized SEAFDEC to be the Interim Secretariat for the LRFFT Regional Forum, and for SEAFDEC to enter into collaborative arrangement with the CTI-CFF in order to formalize future cooperation. As a move forward to address the issue on sustainable LRFFT, a dialogue with LRFF market side was initiated while a mission of SEAFDEC and CTI-CFF to Hong Kong Government’s Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) was organized on 5-9 August 2013 to discuss possible cooperation and address the issues that impede the sustainability of LRFFT.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
SEAFDEC signed agreement with FAO on February 2013 for the SEAFDEC/AQD to implement the project on “Aquaculture for Food Security, Poverty Alleviation and Nutrition (AFSPAN)”
with funding support from FAO. The project started on 15 January 2013 and will end on 31 December 2014, with objectives to better understand the current status of the contribution of aquaculture to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation. In particular, the Project will: (a) review the current knowledge on the contribution of aquaculture to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation; (b) develop methodologies for better assessment of the contribution; (c) disseminate widely the knowledge gained among countries, governments and civil society; and (d) elaborate strategies for improving the contribution of aquaculture to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation.
SEAFDEC and FAO also signed a “Partnership Agreement Providing for Cooperation in the Preparation and Publication of the Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) and for the Reconstitution of the Advisory Board” in February 2013. Under this Agreement, SEAFDEC shall serve as an international ASFA partner, and shall be responsible for the monitoring of all serials, monographs and other information emanating from its organization relevant to the scope of ASFA, and for preparing bibliographic citations, indexing and abstracts of relevant literature for input to ASFA. Under the Agreement, SEAFDEC shall also nominate one member of the ASFA Advisory Board to decide upon, and oversea the implementation of policy matters with respect to the ASFA service; and attend where possible in meetings of the Board as well as other editorial staff meetings to make recommendations to the Board.
Furthermore, TD also collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to launch a pilot project on “Fishing Vessel Energy Audit” in 2013.
Under this project, a survey of the trawl nets was conducted in Thailand to verify fuel saving potentials and identify various energy efficiency practices.
In 2013, TD continued to serve as executing partner in the implementation of the FAO project on “Strategies for Trawl Fisheries Bycatch Management (REBYC-II CTI)” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project, to be implemented in 2013-2017,
aimed to address the issues on by-catch from fishing operations, particularly from trawl fisheries, which create substantial impacts on the sustainability of fisheries and aquatic ecosystems of the Coral Triangle and Southeast Asian waters, by promoting sustainable fishing practices and improved trawl fisheries management.
SEAFDEC Secretariat also collaborated with FAO for the conduct of the “Workshop on Fish Passage in Southeast Asia: Principle of improved fish passage at cross-river obstacles, with relevance to Southeast Asia” on 17-20 March 2013 in Khon Kaen, Thailand. SEAFDEC also participated in and provided technical inputs to the Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (20-24 May 2013, Rome, Italy).
GOVERNMENT OF SWEDEN
The Government of Sweden continued cooperation with SEAFDEC and provided funding support for the 5-year project on “Fisheries and Habitat Management, Climate Change and Social Well-being in Southeast Asia” starting 2013. The Agreement between SEAFDEC and Sweden which was signed on 5 March 2013 allows the partners to agree in actively promoting the responsible utilization of marine and aquatic resources based on due recognition of the need to maintain environmental health and conservation of critical habitats. The geographical scope targeted in the Agreement is the ASEAN with special focus on four sub-regions, namely: the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea, the Sulu- Sulawesi Seas, and the Mekong River Basin. During the implementation of this project, SEAFDEC would cooperate with key partners in the region and sub-regions, NGOs as well as agencies at national levels, in sharing good practices and resources for the implementation of activities. This cooperation is also expected to further contribute to the sustainable fisheries development of the ASEAN Community.
HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
Through the MOU between SEAFDEC/TD and Hokkaido University, staff of TD undertook study trip to the Hokkaido University campus in Hokkaido, Japan from 10 September until 31 October 2013 to take part in the cooperative research on “Environment Friendly Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement in Southeast Asia”.
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEA
TD collaborated with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for the conduct of the “Mini Symposium on Impact of Fishing on the Environment” and “Meeting of the Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour (WGFTFB) 2013” on 6-10 May 2013 at the premises of the SEAFDEC Training Department in Samut Prakan, Thailand.
The symposium devoted time to the thematic discussions on: Low Impact and Fuel Efficient Fishing (LIFE); Use of Artificial Light as a Stimulus on Fish Behaviour in Fish Capture (LIGHT);
and Selectivity of Trawls in Multispecies/Crustacean Fisheries (SHRIMP). The remaining featured the business meeting of ICES working group that included sessions on specific topic groups as well as on the selection of a new ICES/WGFTFB chair, selection of chairs and Terms of Reference for the 2013 Joint Session with WGFAST and proposals for topics to be discussed in 2014.
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL TRAINING COUNCIL, MALAYSIA
Under MOU between TD and the National Agricultural Training Council (NATC) of Malaysia, TD organized a “Tailor-made Training Course on Shipboard and Simulators Training on Navigation and Marine Simulators”, upon the request of the NATC. The training course focused on the operation of navigation and marine engineering simulators, both onshore and onboard of M.V. SEAFDEC. The shipboard training was held on 28 May-2 June, while the practical session was conducted on 3-9 May 2013.
NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY, VIETNAM
TD established cooperation with the Nha Trang University of Vietnam through the signing of a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 3 May 2013 at the premises of TD in Samut Prakan, Thailand. This MoU covers the areas on: (i) staff/student exchange; (ii) joint development of collaborative research projects; (iii) joint organization of scientific and cultural events; (iv) shared conduct of training courses on the related subjects; and (v) joint issuance of certificates of shared trainings/educational programs in the future.
PHILIPPINE COUNCIL FOR AGRICULTURE, AQUATIC AND NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT-DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Memoranda of Agreement were executed between AQD and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development-Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) in 2013 for the implementation of 3-year programs, such as: (i) National R&D Program for the Donkey’s Ear Abalone, Haliotis asinina;
and (ii) National R&D Program for Blue Swimming Crabs. The program for abalone aims to increase abalone production in the Philippines for domestic/export markets through refinement of existing culture technologies, while the program for blue swimming crabs is aimed at refining existing hatchery technology and developing the nursery technology.
POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, SINGAPORE
The Post-harvest Technology Center (PHTC) of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), Singapore serves as the Collaborating Center of SEAFDEC to implement the activities of MFRD under the SEAFDEC regional programs, as approved by the SEAFDEC Council during its 39th Meeting in 2007. In 2013, the PHTC supported MFRD in enhancing the development of fisheries post-harvest technology in the Southeast Asian region through three regional projects, namely: 1) Biotoxins Monitoring in the ASEAN Region; 2) Utilization of Freshwater Fish for Value Added Products; and 3) Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products.
PTT EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED, THAILAND While the high cost in field data collection had confined most past studies of the Gulf of Thailand to the coastal areas, the support from the PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited in providing cruise fuel enabled TD to undertake a 30-day research cruise using the M.V. SEAFDEC in 2013 in order to obtain understanding on the status of fishery resources and the environment of the central Gulf of Thailand. The cruise, which set off on 14 March 2013 during the post northeast monsoon season, accommodated
the cooperative works between SEAFDEC and researchers from Thailand’s Department of Fisheries, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Pollution Control Department, a number of universities in Thailand, and the private sector through the conduct of an extensive research program as well as training of university students in marine sciences.
RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR HUMANITY AND NATURE, JAPAN
TD is taking part in the cooperative project launched by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) of Japan on “Coastal Area Capability Enhancements in Southeast Asia”. With the main objective of obtaining full understanding of how people utilize the coastal resources through a “holistic approach”, the project also expects to come up with guidelines for new research approach using the concept of “Area Capability”.
The project comprises project sites in the Philippines (Panay Island), Thailand (Rayong and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces) and Japan (Ishigaki Island); and project components, namely: (i) capture capability survey for coastal fisheries; (ii) biological resource survey;
(iii) environment assessment and ecosystem health survey; (iv) human capability survey for coastal area; (v) development of acoustic survey equipment and systems for shallow waters; (vi) community-based set-net introduction for coastal management and HRD;
(vii) community-based fishery resource rehabilitation for coastal management and rural development, and (viii) database development, workshops and wrap-up activities. TD’s participation is focused on the implementation of the project components in the project sites in Thailand.
QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AUSTRALIA
A five-year Memorandum of Understanding between AQD and Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia was signed in November 2013 with the following objectives: (i) research collaboration including joint application for research funding and development of joint venture projects between SEAFDEC/AQD and QUT; (ii) organization of joint scientific activities such as courses, conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures; (iii) exchange of staff and/or students including guidance in research proposal drafting for staff and students who intend to enter science graduate programs at QUT; and (iv) exchange of materials and publications of common interest. Cooperative projects arising from the agreement will include relevant disciplines common to both SEAFDEC/AQD and QUT.
SAN MIGUEL FOODS INC., PHILIPPINES
AQD signed separate Letters of Agreement with San Miguel Foods Inc., a private company in the Philippines for implementation of the following collaborative research projects: (i) verification and demonstration of the efficiency of dietary immunostimulant on the yield of tilapia reared intensively in lake-based cages; (ii) evaluation of practical and eco-friendly supplemental feeding schedule for Nile tilapia in cages in Laguna de Bay (Philippines); (iii) verification and demonstration of the efficiency of immunostimulant-containing feeds in increasing yield of milkfish reared intensively in ponds and cages; and (iv) assessment of the impacts of feeds with immunostimulant as additive in terms of growth and survival of milkfish reared in brackishwater ponds. Under such Agreement, AQD would provide human resource expertise, technical assistance and qualified staff to perform the activities for the different stages of each project.
SOPHIA UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
AQD entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Materials and Life Sciences of Japan’s Sophia University on 25 June 2013.
The two collaborating parties have mutually agreed to strengthen common interest in fostering research and training programs. It is expected that the collaboration would develop cooperative and collaborative activities in the furtherance of the common goals and objectives of AQD and Sophia University. Specifically, this would involve a conduct of short-term experiments on the reproductive physiology of seahorse at AQD by professors/
researchers from Sophia University.
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE VISAYAS
AQD continued its collaboration with the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 28 January 2013. This collaborative arrangement aims to: (i) develop collaborative activities in the furtherance of the common goals and objectives of AQD and UPV; (ii) undertake collaborative instruction, research, training and extension programs; (iii) promote exchange of scientists and researchers between AQD and UPV for instruction, research, training and other related activities; and (iv) strengthen the capabilities of AQD and UPV in the fields of aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic sciences and related fields through the cooperative use of materials and facilities. The collaborative activities would cover joint undertakings in research, instruction, training and extension programs of AQD and UPV.
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO AND TOKAI UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
AQD signed an Agreement for research cooperation with two universities in Japan – the Laboratory of Global Fisheries Science, University of Tokyo and the School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, to develop and implement collaborative activities as part of the research objectives of Components 3 (Environmental Assessment and Environmental Health Survey) and 7 (Community-based Stock Enhancement of Shrimps) of the collaborative project on Coastal Area Capability Enhancement in Southeast Asia spearheaded by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). The Agreement also aims to exchange research findings and general knowledge regarding aquatic ecosystems and environments in the estuaries of New Washington and Batan Bay (Philippines) in order to promote their conservation and to enhance area capability of the local people. The other two institutions involved in this collaboration are the Aklan State University (Philippines) and the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON-COMMUNITY-PHILIPPINES
A Memorandum of Agreement was forged between AQD and Zoological Society of London- Community-Philippines (ZSL-Philippines) on 7 November 2013. ZSL-Philippines is a non- government organization mandated to promote sustainable conservation of mangroves for the benefit of coastal communities and society as a whole. Under such Agreement, AQD conducted the training course on “Mangrove Conservation, Management and Rehabilitation” on 17-22 November 2013.