The library is at Balai Budidaya Air Payau (Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre) Ujung Batee, about 16 km out of Banda Aceh. BBAP Ujung Batee was badly damaged in the December 2004 tsunami. One part of the facility (Neuheun site) is being rebuilt by the Japanese government, while the main site is being rebuilt by the Australian government under the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD).
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is funding (also under AIPRD) a project to build capacity amongst BBAP Ujung Batee staff to allow them to support the development of coastal aquaculture in Aceh. This project has three main activities:
1. implementation of Better Management Practices for shrimp aquaculture;
2. strengthening of fish health services, including testing for shrimp viral pathogens;
3. production of high-health seedstock of established species, and production of 'new' aquaculture species to allow production diversification in coastal aquaculture.
BBAP Ujung Batee functions as a focal point for the dissemination of aquaculture technologies to the coastal aquaculture industry in Aceh. To support this function, a good reference library is essential. Many reference books were lost in the December 2004 tsunami, along with the laboratory and much of the seed production infrastructure.
To date the following agencies have donated books and reference material to help rebuild the BBAP Ujung Batee library:
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
- World Aquaculture Society (through its Outreach Committee)
- Aquaculture without Frontiers / Michael New