Category Archives: Updates

AwF Director Dave Conley planning to attend McGill Conference on Global Food Security

AwF Director Dave Conley, located in Ottawa, Canada, is planning to attend the Fourth McGill Conference on Global Food Security – Risks and Threats to Food Security – which will be held on October 4-6, 2011 in Montreal, Canada.  Dave was an invited speaker at the Second McGill Conference in 2009 and gave a presentation on Aquaculture and Food Security.

Through plenary sessions and cross-sectoral dialogue, the annual Conference is designed to produce concrete outcomes that will lead to improving the availability of a secure and safe food supply for people suffering from hunger and malnutrition around the world.

It is evident that the gains made in food production over the past few years are now rapidly eroding due to higher global food prices (37% higher, on average, than one year ago), rising food price volatility, increased energy costs, reduced crop yields due to recent natural disasters in many parts of the world, and political instability in some regions. These threats and risks to food security are most serious in countries that depend heavily on food imports to meet the nutritional needs of their populations, and where food producers are faced with rising costs of production and limited access to markets. The 500-million small-farmers in developing countries who support almost 2-billion people – or one third of the world’s population – continue to be severely affected by these threats and risks. 

Natal fundraiser yields US$4,500 contribution to AwF

At the recent World Aquaculture 2011 conference held in Natal, Brazil, local organizers held a fundraiser that resulted in a contribution of US$4,500 to further the activities of AwF. The Board of Directors would like to acknowledge the efforts of Ricardo Martino, Patricia Moraes-Valenti, Karina Ribeiro, Joao Manoel Alves and the Guabi team, the students, and especially Itamar Rocha and ABCC/FENACAM for organizing and managing this successful event – please click here.

Sustainably farmed seafood holds key to future global food security

A new and comprehensive analysis released by the WorldFish Center and Conservation International (CI) has investigated the environmental impact of the world’s major aquaculture production systems and species, and today offers a first-ever global assessment of trends and impacts of cultivated seafood. The analysis has found that, from the 75 species-production systems reviewed, more production means more ecological impact, but that compared to other forms of animal protein production such as livestock, aquaculture is more efficient.

The report, “Blue Frontiers: Managing the environmental costs of aquaculture”, along with a companion policy recommendations paper, was released today in Bangkok, Thailand at the ASEAN SEAFDEC Conference (Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center) on “Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020”. It concludes that the demand for aquaculture products will continue to grow over the next two decades as a key source of animal protein for growing urban populations, and that the industry needs to meet this demand with improved efficiencies and reduced environmental impacts.

The History of Aquaculture now available

We would like to bring your attention to the new book – The History of Aquaculture – by Colin E. Nash and published by Wiley-Blackwell. Many of you may know Dr Nash, or be familiar with his work in aquaculture research, which he did for more than four decades. He was also the chief editor for Aquaculture for ten years; the director of the program for FAO Aquaculture Development, the technical director of France’s Cofrepeche, and finally most recently NOAA.

The Washington Fish Growers Association (WFGA) is selling copies signed by the author, who lives in the Seattle area.

Information on how to order is posted at the WFGA website.

Dr Madhav Shrestha honoured for contributions in Nepal

We at AwF are pleased to inform you that Dr Madhav Shrestha, who co-manages our AwF-Nepal project, has received an award from the Prime Minister of Nepal for his continuous dedication and contributions to Agriculture / Aquaculture Development in Nepal. Dr Shrestha was recently promoted to full Professor at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS), Chitwan, Nepal.

Professor Shrestha, an Alumnus of the Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AARM) program (MSc’ 92, PhD’94) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT),  has served as a collaborative partner and played a critical role in launching several successful AARM projects in Nepal. The following are the major collaborative projects launched over the past decade:

• Women in Aquaculture project (2000 – 2006)
• Curriculum Development project (2005-2008)
• Aqua-Internship project (2008-2010)
• Aqua-Internship Project II (ongoing)
• AwF-Nepal Project, Aquaculture without Frontiers
• Several PD/A CRSP / Aquafish Projects (USAID)

In addition to these, he has been very successful in winning funding for a number of projects from national funding agencies and successfully launching them for the benefit of local communities throughout the country. He was also the key person who organized a national symposium on ‘Small-Scale Aquaculture in Nepal’ during 5-6 February 2009.

The award ceremony was held on May 17, 2011.

Dr Madhav Shrestha (center) presented with his award by the Prime Minister of Nepal

Aqua-Internship: a hands-on learning opportunity

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) have agreed to collaborate to provide placements for Aqua-Internships on all AwF projects, where possible. Many details still need to be worked out but if you are interested in this opportunity and have questions, please contact the Aqua-Internship Coordinator below and/or visit the Aqua-Internship website.

Ram C. Bhujel, PhD
Coordinator, Aqua-Internship: Asia Link Program
Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AARM)
SERD, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
PO Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, THAILAND

Tel: +66 02 524 5222 Fax:+66 02 524 6200
Mobile + 66 081 734 6934
Email: bhujel@ait.asia

AwF-Nepal Phase II project showing positive results

A recently received report on the first year of our AwF-Nepal: Phase II project states that a significant increase in fish consumption is possible from small-scale aquaculture. During the first year, per capita fish consumption rose to around 10 kg (assuming 4 members in the family), whereas the  national average is less than 2 kg.  Fish can play a significant role in meeting the needs of people for animal protein and results clearly show the potential of small-scale aquaculture to reduce malnutrition in poor rural families.

Good results, however, depend on good management; production can suffer if the ponds are not managed properly. It was observed that enthusiastic farmers achieved much higher yields than their less dedicated neighbours. Higher production was also achieved from ponds situated close to animal sheds from which animal urine is drained. As a result of their success, farmers are very happy and planning to add more ponds.

AwF-UA farmer-to-farmer programme trip report for Haiti now available

As a result of the successful AwF co-sponsored workshop on Tilapia Aquaculture in Haiti held in New Orleans, USA, at the end of February 2011, John Hargreaves travelled to Haiti in mid-April. Accompanied by Bill Mebane, of the Marine Biological Laboratory Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative, the AwF volunteer visited tilapia aquaculture production sites and fish farmers to provide advice and assess opportunities. Activities were focused on Lake Azuei, a hatchery near Croix de Bouquet, and a hatchery near Leogane.

To read his trip report, click here.

Michael New honoured by Asian Fisheries Society

Michael New, AwF Founder, was honoured by the Asian Fisheries Society on April 21 with a Gold Medal Award during The 9th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum at Shanghai Ocean University in China. Unfortunately, Michael was unable to attend the event but AwF Director, Patrick Sorgeloos, who did attend, kindly received the award on Michael’s behalf. The citation of Michael’s Gold Medal Award recognizes his contribution to regional aquaculture development and his work with WAS/EAS/AwF. In 2010, he was given the Exemplary Gold Medal by The World Aquaculture Society for his services to the Society.

Two more AwF-UA farmer-to-farmer programme trip reports received

We recently received two more reports from the AwF-UA Farmer-to-Farmer Programme, which are now posted on our Projects page. They are:

• MEXICO: AwF-UA Farmer-to-Farmer Programme (Trip Report, March 2011) PDF
• TRINIDAD: AwF-UA Farmer-to-Farmer Programme (Trip Report, March 2011) PDF