Projects of DFID Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme






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Listed below are all the recent and current projects funded by AFGRP. By clicking on any project title, you will enter the website for each project, where you can find all the information related to that project. You might also be interested in information on current themes of the programme, outputs from programme development funding and all the research reports.

R8288: Assessing the sustainability of brackish water aquaculture systems in the Philippines

Summary: Aquaculture in the Philippines has experienced fast growth in recent decades but recent problems have brought this growth to a halt. If the sector is to play an important role in the development of the country, there is a need to devise new ways of expanding the sector in an economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable manner. The project seeks to contribute towards that aim by establishing the economic, social and environmental properties of existing aquaculture systems and by shedding light on the trade-offs among these properties that constrain the choice of a strategy for the sector. After establishing a typology of brackish water farms, sustainability indicators will be measured for each farm type and a multi-criteria decision making model developed to produce a ranking of farming systems. The project will make policy recommendations and determine the relevance of a multi-criteria approach to policy making in aquaculture.

Keywords: Sustainability, Philippines, Brackish-water, Aquaculture, Penaeus sp., Chanos chanos, Equity, Multi-Criteria Decision Making
Dates of Project: August 2002 to July 2005

R8287: Resource, market development and poverty targeting issues associated with emerging peri-urban and urban aquaculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

Summary: New knowledge will be distilled on natural resources, production systems, markets and socio-economic climate associated with emerging urban and peri-urban aquaculture and associated activities in sub-Saharan Africa. The role of aqua farmed production and products to improve poor livelihoods, combat poverty and food insecurity and increase fish supplies assessed while considering changing forces driving African food supplies. Institutional structures and adoption processes that influence uptake of aquaculture activities in urban and peri-urban zones investigated to ensure the needs of the poor are recognised. Outputs communicated to target institutions and stakeholders using appropriate media and pathways to stimulate constructive dialogue leading to identification of strategies for enhancing productive benefits for the poor

Keywords: Urban and Peri Urban aquaculture, development, management, capacity building, policy. Planning, Nigeria, Tanzania and South Africa, access, land, and water, tenure, seed, feed, food supply
Dates of Project: August 2002 to July 2005

R8286: Impact of production and marketing of freshwater aquatic products on rural livelihoods

Summary: The project will analyse the aquaculture activities with special emphasis on post-harvest activities (consumption, marketing systems, marketing channels, value added products etc.) and evaluate the importance and impact of aquatic foods from novel and conventional aquatic production systems. The outputs of the project are: (1) The impacts of various types of aquatic-based production on poor producers, consumers and channel intermediaries will be determined, (2) Strategies will be defined to improve benefits to poor producers, consumers and channel intermediaries through better targeting, and linking of, technical interventions and (3) Generate comparative analyses and lessons applicable to Bangladesh. Case studies from across different development stages in Asia will improve understanding of the potential developmental impacts of current actions in Bangladesh. (4) Dissemination and knowledge transfer to a wider user base will be effected. Direct uptake would be promoted through links with local institutions and farmer groups.

Keywords: Aquaculture, rural livelihoods, marketing, impact, aquatic product, freshwater.
Areas: South and Southeast Asia (Bangladesh)
Dates of Project: September 2002 to August 2005

R8119: The Impact of Aquatic Animal Health Strategies on Livelihoods of Poor People in Asia

Summary: The project will examine the flow and exchange of information, both up and down stream, within the existing networks of partner institutes using secondary data and field case studies. Brief situation appraisals on the role of aquaculture and the impact of aquatic animal health on rural livelihoods will be conducted. The uptake of aquatic animal health strategies by targe beneficiaries from previous research projects will be examined and additional data analysis performed. The findings from the project activities will provide and test generic guidelines for promoting strategies in aquatic animal health, these will be disseminated by all partner institutes to beneficiaries at the micro, meso and macro level.

Principal Investigator: Jimmy Turnbull, IoA, University of Stirling
Keywords: Aquatic animal health strategies, policies, livelihoods, shrimp, fish, Southeast Asia, Information Uptake, Access, Resources.
Areas: Southeast Asia
Dates of Project: January 2002 to January 2005

R8094: Practical Guidance for the Estimation and Allocation of Environmental Capacity for Aquaculture in Tropical Developing Countries (TROPECA)

Project Summary: The expansion of aquaculture in developing countries poses risks in exceeding environmental capacity. The possible need to control use of sustainable sites has implications for allocation and access. A collaboratinf team of UK and national scientists, working closely with an NGO and an aid funded project, will review existing approaches to the estimation of environmental capacity and associated environmental management systems. We will explore their application to a range of tropical aqautic systems in Bangladesh and Vietnam which are likely to see increased pressure from aquaculture development. We will develop and adapt these approaches to generate practical guidance for planners and aquatic sector professionals in tropical developing countries in order to increase the sustainability of aquaculture development.

Principal Investigator: John Hambrey, Nautilus Consultants Ltd, Edinburgh.
Keywords: Environmental capacity, aquaculture, environmental management, rights allocation, assimilative capacity, Vietnam, Bangladesh
Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, Vietnam
Dates of Project: October 2001 to September 2004

R8093: Risk Issues and Socio-economic Impact Associated with Outbreaks of Bacilliary Necrosis Disease (BNP) in Pangasius spp. Farmed in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

Project Summary: Culture of Pangasius spp. occurs widely throughout the Mekong Delta and is an attractive livelihood option for thousands of rural households in Vietnam. However, large scale fish losses due to disease episodes have occurred over the last 2 years throughout the production cycle, compromising livelihoods and increasing farmers' vulnerabilty to system shocks. DFID project R7463 highlighted the need for the identification of associated risk factors to detremine the impact of specific fish disease outbreaks on farming households. This project aims to develop risk reduction strategies for use by smallholder producers/consumers, reduce vulnerability of fish farming households, investigate any potential zoonosis, and provide guidance to the support and policy making agents.

Principal Investigator: Margaret Crumlish, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling
Key words: Livelihoods, community involvement, risk analysis, management tools, bacterial disease, Pangasius species, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, freshwater culture systems, ponds, and river based cages
Geographic focus: Vietnam, all S.E. Asia
Dates of Project: October 2001 to September 2003

R7917: Self-recruiting species in rural aquaculture, their role in rural livelihoods

Project Summary: Recent research has highlighted the importance of self-recruiting species (SRS) in both natural and managed habitats to the livelihoods of the rural poor. As aquaculture continues to expand through the creation of new habitats and the enhancement of natural habitats and stocks, the availability of SRS will become increasingly linked to their production within aquaculture systems. The purpose of the project is to characterise the role of self-recruiting species in different aquaculture systems, and to develop management approaches that enhance the production of, and access to, such resources for the poor where opportunities exist. These outputs, synthesised in a set of practical guidelines for aquaculture development and extension practitioners and disseminated through a wide range of direct linkages, are expected to maintain and likely enhance the output of SRS in a range of aquaculture systems.

Principal Investigator: Dave Little, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling
Key words: Aquaculture; fisheries; rural livelihoods; small native species; tilapia
Areas: Cambodia; Northeast Thailand; Northern Vietnam; West Bengal; Bangladesh; Pathum Thani, Thailand
Dates of Project: 01/11/2000 - 31/3/2004

R7591: Production of Novel strains of growth enhanced tilapia which are also reversibly sterile

Summary: The purpose of this project can be listed under 4 headings:
a) Production of new improved strains of growth enhanced tilapia using all-tilapia gene construct
b) application of reversible sterility to such strains
c) application of reversible sterility to existing strains of genetically male tilapia (GMT)
d) field testing of new strains produced in a-c above to demonstrate performance and allow assessment of risks involved in widespread exploitation

In terms of technologies involved, apart from the now routine methods of making novel gene constructs and producing lines of transgenic fish following DNA microinjection into fertilised eggs, the main new technology involved is the use of antisense DNA to antagonise specific messenger RNA and thus block the expression of genes such as those coding for GnRH (gonadotrophin releasing hormone) and LH (Luteinising hormone).

Key words: Genetically male Tilapia (GMT); novel strains; reversibly sterile
Areas: all work being carried out in Southampton, but the larger aim will be to benefit communities in Africa and Asia dependant on tilapia for their livelihoods.
Dates of Project: 01/04/2000 - 31/3/2004

R7590: Genetic status and improvement strategies for exotic carps for low input aquaculture in Asia.

Summary: The development of appropriate and sustainable strategies for genetic management and improvement of cultured exotic carp species in low input aquaculture systems. To verify these systems in participation with implementing agencies and recommend them for adoption in Bangladesh, India and Vietnam and demonstrate the potential impact of improved fish on livelihoods of the poor.

Key Words: carp; aquaculture; genetics
Areas: Bangladesh; India; Vietnam
Dates of Project: 01/04/2000 - 31/3/2004

R7284: Genetic Improvement and utilisation of indigenous tilapia in southern Africa.

Summary: The overall development objective of the project is the enhancement of livelihoods of rural poor in Southern Africa through a) the enhancement of production of fish from existing aquaculture facilities; b) the sustainable use of existing resources, infrastructure and expertise with the settlement of small scale farmers as independent fish producers; c) the building entrepreneurial capacity and improving employment opportunities in an environment of decreasing demand for farm labour and d) the increased availability of affordable fish protein through the expanded culture of low input, low cost species enhanced fish production.

Key words: enhancement of aquaculture; tilapia; genetics
Areas: Southern Africa
Dates of Project: 01/12/1998 - 31/3/2002

R7052: Improving freshwater fish seed supply and performance in smallholder aquaculture systems in Asia

Summary: A major constraint to successful aquaculture among producers is the poor and erratic quality of fish seed available for stocking. The project aims to identify and characterise the nature of quality constraints in carp and tilapia seed production in four areas of Asia and develop templates for strategies to deliver quality fish seed. A series of workshops involving farmers, hatchery and nursery operators, traders and policy makers will be held to establish current status at each locality and identify major seed quality issues. Trials on-farm and with local institutions will seek to compare and quantify performance differences between seed available to farmers. Project findings will be used as guidelines for the partner institutions to improve the focus of research and extension.

Key words: Fish seed; quality; smallholder; carp; tilapia
Areas: Bangladesh; Laos PDR; Thailand; Vietnam
Dates of Project: 01/09/1997 - 31/9/2002

The Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) is
managed by the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland. FK9 4LA. UK.
Tel: +44 1786 467900 Fax: +44 1786 451462 e-mail: afgrp@stir.ac.uk

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