Marine fish hatchery training course for the Philippines
Determining the sexual maturity of grouper
broodstock for induce spawning.
The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) is pleased to announce the first in-country marine fish hatchery training course for the Philippines.
This training course is fully funded by the Australia Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and is being undertaken in cooperation with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center's Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD).
The funding course will allow transfer of marine fish production technologies developed in the Philippines and Indonesia to Philippines hatchery operators to assist them to diversify their production into marine fish species, such as grouper. This diversification will allow small scale hatchery operators to switch between species in accordance to market demands.
The objective of the training course is to disseminate marine fish (including grouper) hatchery technologies that have been developed by various institutes and projects in the Asia-Pacific region. For example, the marine fish projects of ACIAR, Research Institute for Mariculture Gondol, the Technology Implementation Units of the Directorate General of Aquaculture (DGA), Indonesia; the Krabi Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre (CFRDC) of the DOF Thailand; and SEAFDEC/AQD are synchronized for this training course. The training is focused on small-scale hatchery systems which can be used for multiple species, including barramundi / seabass and groupers. Although the technology is specifically developed for small-scale hatcheries, it can also be adopted by medium- and large-scale hatcheries.
The training course is jointly organized by NACA and SEAFDEC/AQD and will be conducted in Tigbauan and Guimbal, Iloilo. The overall training activities, both theory and hands-on practical will be conducted by the SEAFDEC/AQD. The application for the ACIAR funding is now opened and the deadline for submission of the application is 17 March 2008.
Target Groups
Participation will be limited to Philippines residents/citizens only. A total of 10 fully funded positions are available from ACIAR. Priority will be given to participants from the commercial/private sector in order to foster the development of commercial marine fish aquaculture in the Philippines. The main target groups are hatchery/nursery operators and technicians who are already involved in hatchery business/activities. Farmers and grow-out operators who are interested to venture into hatchery business are also welcomed. A limited number of candidates from government and R&D sectors will be provided with funding support if they meet the selection criteria. It is anticipated that the total number of candidates from government and R&D sectors would not be greater than two. Self funded participants from government and R&D sectors may be considered by the organizers to participant in the training course but places will be limited to a maximum of three.
Selection Criteria for ACIAR Funding Candidates
All the selected participants for ACIAR funding support should meet the following selection criteria:
1. He/she must be currently working in brackishwater or marine aquaculture sector as farmer, hatchery/nursery/grow-out operator, technician or technical personal.
2. He/she should have hand-on day-to-day works in the aquaculture production facilities.
3. As the focus of this funding support is for commercial sector, private sector applicants will be given the priority.
4. If the participant comes from government or R&D sector, preferably his/her age should not be more than 30 year old, and they should meet criterion No.2.
5. No administrative staff will be considered under the funding as this is a technical training course designed to train technical personnel.
For a copy of the format and instruction for the application of the ACIAR Funding Support for the Marine Fish Hatchery Training Course in the Philippines, please contact SEAFDEC/AQD [Dr. Joebert Toledo, Chief] at aqdchief@seafdec.org.ph or APMFAN [Mr. Sih Yang Sim, Coordinator] at grouper@enaca.org