Aquaculture CRSP
At its inception, the Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP had a single, main
theme-that of a common set of experiments to be implemented globally, following
a standard experimental protocol at a number of research sites around the
world. The Global Experiment, as it came to be called, was intended to
facilitate comparative studies of aquaculture pond dynamics; such studies would
help lead to an understanding of how and why ponds at different geographic
locations function differently, and how the management of aquaculture ponds
might be fine-tuned or adapted to different sets of environmental conditions to
optimize production.
As CRSP research progressed, it became apparent that there were important
additional needs to be addressed. To meet these additional needs, research
components were added, so that in the past few years the main core of the
program has included three components:
*The Global Experiment
*Special Topics Research in Host Countries
*Data Analysis and Synthesis
This main core of CRSP activities has been augmented by supplemental activities
that are associated with the main components and complement them in unique
ways. These supplemental activities have included socioeconomic studies,
soil-water interactions research, the development of simple new techniques for
the evaluation of pond conditions, and studies to develop improved techniques
for fish reproduction.
The long-range goal of the CRSP is to increase the efficiency of pond culture
operations. This goal benefits less-developed countries by increasing the
availability of animal protein and can also improve the economic efficiency of
aquacultural production in any country, including the U.S. A technical plan
consistent with this goal was developed under a planning study funded by USAID
in 1981. Under this planning study, the literature on state-of-the-art pond
culture was reviewed and synthesized, resulting in the publication of the first
edition of Principles and Practices of Pond Aquaculture. Overseas sites were
surveyed to determine research needs and the potential for the establishment of
research projects.
The technical plan that evolved from the planning study called for the
establishment of research projects at seven sites in six countries. Two
brackish water and five freshwater research projects were begun at sites in
Central America (Panama and Honduras), Africa (Rwanda), and Southeast Asia
(Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines) in 1983. All of the sites were
within a zone 15 degrees north or south of the equator and represented the
three major tropical regions where advances in pond aquaculture would be most
beneficial and most apt to succeed. Subsequent changes (primarily in response
to funding constraints) in the CRSP program required that research be continued
only at the sites in Thailand, Rwanda, and Honduras; still, the three original
tropical regions continued to be represented.
The CRSP program expanded in 1991 with the initiation of a companion site in
the Philippines and the beginning of a new project in Egypt. The research
conducted in Egypt greatly increased the scope of the program by adding an arid
sub-tropical site to the program, which had previously included sites only in
relatively humid areas. Although research activities in Egypt ended in March
1995, the research begun there will continue at other sites during the next
grant period. In 1993, research in brackish water environments was resumed with
the addition of a coastal site in Honduras. In 1994, the tragic events that
unfolded in Rwanda made it necessary for the CRSP to withdraw from that
country; the selection of a new Africa site continues.
The CRSP Technical Committee has had the responsibility for developing
technical work plans throughout the CRSPs history. The first three CRSP Work
Plans, outlining annual research programs that were almost exclusively global
in nature, covered activities from 1 September 1984 through 31 August 1987. The
First Work Plan specified a standard procedure for the preparation and stocking
of ponds; the concept of a standard protocol for research at all sites has been
maintained throughout the program. These standards have evolved into the CRSPs
Handbook of Analytical Methods, which was completed and distributed to
participants in 1992.
In response to recommendations of the External Evaluation Panel during the
first triennial review, the Fourth Work Plan and all plans developed since have
been based on a biennial schedule to allow more time to complete and evaluate
experiments before planning new ones. This change in the planning procedure is
the logical outcome of the need to test hypotheses that develop directly from
the results of previous CRSP experiments. Another significant change that began
with the Fourth Work Plan is that site-specific studies have also been
included. Although the global aspects of CRSP research are maintained by
conducting similar experiments (referred to as the Global Experiment) at the
various sites and by conducting these experiments in a standardized manner,
other experiments are adjusted to more directly address the needs of
aquaculture producers in the country or region where the research is taking
place.
The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Work Plans covered research conducted in
two-year periods from 1987 through April 1995. The Interim Work Plan was
developed during the current reporting period for activities undertaken between
the end of the third and the initiation of the fourth CRSP grant, which is
anticipated for May 1996. The abstracts in the following section summarize
research activities during this reporting period. The abstracts are unedited,
and are printed as submitted by the authors.
PD/A CRSP
