KENYA

Collaborating Institutions

Kenya Fisheries Department, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife

PI to be named


Oregon State University - Lead US Institution


Chris Langdon
James Bowman

Auburn University

Thomas Popma
Karen Veverica
Joseph Molnar


University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Peter Perschbacher
Rebecca Lochmann


Introduction

The Africa Project of the Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP consists presently of Oregon State University (OSU), Auburn University (AU), the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), and the host country entities. The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife of OSU will serve as the lead US institution and will coordinate all activities conducted as part of the Africa Project. OSU will establish a Memorandum of Understanding with the host country for the conduct of the research. OSU and AU will normally conduct research as an integrated team, conducting joint activities through one on-site US researcher. In-country activities of UAPB will be coordinated through OSU to ensure efficient use of facilities and coordination with the host country Principal Investigator. All US and host country Principal Investigators (and on-site researchers when possible) will meet at least once each two-year period to prepare and coordinate work plans, proposals, publications, and budgets. This planning team will also meet at each Annual Meeting and during on-site trips to facilitate management and planning of project activities.

This first Work Plan for the Africa Project includes new site development activities such as modifying the chemistry laboratory and equipping it to handle CRSP analyses, renovating ponds to fit CRSP requirements, training lab and pond personnel, and characterizing the site soils, source water, and weather. Such activities were not foreseen in the preproposals developed for Rwanda. Project equipment and supplies lost in Rwanda must be replaced to establish a new CRSP site in Africa. This work plan is adapted to the present most likely site, at Sagana, Kenya. Scheduling for all activities will be adjusted as necessary, depending on the actual dates on which an MOU is established and on-site work can begin.

Other activities in this Work Plan address aquaculture development constraints and research priorities identified in the PD/A CRSP Continuation Plan for the period 1996-2001, including optimization of production/management strategies through more efficient use of fertilizers and feeds (Activities 3 and 4), use of supplemental feeds (Activity 3), increasing control over tilapia reproduction and fingerling production (Activity 2), conducting training activities in basic pond management practices (Activity 5), and regionalizing the benefits of the CRSP research program through outreach activities (Activity 6). The Africa Project will also support activities in the Work Plans of collaborating institutions and projects, such as those investigating soil-water interactions and the role of pond soils in pond dynamics, socio-economic studies, and the collection and organization of information for use in GIS and decision support systems such as the CRSPs POND program.

Chris Langdon and Tom Popma (Principal Investigators, OSU and AU, respectively) will have general oversight and coordination responsibilities for all Africa Project activities. Jim Bowman (Co-PI, OSU) will be responsible for general project support, for the soil characterization aspects of Activity 1, and for coordination of PD/A CRSP activities with InterCRSP activities in West Africa. Karen Veverica (Co-PI, AU) will be the on-site US researcher at the prime Africa Project site. Responsibilities will include overseeing development and renovation activities at the new site and implementing other Work Plan activities, both at the prime site and in the region. Other studies approved by the CRSP to be undertaken at the Africa Project site(s) will be coordinated with and through the OSU and AU PIs to the extent they require on-site visits and support.

Investigations to be Conducted

1. New Site Development and Characterization
2. Strain Variations in Sex Ratio Inheritance
3. Relative Contribution of Supplemental Feed and Inorganic Fertilizers in Semi-Intensive Tilapia Production
4. Nutritional Contribution of Natural and Supplemental Foods for Nile Tilapia: Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis
5. Training
6. Regional Outreach in Africa