Information and Communication Technologies in Aquaculture: NACA’s Approach

1. Information and Communication Technologies in Aquaculture: NACA’s Approach Sih-Yang Sim, Yoothana Suansok and Simon Wilkinson Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific Suraswadi Building, Department of Fisheries Compound Kasetsart University Campus, Ladyao, Jatujak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand Website: http://www.enaca.org E-mail: naca@enaca.org

2. Introduction to NACA • Intergovernmental organization, 15 full member governments and 4 participating governments (members including China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, etc) • Coordinating network of aquaculture & related institutions in the region • Network functions by sharing information and expertise between participating institutions and through people-based networks • Providing aquaculture training to farmers, government officers, etc • Broadly focused addressing all aspects of sustainable aquaculture development

3. NACA Organization Structure • Governed by Governing Council Members • Operated and Coordinated by Secretariat, headed by Coordinator • Technical Consultation by Technical Advisory Committee and FAO • Regional Lead Centres – R & D • National Lead Centres – Implement and adapt technology to suit local conditions

4. Aquaculture • FAO definition “Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some sort of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated. For statistical purposes, aquatic organisms which are harvested by an individual or corporate body which has owned them throughout their rearing period contribute to aquaculture while aquatic organisms which are exploitable by the public as a common property resources, with or without appropriate licenses, are the harvest of fisheries”

5. Brief on Aquaculture • It is one of the fastest developing industries • Increasing concern with improper and inappropriate used of technologies and techniques: • Lead to environmental issues • Disease problems • Economics and social livelihood losses • Increasing need in proper information, technologies, and farming techniques dissemination, such as the Code of Good Management Conduct in Aquaculture • NACA is taking a step forward and making eNACA as an information hub for sustainable aquaculture development in the region

6. Traditional Information and Communication Methods in Aquaculture • Magazines – Aquaculture Asia, quarterly multilingual aquaculture magazine by NACA • Other form of publications such as workshop proceedings, reports, etc • Workshops and Seminars, for examples the recent NACA AquaBusiness Seminar and Exhibit in Langkawi, Malaysia • Study tours and field trips • Training Courses, such as a regular training course run in NACA Regional Lead Centre at Wuxi, China and the upcoming Grouper Hatchery Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

7. Limitation of Traditional Information and Communication Methods in Aquaculture • Limitation of these methods • Time consuming and less flexible • Expensive - not all people can participate • Limiting distribution • Information is easily outdated, particularly on disease issues

8. New Age Information and Communication Methods in Aquaculture • Websites http://www.enaca.org • E-mail news – Grouper Electronic Newsletter • Web based and e-mail discussion groups • CDs • Networking – Asia-Pacific Grouper Network (APGN), with fully integrated communication network on R & D in grouper and marine fish activities, ranging from Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and possibly expanding to Malaysia, Vietnam and more in the region. • Due to the success of APGN activities, strong support from ACIAR (Australia) for expanding networking activities into other R & D programs

9. New Useful Information & Communication Tools For NACA’s Websites • Search Engine • Databases – such as AAPQIS, the information from the AAPQIS has been used to develop a very resourceful and useful manual for farmers • Electronic Library – to allow institutions to access each other publications • Mail server – for electronic news, events, etc

10. Trans-Himalayan Coldwater Fisheries Network (TCFN) • Increasing awareness and important of internet technologies in aquaculture and fisheries for information exchange and dissemination • Members of NACA request to assist in establishing TCFN • Including establishing the internet and networking facilities in Nepal • This program will extend to other countries such as China, India, Pakistan, etc in the Trans-Himalayan region • The request strongly indicating the important of modern communication technologies and their application in Aquaculture and fisheries activities

11. e-Learning in Aquaculture Education and Training • In 1999, APEC funded a program on “Collaborative Aquaculture Education in the Asia-Pacific Region”, which was carried out jointly by NACA and Deakin University (Australia) • As a result, an Expert Consultation (EC) was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2000 • The EC recommended an Aquaculture Education Consortium (AEC) to be established, to develop a regional aquaculture curriculum, and also include some technical level courses to help farmers learn on-the-job • A second Expert Meeting was held in Nov 2001 in Hanoi, Vietnam, funded by FAO, and hosted by RIA No 1 • AEC was strongly supported once again

12. e-Learning in Aquaculture Education and Training • NACA and Deakin University is already working toward establishing the AEC, based on the recommendation and NACA’s 5 years Work Program • Kasetsart University (KU) was invited and two representatives attended the meeting, one from Department of Aquaculture and one from the Computer Center • NACA will look for strong link with KU in the Aquaculture Education Program, KU already connected with APAN network • To achieve the e-Learning program in aquaculture education and training, NACA seeks to build links with APAN, with its strong internet network in this region

13. Constraints of Modern Communication Technologies in Aquaculture • General Constraints • Not accessible by all, particularly less developed countries and remote areas where internet access can be a problem (but can be limiting as information can be distributed by extension workers, and some conventional extension mechanisms like radio and TV are also useful in some areas) • Language issues

14. Constraints of Modern Communication Technologies in Aquaculture • Specific Constraints • NACA is currently connection at 64 Kbs ISDN line, low speed internet connection • High cost of internet connection, NACA is not a profit oriented organization, therefore cost is the major limiting factor for further expansion of its services, Most NACA aquaculture information are distributed at cost or free, free particularly to academic institutes, research institutes, and governments

15. Future Expansion and Collaboration • NACA would like to expand its internet & website capacities and also looking at upgrading server capacity • Organization interested in providing assistance or work in collaboration please contact us or visit our HQ in Bangkok • To find out more of our activities please visit our website at http://www.enaca.org

16. Thank You