First Regional Workshop On Strategies And Options For Increasing And Sustaining Fisheries and Aquaculture Production To Benefit Poor Households In Asia, ADB-RETA 5945
20-25 August 2001
The WorldFish Center
 Batu Maung, Penang, Malaysia

Background
In January 2001, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the project proposal of the Policy Research and Impact Assessment Program (PRIAP), The WorldFish Center entitled "Strategies and Options for Increasing and Sustaining Fisheries and Aquaculture Production to Benefit Poor Households in Asia". The project covers the nine developing member countries (DMCs) of ADB namely, Bangladesh, PR China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. The study involves collaborative work among teams of fisheries management specialists, economists, and aquaculturists, extension experts and other relevant disciplines from the participating DMCs, and The WorldFish Center, as well as close interactions with various regional and international organizations.

The main objective of the project is to assist the nine DMCs in developing appropriate strategies for helping poor (often landless) fisherfolk to escape poverty, and in identifying appropriate fish species and technologies in aquaculture and fisheries management to increase fish production and improve the income and nutrition of poor fishers and fish farmers, and to protect the fisheries resources.

Specifically the project aims to:

• formulate strategies and an action plan for increasing fish production, improving nutrition and income, and protecting fisheries resources so as to benefit poor fish producers and low-income consumers;
• determine the most viable and sustainable aquaculture and fisheries practices (including prioritization of fish species, farming systems, fishing technologies and management practices) that are of critical importance to poor fish farmers and fishers as well as low-income consumers;
• analyze and forecast fish production and consumption by fish species and income groups to evaluate the market potential for alternative fish products of poor farmers and fishers and to identify fisheries management options for increased participation by small-scale fishers; and
• strengthen the capacity of the DMC participating institutions in fisheries policy research in monitoring the impacts of changes in policy, technologies and markets on poor households.

Project Components
Five interrelated research components have been identified to implement the activities of the project.

These are:

Component 1. Profile of Key Aquaculture Technologies and Fishing Practices

Component 2. Analysis of Policies, Institutional Environments and Support Services in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Component 3. Socioeconomic Profile of Major Stakeholders in Fisheries and Aquaculture (Producers, Consumers and Traders)

Component 4. Analysis of Fish Supply and Demand and Projections

Component 5. National Action Plans

Workshop Objectives
The general objective of the Workshop is to discuss and finalize the methodologies, analytical framework, survey design and implementation arrangements including a detailed workplan for the Project.

Specific objectives are to:

• Present and review the profile of key aquaculture technologies and fishing practices (Component 1) and policies, institutional environments and support services in fisheries and aquaculture (Component 2) in the nine DMCs;
• Finalize the methodology, analytical framework and survey design in implementing Component 3: Socioeconomic Profile of Major Stakeholders in Fisheries (Producers, Consumers and Traders) and Component 4: Analysis of Fish Supply and Demand and Projections, and workplans for training, workshop and other components; and
• Discuss administrative matters in line with the project operations.

Organizers
The Workshop is implemented by WorldFish Center through the ADB-funded project ''Strategies and Options for Increasing and Sustaining Fisheries and Aquaculture Production to Benefit Poor Households in Asia'' (ADB-RETA 5945).

Workshop Activities
List of activities from 20 to 25 August 2001.

Contact Person
Dr. Mahfuzuddin Ahmed
Project Coordinator, ADB-RETA 5945
Program Leader
Policy Research and Impact Assessment
The WorldFish Center
Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung
11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang MALAYSIA
Telephone: +60 4 - 626 1606 ext. 420
Fax: +60 4 - 626 5530
E-mail: m.ahmed@cgiar.org