Introduction

Recognizing the importance of policy research on fisheries and aquaculture, ICLARM - The World Fish Center is implementing the project "Strategies and Options for Increasing and Sustaining Fisheries and Aquaculture Production to Benefit the Poor Households in Asia'' with financial support from the Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) umbrella of the Asian Development Bank (ADB-RETA 5945). The Project is being implemented in nine developing member countries (DMCs) of ADB (namely, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) for a three-year period (March 2001 - February 2004).

This Project outputs will enable DMCs to (i) improve fisheries policies affecting resource allocation and choices about technology, and (ii) set targets of investments and development to address poverty and increase fish production. The projections of trends and prospects for the fisheries sector in Asia will provide DMCs and development agencies, including ADB, with a reliable and disaggregated picture of fisheries in the region. The information will enable development agencies to formulate country strategies and options for fisheries development and set development and investment priorities geared toward poverty reduction and food security improvement. The research will further enhance ADB's commitment to support DMCs efforts to provide a reliable and adequate supply of nutritious food at prices affordable to different income groups, especially the low-income group. This research is in line with ADB's fisheries policy and investment objectives, which emphasize on (i) policy support for the development of long-term sustainable fisheries management; (ii) capacity building for development and resource management; (iii) crating and strengthening productive capacity, infrastructure, and services; and (iv) regional cooperation.

Objectives

The general objectives of the Project are to assist the developing member countries in (i) developing appropriate strategies for helping poor (often-landless) fisher folk to escape poverty, and (ii) 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.

The specific objectives are to (i) 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; (ii) 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 as fishers as well as low-income consumers; (iii) 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 (iv) 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.

To date, ICLARM has submitted two reports: 1) a Progress Report (March - June 2001) and 2) a Project Inception Report (March - August 2001) to ADB in June and October 2001, respectively. This technical report discusses the progress of activities and accomplishment of the Project from September 2001 to February 2002.