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October 1999 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 11

ISSN 1025 7438

F i s h e r i e s E d u c a t i o n a n d

T R A I N I N GNumber 12 — October 1999

Editor: Michel Blanc, Fisheries Education and Training Adviser, Training Section, SPC, B.P. D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, NewCaledonia (Phone: +687 262000; Fax: +687 263818; E-mail: [email protected]). Production: Information Section, SPC. Printedwith financial assistance from the Government of France.

Contents

FEATURES p.2

SPC FISHERIES

TRAINING ACTIVITIES p.8

AROUND THE TRAINING

AND EDUCATION CENTRES

p.12

NEWS FROM THE

FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS

p.16

USP NEWS p.17

M a r i n e R e s o u r c e s D i v i s i o n – T r a i n i n g S e c t i o n

I N F O R M A T I O N B U L L E T I N

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Secretariat of the Pacific Community

This new issue of the SPC Fisheries Education and TrainingInformation Bulletin is, to a large extent, focused on seafoodquality and processing training. Training opportunities in thisarea have significantly increased in recent years, mainly be-cause of the introduction of HACCP regulations in the majorseafood importing countries of Northern America and Europe.As a consequence, seafood exporters in our region have tocomply with these regulations and put in place quality systemsthat their staff need to adhere to. To that effect, many trainingproviders now offer HACCP-related training programmes inseafood handling, processing and value-adding. In this issue,you will learn about recent seafood quality training initiativesin Tonga, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand (an SPC regionalcourse for Pacific Island women). Also of interest to ouraquaculture people, a recent workshop on Euchema seaweedin Fiji and a training programme on sea-bass (Lates calcarifer)fry production at the Asian Institute of Technology. And do notforget to send us any training information that you think will beof interest to our readers. Happy reading!

Michel Blanc

2 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 October 1999

As Pacific Island Countries implement new MaritimeCertification in line with STCW 1995, this is creatinga daunting challenge to those involved in the fishingindustries, particularly those involved in the develop-ment of the legislation applicable to fishing boats up to15 metres. These fishers must have special considera-tion as their type of fishing boat and methods of fishingcertainly do not equate to the methods used by someof the larger countries such as Australia and NewZealand. Of key importance is the need to developstringent safety standards to be common practice onboard all fishing boats. To date much of this importantdevelopment work is being undertaken by staff fromwithin the Secretariat of the Pacific Community andAngus Scotland. As a trainer working out of NewZealand, funded by the New Zealand Government, Ihave appreciated the support from these sectors. Weall appear to have the same goal�to assist PacificIsland fishers to safely harvest quality seafood productsboth for the local and export markets.

It is only eighteen months since we all became con-cerned with the new standards for the export of freshchilled products to the United States. With the supportof a network of practical trainers working throughoutthe Pacific, those fishers and processors who dependon exporting have now been accredited by the FDAand are maintaining a HACCP culture within theirworkplace. Of note is the work which has been takingplace in the Kingdom of Tonga with the support ofAkau�ola, Secretary for Fisheries; Fisheries Officer inCharge at Vava�u, Aisea Tu�ipulotu; and FisheriesOfficer in Charge at Ha�apai, �Ofa M Fakahau. All havebeen working hard to assist their local fishers primarilyin the Northern Islands. Predominantly much of thetraining being provided within the Pacific is centredaround the main islands and not the small fishingcommunities in the outlying islands. The cost of traveland sometimes the difficulty in coordinating the fish-ers, venues, and actually getting there are often thereasons for this. In Tonga the Secretary values the inputof such communities to the export potential of the

Kingdom. With this commitment to the fishing industryduring the past three years he has embarked on thedevelopment of Education and Training Programmeswhich have encompassed and encouraged all fishersthroughout Tonga to participate. As with all practicaltraining it is critical to have a continued training aware-ness. Therefore it is important that all available fundingsources are considered. The New Zealand Governmenthas made this commitment, there is no such thing as�one-off� training programmes that provide all the knowl-edge and skills you need, this is evident with the supportthat has been given to the Tongan Fishers over the pastfive years. The training programme described belowwas the first of this type to be run in Vava�u and Ha�apai.It was prepared as part one of a series of three practicaltraining programmes on fish handling and introductionto HACCP, with a brief theory component relating tosea safety and navigation.

The second training programme to be offered later thisyear will cover practical work at sea, showing thefishers new techniques in bottom long line, and, iftime and weather are favourable, long-line construc-tion and setting. Onboard processing, navigation andchart work will be included within this programme.

The third programme to be considered will be basedupon the sea safety Certificate specific to Tonga Maritimeand Fisheries requirements, similar to the Sea Safetycourses being provided by the Samoa Polytechnic Schoolof Maritime Trainings for the Samoan alia fishermen.

During the recent training programme there was anexcellent turnout by the local fishers and it was notice-able that all appreciated the support of the Ministry ofFisheries in coordinating the programmes. The pro-gramme covered the following topics:

• Current fishing methods, selection of fishinggear, line construction , and new methods thatcould be adopted in Vava�u and Ha�apai.

Seafood quality training in Ha’apai and Vava’u

By John StewartPacific Islands Development Projects

FEATURES

October 1999 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 33• The preparation of quality practices in support

of HACCP.

• The Nuku�alofa export market and its positionrelating to exporting Vava�u and Ha�apai sea-food products.

• Fish handling at sea and ashore, the cold chain,filleting and loining.

• Hygiene and sanitation practices on board andwithin the processing factory.

• Slurrying and the importance of using freshclean ice.

In addition, many hours were spent discussing theimportance of establishing a cooperative approach tothe development of the local markets, which supportsa busy tourism industry. It was evident throughout allcomponents of the training course that the fishers werecommitted to improvement but firstly needed to devel-op the infrastructure. In Vava�u this would include the

repair and minor maintenance of the processing factorywhich hopefully would provide a source of much-needed ice at a reasonable cost. Although women donot normally fish off shore in boats, in Tonga, theycertainly proved to be excellent filleting hands, andparticipated in all practical sessions. Each had a soundunderstanding of the processes involved in the prepara-tion of HACCP plans and were accomplished in theconstruction of line droppers and tying hooks on tomonofilament. The introduction of a Sea Safety Certifi-cate can only consolidate the knowledge of the Tonganfishers, however the training in quality standards mustbe a continued process. This will enable fresh chilledproducts from Vava�u to reach Nukua�lofa and the USif the quality is acceptable to the exporting companiesin Nukua�lofa. Although Tonga exports do not equate tothe ever-increasing exports of fresh chilled tuna fromSamoa, there is a strong commitment from within theindustry to provide quality products. This is evidentfrom the continued efforts made by the management ofAlatini Fisheries in Nukua�lofa to maintain a quality asthis applies to the export of fresh chilled products, withthe enthusiastic support of all their staff.

Participants at the opening session at the Fisheries meetingrooms, Vava�u.

How sharp is your knife? Participants have just completedthe knife-sharpening session and are now commencing thefilleting practicals.

Learning about HACCP and the airline freight forwardingrequirements for export fresh chilled sea food products.

Participants Pafilio Tangitau and his two sons aboard theirnew boat. After the engine has been installed, all the partici-pants went aboard to check out the cold storage capacity


The O.I.C. �Ofa M Fakahau takes over from the NZ trainerand explains the cold-chain principles

Some of the participants setting the bottom line and hoping tohave sufficient fish for the filleting session the following day

Moana Nau Master Fisher-man and skipper of the Vetepractising �iki jimi� beforeputting the fish into theslurry bin

Unaloto Kolo sharpening her knife ready for the filletingsession

Viliami Fakahau filleting

Ha�apai participants receive their course certificates

Akau�ola takes time out in Vava�u to present the coursecertificates and meet with the participants

Unaloto completes the filleting


Seafood Handling & Processing Traineeship

Since 1991, the Post-Harvest Technology section ofthe Faculty of Fisheries & Marine Environment, Aus-tralian Maritime College, has been the off-the-jobprovider for the Traineeship that offers a quality train-ing scheme for Seafood Handlers and Processors.There is in place a proven and successful course thattrains handlers and processors to a high standard forthe industry. This Traineeship, which is under theauspices of the Fishing Industry Training Board ofTasmania, provides a very effective way for employersto train existing and new staff. The 1999 session hasstarted in March and will be completed in November.

The Training Plan consists of Generic Core Modulessuch as Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) andHygiene and Sanitation, as well as Industry-SpecificModules such as Seafood Processing and Marketing.The Optional Modules (Live Holding Systems andSashimi Handling) are popular with the fishers. Thesemodules are open for non-trainees; any interestedpersons from the seafood industry may participate.Trainees have been drawn from both major seafoodprocessors in the State and smaller family businessestablishments. �This course was conducted very well�;�Should be compulsory for all seafood processors�; �Ienjoy the course very much�; �(The instructors are) veryhelpful, beyond their duties�; are some of the com-ments from both trainees and the employers.

Training Plan

Generic Core Modules

• Industrial Communications: Work responsibil-ities and relationships; Implementation of basicwork instructions and the organisation�s code ofpersonal behaviour; How to participate effec-tively in small work teams; Terms and codes ofemployment; Verbal and non-verbal workplacecommunication techniques; Processes for han-dling grievances and disputes in the workplace.

• Occupational Health and Safety: OH&S practic-es related to the workplace; Identification andreporting of health and safety hazards; First aidprocedures; Workplace evacuation procedures.

• Hygiene & Sanitation: Personal hygiene prac-tices in the workplace; Using protective cloth-

Quality Training for Seafood Industry in Australia

ing to meet workplace hygiene standards; Han-dling raw materials, consumables and prod-ucts; Using practices which prevent food con-tamination and spoilage by biological agents.

• Quality Assurance: Obtaining representativesampling of output; Identification of criticalquality control points; Identification of �out ofstandard� performances; Self monitoring.

• Cleaning and Sanitation: Selection, retrievaland storage of cleaning consumables, tools andequipment; Cleaning of work area and equip-ment (externally) to instructions and specifica-tions; Cleaning equipment (internally) to in-structions and specifications.

Industry-specific Modules

• Seafood Marketing: Distribution systems, bothlocal and export; Local and international mar-keting requirements; Determining prices; Prod-uct promotion.

• Introduction to Seafood Processing: Causeand control of seafood spoilage; equipmentused at various stages of production; Methodsof chilling and refrigeration; Basic knife skills;Fish preservation by canning, smoking anduse of chemicals.

• Industry Overview: Catching, Processing andAquaculture sectors; Main species producedand imported, Role of Government and Indus-try Organisations; Quality assurance and re-ceivable operations; Record keeping, receipt,dispatch and production levels.

• Product Handling: Assessment of quality; Cor-rect handling of chilled, frozen and live fish.

• Seafood Processing: Primary processing, fillet-ing, skinning, trimming, gutting and shuckingetc; Value-adding canning, smoking and mari-nating; Product development.

• Packaging: Role of packaging; Techniques andmaterials used; Labelling requirements for localand export markets.


I was reading an article that was published by DrWeil Witt, who is a senior lecturer in navigationsystems at the Institute of Marine Studies, Universityof Plymouth. He is a member of the steering commit-tee which organises the annual Global MaritimeDistress and Safety System (GMDSS) conference heldin Plymouth. Our region has concerns about where itstands on the implementation for its Coastal Fleets. Ihave extracted some of his concerns and interject aregional perspective.

The main strength of the system is the co-ordinatedinternational shore-based infrastructure and the sup-port of IMO. However, the strengths are outweighedby weaknesses, such as the issue of false alerts; poorequipment design; confused training needs; and ef-fects of solar activity.

In addition the press has provided mixed, and attimes, inaccurate information to the small-vessel us-ers. The recent growth of cellular-phone technologyis a major influence on user perception. The trueextent of non-compliance is not yet known. It isestimated however, that between five and 15 thou-sand ships required by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)convention to conform to be GMDSS compliantwould not have met the February 1999 deadline.

Given this, the ideal of a singular global system ofdistress safety communication will never be achieved.Even if our coastal fleets, the majority of which are notSOLAS � compliant, wish to be GMDSS�compliantthere is confusion. For example, it was stated that noVHF/DSC units which meet GMDSS requirements are

Global Maritime Distress andSafety System (GMDSS)’ s implementation in the region ?

presently available, and some of the specifications stillhave to be agreed upon. Surely the market will drivethe system. GMDSS technology is dated, there is amajor disparity in equipment costs and the capabilitiesof realistic alternatives, viz mobile phones, are con-stantly being improved. If we can call via a phone toget emergency assistance, why can�t we do this at sea?

A globular cellular phone system, named Iridium isalready in operation. Consisting of 66 satellites inearth orbit, it allows mobile phones to be used any-where in the world. Admittedly they are expensive atthe moment. A handset costs in excess of US$2,500and the usage is $3 per minute, but these costs will fall.Bill Gates is already looking at a competitive system.

All a vessel would need is a VHF/DSC and a cellularmobile phone. VHF/DSC would provide an emergen--cy broadcasting system within the local areas used byour coastal vessels. Cellular phones will provide theday-to-day communications. It should be noted thatsmall vessels in some countries are moving away fromVHF for ship-to-shore calls. This in turn must threatenthe very existence of shore stations.

In conclusion the ideal GMDSS as envisaged manyyears ago is fragmented. Technology is moving fasterthan the ability to provide legislation required toensure international uniformity. There is no quick andeasy way to provide a comprehensive GMDSS. Thereis going to be a regional seminar on GMDSS and itsimplementation given by Japan Transport Coopera-tion (JTCA) in Fiji this October. This hopefully will bea good forum to discuss some of these issues.

• Seafood Transportation: Live transport of fin-fish, shellfish and crustaceans; Transport ofprocessed (chilled and frozen) finfish, shellfishand crustaceans.

• Live Holding Systems (optional): System de-sign; Flow-through versus recirculating; re-quirements of various species; Monitoringwater quality.

• Sashimi (optional): Market requirements; Han-dle, pack and dispatch sashimi tuna; finfish, andother fish.

For more information please contact:

Dr Felicia KowSection Head Post Harvest TechnologyFaculty of Fisheries and Marine EnvironmentP.O. Box 21, BeaconsfieldAustralian Maritime CollegeTasmania 7270, AustraliaPh: +61 (0)3 63 35 4473Fax +61 (0)3 63 83 4766E-mail [email protected]


November 1999 Nadi, FijiInternal Auditors Workshop for Regulatory Authorities and Maritime Training Institutes

November 1999 Nadi, FijiWorkshop on Development of Collision and Tonnage and Load Line Regulations

March 2000 Nadi, Fiji5th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Pacific Islands Maritime Training Institu-tions and Maritime Authorities

March 2000 Nadi, Fiji2nd workshop on the development of regulations for non-convention vessels

Calendar of 1999/2000 regional maritime events

For further information please contact:

Mr Angus ScotlandRegional Marine Training AdviserRegional Maritime ProjectSecretariat of the Pacific CommunityPrivate Mail BagSuvaTel: (679) 370733Fax: (679) 370021E-mail: [email protected]


SPC FISHERIESTRAININGACTIVITIES

Nelson, New Zealand saw an increase in its PacificIsland community in April with 13 women from aroundthe Pacific attending the New Zealand School ofFisheries for four weeks. The first SPC regional coursefor Pacific Island women on seafood business opera-tions and management was held in Nelson from 12

April to 7 May 1999. The course was part of the SPCFisheries Training Section�s regional training pro-gramme on the management of fisheries enterprisesand was funded by the governments of Australia andFrance. This was the first course to specifically targetwomen, in recognition of the fact that women are

Pacific Island Women Tackle Fisheries Business in New Zealand

By Michel BlancSPC Fisheries Education and Training Adviser

Coco, a fish cutter from Tahiti, can quarter-loin freshalbacore tuna, in less than three minutes from start tofinish. Tahitian longline fishing companies send quar-ter-loined albacore tuna to markets in USA and EUcountries. Now fish companies in Fiji and elsewhereare interested in entering this lucrative market.

To learn the necessary skills, fish processors fromthree different Fiji companies attended a workshopon fish handling, fish grading, and fish cutting. Theworkshop was held by the Training and CaptureSections of the Coastal Fisheries Programme, Secre-tariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) at CeltrockHoldings Ltd�s plant in Walu Bay just outside of Suvain July 1999. SPC Fisheries Education and TrainingAdvisor, Michel Blanc, showed participants how tograde tuna, while SPC�s Masterfisherman, Steve Bev-erly, demonstrated on-board tuna handling and howto cut sashimi from a whole tuna to the final slices.Theparticipants were most interested, however, in thefish-cutting techniques used in Tahiti. Coco (FredericChung Shing), who has developed his expertise for

over ten years, does most of the cutting while the fishis hanging by its tail.

First he removes the dorsal and anal fins using a largeserrated knife. Next, with a butcher�s knife he cuts theloins away to the backbone. Then he uses the serratedknife to cut through the pin bones while he pulls theloin away from the frame of the fish with a meat hook.The rest of the job, including skinning, he does with alarge, straight-edged skinning knife on a cutting table.The result is four perfect quarter loins, ready to bewrapped and frozen or sold on local markets as freshalbacore steaks. One of the benefits of cutting fish thisway is that there is a better yield. One of the Fijicompanies that participated in the workshop reporteda 5% gain in yield from their previous methods afteremploying the newly learned techniques in their fac-tory. SPC�s Video Producer, Aren Baoa, who producestraining videos for SPC�s Regional Media Centre inSuva, videotaped the entire process. The videotape onfish cutting should be ready for viewers sometime laterthis year.

Fiji fish processors learn howto gain 5 % in yield by cutting fish theTahitian way

By Michel BlancSPC Fisheries Education and Training Adviser

October 1999 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 99playing an increasing role in the development of theseafood industry in the Pacific. A lack of expertise inseafood business operation and management and alack of opportunity for training often hampers womeninvolved in commercial fisheries enterprises. The coursereceived a large number of applicants, about 75, ofwhich one third appeared suitable. Of those 13 wereselected from PNG, Solomon Islands, FSM, Nauru,Palau, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Tokelau, Kiribati and Tuvalu.Many of the women attending came from privateenterprises and were well-qualified in terms of experi-ence. However, most of the women had never beengiven an opportunity for training before, and weretherefore keen to upgrade their technical skills andlearn new strategies to enhance their businesses. Thecourse was developed in collaboration with the NewZealand School of Fisheries and the New Zealandseafood industry to meet the regulatory and qualitycontrol requirements of international seafood markets.Subjects covered included seafood production sys-tems (HACCP, handling, quality, value adding, mar-keting); business management practices (commercialethic, personnel management and development, prob-lem solving); and business planning and accounting(spreadsheets and computers for accounting, interpre-tation of financial information, business plans). Class-room lectures were interspersed with practical ses-sions and site visits around Nelson.

So why have a course just for women? Women do playa large role in the seafood industry in the Pacific,especially the processing and marketing side, but areoften overlooked when it comes to training. Unless thecourse application specifically asks for women, it islikely that most of the applicants will be men. Twoprevious courses have been held at Nelson for PacificIsland fisheries enterprise managers. The first, in 1997,had three women out of the 13 participants while thesecond had one woman out of 12. Being in such aminority the few women tended to be overshadowedby the men on these courses. In the latest course thewomen were very comfortable with each other and

related well together�all had children being cared forby extended family and most had been occasionallyplaced into positions of responsibility in their compa-nies with no training and little support.

The Pacific Island community in Nelson made thewomen welcome, hosting a Pacific night at theSchool of Fisheries. Other extra-curricular activitiesincluded a visit to a green-lip mussel farm; white-water rafting; and sampling the sashimi and sushi ata local Japanese restaurant.

The thirteen participants left Nelson with a wide rangeof new skills and personal contacts. All recognised thevalue of the course and recommended that SPC shouldseek funding to repeat this training programme infuture years. Some women asked SPC representativesif assistance could be given to organise an in-countryfollow-up to the Nelson training. Consequently, onecourse tutor will go to Fiji in July to review OceanTrader�s HACCP plan and production systems. InAugust, Silika Ngahe, one of the two Tongan partici-pants, will run some workshops on seafood processingand business management, for the women of Ha�apaiand Va�vau. A request to fund similar workshops inHoniara was also received from the Solomon Islandparticipant, Delker Lulumani.

The enthusiasm shown by participants in Nelson wasquite rewarding for course organisers. Even moreencouraging was subsequent feedback by some wom-en, saying they were already applying in their businesssome of the concepts and strategies learnt in Nelson.The Community Fisheries and Training sections arekeen to continue with this training programme and, inJuly, a funding proposal for three consecutive courseswas submitted to NZODA.

For further information please contact :

Michel BlancFisheries Education and Training Adviser

1 0 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 October 1999

Participants of the first SPC regional course for Pacific Island women on seafood business operationsand management, held in Nelson from 12 April to 7 May 1999

Participants during a seafood handling and filleting session


Participants during a laboratory testing session

The course syllabus included visiting sites around Nelson

Classroom lectures were interspersed with practical sessions


AROUND THETRAINING

AND EDUCATIONCENTRES

Dates Meetings Places

October 1999 Port State Enforcement Workshop Nadi, Fiji

11 - 15 October MCS Fellowship Attachment FFA, Honiara

18 - 20 October 6th Infofish Tuna Trade Conference Bangkok, Thailand

8 - 12 November MCS Fellowship Attachment FFA, Honiara

October or Regional Workshop on the Code of Conduct for ResponsibleNovember 1999 Fisheries in the South Pacific

FAO/SAPA HQs & regional organisation(s)

1999 or 2000 Regional Workshop on Fishery Statistics in the South PacificFAO/SAPA,RAP HQs & regional organisation(s)

June 2000 Sixth Multilateral High Level Conference (MHLC6) Venue to be advised

Forum Fisheries Agency Calendarof Meetings Oct 1999 - June 2000 (as at 31 May 1999)

The Department of Marine Science was established in1992 and is a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary de-partment that focuses on postgraduate and undergrad-uate teaching and pure and applied research in marinescience and aquaculture.

It is the only such department in New Zealand. It hasclose ties with other departments on campus, withgovernment departments, crown research institutes

News from the Department of Marine Science, University of Otago

and industry. There are presently 13 academic staff, 13general staff and over 80 postgraduate students in theDepartment. Staff and students of the Departmentconduct research throughout New Zealand includingMarlborough Sounds, Otago Harbour, Stewart Island,Fiordland and the Subantarctic islands. There are alsolinkages with various South Pacific universities andagencies facilitating staff and student research in trop-ical marine systems.

October 1999 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 1313Qualifications offered: Postgraduate Diploma, MSc, and PhD programmes in Marine Science

Undergraduate

Earth and Ocean Science Evolution of continents and oceans; sea-floor spreading, mountain

ranges, plate tectonics; oceanic circulation and global cycles; erosion,

landslides and sedimentation on land and sea; marine biological

systems, evolution of life through the ages; oceans and climate;

the Solar System.

Marine Botany The taxonomy, biology and ecology of marine plants. Development of

an understanding of some important physical processes affecting our

planet. Topics include basic fluid mechanics, waves, tides, frictional

boundary layers, the Earth�s rotation, vortices.

Aquatic Ecology Life in freshwater and marine environments from an ecological

perspective.

Postgraduate

Mathematical Oceanography An introduction to physical oceanography. Includes general circulation

in the oceans, forces on the ocean, coriolis effects, tides and waves.

Principles of Marine Geology Marine geoscience topics including ocean basin history, geophysical

and Geophysics exploration, marine sediments and sedimentation, sediments and proc-

esses of the deep sea, slope, shelf and nearshore zones.

Principles of Marine Biology Basic topics in marine biology including marine microbiology, phyto-

plankton and primary production, seaweed biology, zooplankton bio-

logy, marine benthic ecology and fisheries biology.

Principles of Marine Chemistry An introduction to marine chemistry and its interrelationships with the

other marine science disciplines. Topics include composition of sea

water, biogeochemical cycles, carbon dioxide/carbonates and global

climate and marine organic biochemistry.

Statistics for Marine Scientists An overview of statistical skills and techniques relevant to research in

the marine sciences. Topics include sampling, analysis of variance,

regression and applications of modelling in marine science.

Field Marine Science A field and ship-based course that provides hands-on experience of

marine-science field and laboratory techniques, the use of oceanograph-

ic equipment and the analysis of data obtained from such equipment.

Specialist Topics in Physical Detailed study of physical oceanography including ocean waves,

Oceanography analysis of oceanographic data, tides, tidal analysis and ocean model-

ling. Includes field and laboratory work.

Current Issues in Marine geoscience topics of local and recent importance, including

Marine Geoscience siltation in estuaries, coastal hazard mapping, conservation of New

Zealand�s marine environment, impacts of dredging and organism-

sediment interactions. Includes field and laboratory work.

Marine Fisheries Science Fisheries modelling, survey techniques, implications of recruitment

variability, impact of fishing on non-target species, fishery management

tools and Maori issues in fisheries management.

Marine Aquaculture Techniques used for the culture of a range of marine species, with

particular emphasis on the New Zealand aquaculture industry. Includes

field trips to aquaculture operations.

Marine Conservation Biology Basic issues in marine conservation including human impacts, marine

reserves, fisheries management and the impacts of land management

practices. Includes a short trawling trip.

Conservation Biology Major conservation problems faced by marine mammals, and the

scientific techniques needed to quantify and mitigate impacts. Case

studies are used to study integration of science and management.


Coastal Marine An integrated approach to coastal marine environments such as estuaries,

Environment beaches, cliffs and inlets. Includes interactions among physical processes,

geology and history, water chemistry and pollution, and the biology of soft and

hard shores.

Marine Pollution Water quality assessment, metal pollution, pesticides and herbicides, petroleum

hydrocarbon pollution, plastics, abatement methods, cultural aspects and laws

and regulations concerning marine pollution.

Biological Adaptations Antarctic marine biology set in the context of Antarctica�s unique geography,

of Antartctic Marine geology and climate. Evolution and adaptations of marine plants, invertebrates,

Organisms fish, birds and mammals to the extreme cold of polar environments. Ecological

interactions, energy flow and effects of ozone depletion.

Subtidal Ecology/ Advanced topics in subtidal marine ecology through a series of field (SCUBA)

Research Diving excursions in southern New Zealand, lectures and laboratory sessions. Includes

taxonomy and trophic structures in different communities, techniques for

quantifying disturbance, recruitment, growth, age, predation, distribution and

abundance, community diversity and richness.

Modelling Ocean Systems An introduction to general modelling principles with particular application to

types of models currently in use by marine scientists. Includes stochastic,

dynamic, nutrient flux, analytical and numerical circulation models.

Deep Sea Biology Major topics include an overview of deep-sea environments and biota, food

supply and deep sea food webs, biological adaptations, reproduction and

growth of deep-sea organisms, deep-sea fish and fisheries, and human impacts

in the deep sea.

Research Report An approved research project on a topic in marine science or aquaculture.

Research Proposal Development of a MSc research proposal on a topic in marine science or

aquaculture.

For further information, please contact:Department of Marine Science, University of Otago

PO Box 56Dunedin

Tel: 64 3 4798306Fax: 64 3 4798336

Email:[email protected]: http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience

Background

Seabass is a species that is highly valued and in highdemand throughout Asia. Current global annual pro-duction is nearly 400,000MT, over 90% of whichcomes from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore andThailand, according to FAO statistics. Wild capture ofthis fish has plummeted to a negligible level inThailand; nearly 100% of fish in the market comesfrom cage and pond culture. Thailand was the first tomass produce seabass seed and has a long history ofhatchery production. Although many Asian countries

with coastlines have the potential to grow this fish ona commercial scale in cages or in ponds, culture hasnot expanded in the last decade primarily due to lackof fish seed supply. A need for a short training course,targeting potential hatchery producers and trainers,was realized in order to assist the culture of this fishin this region.

As a result, an intensive short training course in seedproduction of Seabass, Lates calcarifer, was success-fully organized and presented by our Aquaculture andAquatic Resource Management Program at the Asian

Seabass, Lates calcarifer, Seed Production Training

October 1999 SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #12 1515Institute of Technology (June 28 � July 16, 1999). Thiscourse was attended by participants from Vietnam,Indonesia and Columbia, South America. The coursewas held both in AIT and at the Rayong Marine Station,on the Southeastern coast of Thailand. Due to thesuccess and usefulness of this course, it is expectedthat it will be offered again in the year 2000.

The short course

This is an intensive training program lasting nearlythree weeks that covers a rather broad range of issuesin seabass seed production, from brood fish manage-ment, incubation and larval rearing to marketing. Itsuniqueness lies in being able to take advantage of�Thai experience�. Thailand has many years of expe-rience in successful commercial production of sea-bass. After orientation, the participants spent threedays learning about the general biology and reproduc-tion of seabass in a participatory and informal manner.This was followed by a series of lectures, demonstra-tions and practice preparation of brood fish, induction,green-water, rotifer and artemia production.

The second phase of this course involved the artificialinduction (theory and practice) that includes recentlyadvanced and commonly practiced techniques in Thai-land context. The participants dissected several broodfish to ascertain the various internal organs includingovaries and testes. They learned how to biopsy in orderto determine the stage of egg recruitment. Finally theyselected the most promising males and females toinduce breeding. Females and males were injectedusing appropriate hormones at recommended dosesthat participants themselves calculated. Fertilized eggswere collected and the rate of fertilization, and thepercentage of hatching assessed. Additionally, larvalsurvival was monitored throughout the training.

The third phase of this training program was dividedinto two parts. One involved nursing newly hatchedlarvae to market size (12�15 days old) using greenwater, rotifer and artemia combinations. Emphasis wason the commercial production levels in assessing thewater volume; amount of phytoplankton needed tosupport the rotifer population; and amount of rotifer andartemia needed to supply the fish larvae. Feed type andfeeding schedule is determined to meet the needs of thegrowing fry.

The second part of the third phase involved a series ofstudy tours to a number of commercial hatcheries,

broodfish producers and suppliers. These seed pro-ducers supply not only the domestic market but alsothe export market (Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kongand China). Participants were given ample opportu-nity to ask questions and interact with these commer-cial producers. Information is provided in terms ofmarket flow, price fluctuations, access to market andso on.

Additionally, the participants also visited a state-of-the-art fish-disease and diagnosis laboratory in Bang-kok (AHRI) and learned about potential parasitic andbacterial diseases that infect seabass in captivity. Em-phasis was on prevention rather than treatment.

During the practical exercise, the training course used4 females with average weight of <4 kg to produce 4million eggs. With an average hatching rate of 90%and 75% survival to 15 days (market size), it produced2.7 million fry. With a market price of US $ 0.54 per100, it had the potential to generate US $14,580 fromthis exercise.

Evaluation

Although participants felt that a great deal of informa-tion was given to them in a rather short span of time forthem be able to absorb it, they felt the training coursewas complete in scope. During the course evaluation,they also expressed that the course was able to demon-strate that the techniques used to produce seed werenot complicated. More importantly, it demonstratedhow the seed production of high-value marine speciescould be an extremely profitable enterprise with arelatively low input and infrastructure.

For further information on this training program pleasecontact:

Dr Amrit BartAssistant Professor, AARM/SERDAsian Institute of TechnologyBox 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani12120 ThailandE-mail: [email protected]: (66-2) 524-5473Fax: (66-2) 524-6200


1 Aisake Batibasaga Fiji Fisheries Snr. Fisheries Officer Training Coordinator

2 Jacob Wani SPADP Regional Aquaculture Associate Training Coordinator

3 Erik Ask USA/FMC Eucheuma Specialist Resource Person

4 Steve Why UK Eucheuma Specialist Resource Person

5 Tim Pickering Fiji/USP Gracilaria Specialist Resource Person

6 Teriihauroa Luciani SPC Fisheries Training Specialist Observer

At the end of the workshop participants expressed theneed to pursue a regional seaweed programme, ex-panding the Kiribati and Fiji successes to other suitablecountries. In fact, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoaand Tonga all subsequently asked Mr Tanaka to inves-tigate the possibility of obtaining funding to promotea Eucheuma seaweed cultivation industry. This wouldinvolve carrying out seaweed site surveys and tosetting-up demonstration farms. During last year�s SPCRegional Technical Meeting for Fisheries, it was point-

Table 1: List of resource persons

ed out that SPC would be the appropriate regionalorganisation to address aquaculture development needs.The SPC Fisheries Training Section wishes to becomemore involved in co-ordinating regional seaweed andaquaculture development.

For further information, please contact:

Terii LucianiFisheries Training Specialist

NEWS FROM THEFISHERIES DEPARTMENTS

From 10�15 May 1998, the FAO South Pacific Aqua-culture Development (SPAD) in Suva, Fiji ran aregional training course on seaweed (Euchema) farm-ing. This course was jointly arranged by FAO/SPADP,FMC Corporation (a Sea-weed buyer), Fiji Fisher-ies Division and the Uni-versity of the South Pacif-ic (USP). A total of 16 train-ees participated in thisworkshop from Fiji, Sa-moa, Solomon Islands,Tonga, Tuvalu, PapuaNew Guinea and Vanuatu.After two days in the class-room at USP, they movedto Savu Savu for field prac-tice. The course was NOTdesigned for the farmer, but for the person who willintroduce and promote seaweed (Eucheuma) cultiva-tion among coastal villagers. This person could be agovernment fisheries or agricultural officer, a repre-sentative of a non-government organisation or aseaweed supplier. Participants on this course learned

Successful seaweed workshop in Fiji

seaweed cultivation techniques (site selection, culti-vation method and post-harvest handling). Therewere also sessions on the economics of farming,discussions towards formulation of country develop-

ment plan and finally adiscussion of seaweed cul-tivation in relation to Inte-grated Coastal Zone Man-agement. Most of the ses-sions were conducted byguest speakers, Steve Whyand Erik Ask, both Eucheu-ma specialists. Their par-ticipation in this workshopwas really an asset. Thefield practice was also wellorganised. Emphasis wason learning through spo-

ken explanations, accompanied by drawings, dia-grams and by hands-on practical work during fieldpractice. Mr Tanaka and Mr Jacob Wami in the role oftraining co-ordinator did a great job of making sure thatthe course was run successfully. The following table isa lists the resource persons.


USP NEWS

Regular Academic Programmes

Core courses in all programmes are to be offeredduring the 1999.

Certificates and Diplomas

• Certificate in Earth Science and Marine Geology• Certificate in Ocean Resources Management• Diploma in Ocean Resources Management

and Policy• Diploma in Fisheries Economics and Management

Undergraduate Degrees

• Bachelor of Arts (Marine Affairs)• Bachelor of Science (Marine Science)

Postgraduate Studies

• Post-graduate Diploma• Master of Science• Master of Arts• Doctor of Philosophy

Special Programmes

• Workshop on «Aspects of coastal fisheries re-source management» (30 June - 2 July 1999).The aim is to develop management guidelinesfor both new and lightly exploited fisheries andfor co-management strategies based on systemsof Customary Marine Tenure. The workshopcombines presentations on collaborative man-agement projects in Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatuwith presentations of Country Papers outlining

current fisheries management strategies in thecountries of participants.

• Certificate in «Climate Change Vulnerabilityand Adaptation Assessment» (14 June � 1 Octo-ber 1999). This interdisciplinary programmefocuses upon assessing the influence of climateand sea-level changes on environmental sys-tems and human well-being. The training aimsto develop local expertise and forge regionalpartnerships that will enhance the capability ofPacific Island countries to assess, manage andrespond to climate change issues.

• Post-harvest Fisheries Development Project(funded by CSPODP-II).

• Draft of a rural Training Centre/Fisheries Exten-sion Module is being produced in collaborationwith the SPC Community Fisheries Section andwill be tested at the CETC fisheries pilot (Suva,Fiji, 20 September � 1 October 1999).

• Work continues on the production of fisheries/marine modules for regional primary and sec-ondary school curriculum development unitsand on the production of a seafood module forregional fisheries/maritime colleges.

Courses Attended by Staff

Vina Ram Bidesi, Coordinator of the Marine AffairsProgramme, is scheduled to commence PhD studies inAustralia in 1999. Her proposed research is on thetopic of Eco-labelling of Pacific Island Tuna: Implica-tions for Management and Development.

The University of the South Pacific - Course Programme for 1999

Target Audience

The Climate Change Vulnerability and AdaptationAssessment training courses are aimed at training

Certificate in Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

participants from Pacific Island and other developingcountries. For the Pacific Islands, the participants willbe responsible to the climate change country teamthrough the country team Co-ordinator. They will be


selected by the Pacific Islands Climate Change Assist-ance Programme (PICCAP) in consultation with theparticipating countries. Participants from developingcountries outside of the Pacific Islands region may benominated by their governments. It is preferable thattrainees have completed a bachelor�s degree in arelevant area or have equivalent experience. Thetraining courses are also available as post-graduatecredit courses for students enrolled in the Post-Gradu-ate Diploma in Marine Affairs or Marine Science at theUniversity of the South Pacific. The target beneficiariesof the training programme will be:

• Personnel from Pacific Island and other coun-tries which may include employees from Gov-ernment agencies, departments and divisions;

• Post-graduate students at the University of theSouth Pacific;

• Other regions where the training programmemay be established.

Courses

The V&A training takes a total of four months and iscomparable to two courses credits in Marine Studies.The course is offered at the Marine Studies ProgrammeFacilities at Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji. A component ofthe training involves the completion of draft nationalV&A Assessments for the trainees� home countries.

Training Goals

• To develop a pool of trained personnel in thePacific Island countries and other developingcountries who are capable of assessing climatechange vulnerability and adaptation issues.

• To build the capacities of these trained person-nel and the organisations and institutions towhich they belong to assess the influence ofclimate and sea-level changes on environmen-tal systems and human well-being.

• To provide a forum for the development ofregionally applicable and acceptable methodsand tools for assessing climate change vulnera-bility and adaptation issues.

• To establish regional linkages and partnershipswith the aim of enhancing the delivery andimplementation of capacity building activities.

• To enhance the capacity of Pacific Island coun-tries to participate in the negotiation of the

Climate Change Convention, including imple-mentation of the UNFCCC at national levels.

• To strengthen the links between policy makingand science in the Pacific and other regions andto provide greater opportunities for informedpolicy and decision making.

Training outcomes

The training programme will have products and out-comes that will contribute to building the capacities ofPacific Island countries to assess, manage, and re-spond to issues regarding climate change and variabil-ity. The specific products are: trained personnel whowill have the skills necessary to meet obligations forV&A assessment under the UNFCCC; and a draft V&Aassessment for participating countries. These draftassessments will provide the foundation for NationalCommunications to the UNFCCC on vulnerability andadaptation to climate and sea-level change.

A draft will be completed for each country by thetrainees during the courses, in order to developelements that are common to each country (egregional climate change scenarios, range of poten-tial adaptation strategies). An island-specific inte-grated assessment model will be used at the USP aswell as being transferred to other countries to en-hance their capacities for assessment and managingclimate and sea-level change issues in the Pacificregion and elsewhere.

Course Fees

For fully sponsored participants from PICCAP coun-tries, as well as those fully sponsored by other govern-ments or agencies world-wide, all costs will be cov-ered. For citizens of South Pacific countries, the coursefee is US $6,000: this covers all costs for Parts I and II,except for airfares. For other than those from the SouthPacific, the course fee will be US$8,000, which coversall costs for Part I and II, except for airfares. Please notethat all fees are subject to change from time to time.

CC: TRAIN is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) andbi-laterally funded United Nations Development Pro-gramme implemented by UNITAR in partnership withthe Climate Change Secretariat, the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP), the Inter-govern-mental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Environe-ment et Developpement du Tiers Monde (ENDA-TM),Fundation Futuro Latino Americano (FFLA) and SPREP.The Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Pro-gramme (PICCAP) is a GEF-funded UNDP programmeimplemented by SPREP and UNITAR.


will be completed by the end of June 1999. Needsassessment aims to gain insight into post-harvest fish-ery issues and the requirements for training and publicinformation. The main approach will be to select asmall number of clearly-defined, time-limited activi-ties that are manageable and have measurable results.There will also be a focus upon conducting pilotprogrammes which will test various approaches topost-harvest fisheries development. A core componentof the project is to develop information and appropri-ate training media for use in coastal communities.Because the project does not have full-time staff, USP�sability to conduct training activities in thses communi-ties is limited. The strategy will be to provide resourcesand capacity-strengthening to competent partners andalso to work closely with other USP departments andthe USP Centres. Training resources and public aware-ness campaign materials in fish handling and process-ing will be developed and implemented throughpotential partners such as fisher�s associations, non-governmental agencies (NGO�s), municipal educa-tion programs, Fisheries Department programs, RuralTraining Centres and fisheries schools. Another com-ponent of the project will be to assess the need forfisheries curricula in primary and secondary schoolsthrough the Departments of Education and to developsuitable school resources. For further information aboutthe Post Harvest Fisheries Development Project or tocontribute information about areas that may be helpfulto us, please contact:

Tony ChamberlainMarine Studies ProgrammePO Box 1168Suva, FijiTel: (679) 212879Fax: (679) 301490E-mail: [email protected]

Update on the Canadian-funded Fisheries Development Project

Needs Assessment in Progress

The Canada-South Pacific Ocean Development Pro-gram (CSPODP) is a Canadian-funded effort that hasbeen running for some years in the Pacific Islandregion and is now in its second phase. Part of thecurrent program is a three-year project in post-harvestfisheries development. Post-harvest fisheries are basi-cally anything that happens to a fish after it leaves thewater. The Post-harvest Fisheries Development Projectis based at the Marine Studies Programme of theUniversity of the South Pacific and encompasses allUSP member countries plus the Federated States ofMicronesia and Palau. The project leader is TonyChamberlain, lecturer at MSP. The overall goal is toimprove the use of inshore and nearshore fisheriesresources important to local food security in PacificIsland nations. A secondary goal is to increase thecompetence and capacity at USP to support futurepost-harvest fisheries development efforts in theregion. Specific objectives include:

• Reducing the waste of marine resources

• Reducing seafood-related illness caused by poorhandling or processing

• Increasing local food security

• Improving the incomes of fishing families in thesmall-scale and artisanal fisheries sectors

A two-phased approach was devised, wherein theinitial phase would serve to assess needs, identifypotential partners and develop an implementationstrategy, before core project activities proceeded. Theneeds assessment was begun in March by Dr. IreneNovaczek, a Canadian post-harvest consultant, and


PIMRIS is a joint project of 4 internationalorganisations concerned with fisheries andmarine resource development in the PacificIslands region. The project is executed bythe Secretariat of the Pacific Community(SPC), the South Pacific Forum FisheriesAgency (FFA), the University of the SouthPacific's Pacific Information Centre (USP-PIC), and the South Pacific AppliedGeoscience Commission (SOPAC). Thisbulletin is produced by SPC as part of itscommitment to PIMRIS. The aim of PIMRISis to improve the availability of information Pacific Islands Marine Resources Information System

on marine resources to users in the region,so as to support their rational developmentand management. PIMRIS activi t iesinclude: the active collection, cataloguingand archiving of technical documents,especially ephemera (�grey literature�);evaluation, repackaging and disseminationof information; provision of literaturesearches, question-and-answer servicesand bibliographic support; and assistancewith the development of in-countryreference collections and databases onmarine resources.

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