Report
Accelerating the development of finfish mariculture in Cambodia through south-south research cooperation with Indonesia
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
2023
Abstract
The overall aim of FIS/2016/130 was to accelerate the development of finfish mariculture in Cambodia through a South-South Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) between Cambodia (beneficiary partner), Indonesia (pivotal partner) and Australia (facilitating partner). The project leveraged previous and ongoing ACIAR R&D investments in finfish mariculture at RICAFE Maros, South Sulawesi, and IMRAFE Gondol, Bali, to train researchers from the Department of Aquaculture Development, Fisheries Administration, Cambodia, in fish nutrition and feed development, larval rearing, and disease diagnosis.
Training of Cohort 1 (2018–19) FiA staff was through work-integrated learning whereby the training was integrated into the ongoing research activities at RICAFE Maros (fish nutrition and feed development) and IMRAFE Gondol (larval rearing and disease diagnosis). However, due to travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, training of Cohort 2 (2020–21) trainees was undertaken using online delivery.
A total of 17 FiA staff (6 female and 11 male) were trained to the equivalent of AQF 8 (Graduate Certificate) level. In addition to improved technical skills provided by this training, the trainees noted that the training provided them with improved non-technical skills: improved communication skills; enhanced teamwork; improved English language capability; increased professional networks.
A gendered value chain analysis of finfish mariculture in Cambodia found that women participate in all nodes of the value chain, except going on fishing boats catching the ‘trash’ fish. The fish farm is perceived as a family business, in which men, women and youths participate equally. Women are dominant in trade-related nodes, both as traders of ‘trash’ fish and of the farmed fish. Men are more present in the fingerling trade and as farmed fish wholesalers. This study identified a range of constraints to the continued development of sustainable mariculture in Cambodia, many of which are being addressed through the training provided under FIS/2016/130.
Research on rabbitfish (Siganus spp.) in Indonesia and in Australia demonstrated that Siganus guttatus can be produced in moderate quantities using extensive larval rearing methods in brackishwater ponds. Research undertaken in Indonesia on the nutritional requirements of S. guttatus has provided information suitable for the development of compounded feed for this species, including the optimal protein requirement (35% crude protein). Due to the ability of rabbitfish to elongate and desaturate short- and medium-chain fatty acids, rabbitfish diets can substitute cheaper lipid sources, such as palm oil, for
the more expensive fish oil that is commonly used in fish feeds. The research on S. guttatus has generated local interest, including from a commercial hatchery in South Sulawesi, and amongst brackishwater pond farmers.
Linked post-graduate research in Australia on the application of seaweed as a functional ingredient in fish diets showed that the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis boosted innate immune responses and growth rates in an herbivorous marine finfish (rabbitfish – Siganus fuscescens) and in a carnivorous catadromous finfish (Atlantic salmon – Salmo salar). Overall, these results indicate that the inclusion of seaweed as a functional ingredient in fish feeds has the potential to improve the welfare, productivity and environmental sustainability of the aquaculture industry.
An evaluation of the SSTC approach used in FIS/2016/130 concluded that the utilisation of SSTC can contribute to ACIAR’s role of supporting research collaboration to improve livelihoods in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, while emphasising individual and institutional capacity-building and opportunities for development led by the private sector. Specifically, SSTC approaches are useful for: scaling out R4D outcomes, in cases where ACIAR has a long-term investment in R4D in one country that is in demand by other partner countries; in bridging technological gaps between Australia and developing countries, by utilising the intermediate technologies and capabilities of a third country as a pivotal partner in SSTC; supporting partner countries to shift from beneficiaries to aid partners; and supporting South-South Cooperation approaches in partner countries. Operationally, SSTC approaches can be incorporated in ACIAR projects with minimal modifications to existing procedures:
The project also undertook a gendered evaluation of progression opportunities at the two Indonesian partner laboratories. At one institute, perceptions were that there is no discrimination of any sort, either in terms of gender or in terms of other personal characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, background or other, nether in the institute nor in the community at large. At the second institute, we found that some aspects scored consistently lower for females than for males, which appeared to reflect that there is less access for females to administrative and management training and thus it is recommended that access of female researchers to administrative and management training be improved.
Details
- Title
- Accelerating the development of finfish mariculture in Cambodia through south-south research cooperation with Indonesia
- Authors
- Mike Rimmer (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringNick Paul (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringSilva Larson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringValentin Thépot (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringSomony Thay (Author) - Fisheries AdministrationHav Viseth (Author) - Fisheries AdministrationAsda Laining (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionUsman Usman (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionRachman Syah (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionAndi Indrajaya Asaad (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionMuhammad Chaidir Undu (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionHaryanti Haryanti (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionN.A. Giri (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionSuko Ismi (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionKetut Mahardika (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionZafran Zafran (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionAhmad Muzaki (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionYasmina Nirmala Asih (Author) - Institute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries ExtensionStewart Fielder (Author) - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesIgor Pirozzi (Author) - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
- Publication details
- 79 pages
- Publisher
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
- ISBN
- 9781922983213
- Copyright note
- © Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) 2021 - This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from ACIAR, GPO Box 1571, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia, aciar@aciar.gov.au.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99739998602621
- Output Type
- Report
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