Monday, December 7, 2009

Happy new year !

I am currently on leave with the kiwis and will resume my posting at the beginning of 2010


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU, MERRY XMAS !
MALIGAYANG PASKO !

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Aquaculture in Africa / December update

People interested in joining a network on aquaculture in sub-saharan Africa, please consult http://www.sarnissa.org/. Disclaimer: This is not an extensive review of aquaculture in each country, this is a digest of the news about aquaculture in Africa released on Internet this month. The validity of any information or figures quoted is the responsibility of the individual newspapers and websites concerned. Also please check previous updates: August 2009, September 2009, October 2009, November 2009.

This page is updated irregularly but frequently. To easily monitor changes, you can use this firefox extension: Update Scanner

Africa
  • WorldFish Center explores challenges to the sustainability of fisheries posed by climate change
The WorldFish Center has highlighted the importance of understanding the linkages between climate change, livelihoods and food security. To address this, it is following an ambitious programme of research in the following four areas: (1) diagnosing vulnerability to climate change ; (2) understanding current coping mechanisms and adaptive responses ; (3) contributing to mitigation, and (4) building the capacity to respond and adapt. Studies diagnosing vulnerability of 132 national economies found that those fisheries at most risk are in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Two thirds of these countries are in Africa where fish may provide more than half the total animal protein consumed. The Niger River basin which has a long history of vulnerability to drought and reduced river flow has been the focus of one initiative. WorldFish, working through the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food, is looking to identify threats to fishing-dependent communities and help government partners design adaptive policy approaches that improve water productivity and strengthen livelihood resilience. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is working with partners to refine integrated aquaculture-agriculture technologies to improve water productivity on farms, and combat the damaging effects of climate change on people's livelihoods [2].
  • Fisheries, Aquaculture face multiple risks from climate change
A new report, published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, predicts "an ocean of change" for fishers and fish farmers. It warned that urgent adaptation measures are required in response to opportunities and threats to food and livelihood provision due to climatic variations. The study, 'Climate change implications for fisheries and aquaculture', is one of the most comprehensive surveys to date of existing scientific knowledge on the impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture. Covering some 500 scientific papers, the picture the FAO review paints is one of an already-vulnerable sector facing widespread and often profound changes. The report includes contributions from experts from around the world, including Dr Tim Daw and Prof Katrina Brown of the School of International Development and Prof Neil Adger of the School of Environmental Sciences at UEA. Other contributors come from the World Fish Center, Globec, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Sustainable Development Inland fisheries -- 90 per cent of which are found in Africa and Asia -- are also at risk, threatening the food supply and livelihoods of some of the world's poorest populations. Warming in Africa and central Asia is expected to be above the global mean, and predictions suggest that by 2100 significant negative impacts will be felt across 25 per cent of Africa's inland aquatic ecosystems. Fish farming will also be affected. Nearly 65 per cent of aquaculture is inland and concentrated mostly in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, often in the delta areas of major rivers at the mid- to upper levels of tidal ranges. Sea level rise over the next decades will increase upstream salinity, affecting fish farms. A crucial issue highlighted by the report relates to how well such communities will be able to adapt to change. For example, even if African coastal fisheries do not face huge impacts, the region's 'adaptive capacity' to respond to climate change is low, rendering communities there highly vulnerable even to minor changes in climate and temperature [25].

Algeria
  • Aquaculture complex in Hassi Lefhel (Ghardaia)
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Smail Mimoun, made a visit to Hassi Lefhel, 130 km south of the capital of the Ghardaia wilaya where he was visiting the aquaculture complex he inaugurated on January 14, 2008. Covering an area of 4 hectares, the site holds 7 tilapia ponds and currently employs ten persons (engineers, veterinarians, technicians and agents). It is expected to develop its human workforce to 70 people. The wilaya of Ghardaia should benefit from another 4 new fish farms in the near future and from a training school on fish farming in Sahara region will soon open its doors in El Menea [12].

Burkina Faso
  • Burkina's 4th biggest dam to be completed by January 2010
The Burkina's 4th biggest dam located in Soum, a village located at about 100 km from the capital Ouagadougou, in the Boulkiemdé province, is being built by the company Oumarou Kanazoé. It will be completed in minimum delay compared to initial schedule, 3 weeks. One of the expected benefit is the development of fish farming [8].

Cameroon
  • Partnership IRAD-AQUASOL on shrimp farming
The local Research Center for Agricultural Development (IRAD) of Kribi served for the signing of a new partnership between the Director General of IRAD, Dr. Zock and S.M. Solomon Madiba Songué, president of the association AQUASOL (Aquaculture and Solidarity). Around them a delegation of the mayor of Brive-la-Gaillarde in France led by the Deputy Mayor Ms. Françoise Gautry, and the President of the Humanitarian Association Blue-Cameroon, Ms. Annie Trochery. The agreement is about a project designed by the Association Blue-Cameroon that aims at poverty alleviation in Cameroon, said Annie Trochery, helping the poor, individually or through their communities to become self-sufficient economically and socially through training on income generating activities, particularly aquaculture. The shrimp farming project is piloted in Cameroon by the Traditional Chief Madiba Songue and supported by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation through the Research Center for Agricultural Development (IRAD). Ms. Trochery does not exclude the possibility that shrimp emerging in Cameroon expands into other African countries. To sustain this project, two young Cameroonians are already in training in Latin America, whereas others are actively working on site, being supervised by two French experts including Dr. Eric Miahle, who is actively supporting shrimp farming in Peru, Ecuador, Vietnam and soon Cameroon. Considering the work of Eric Miahle and his younger compatriot William, the shrimp project conducted in Cameroon is a fine example of scientific integration, integration with the traditional environment in the sense that everything is made from native prawns grown without antibiotics, no introduction of alien species, and minimal destruction of mangroves [3]. The project involves the construction of shrimp producing centers in Kribi (South) on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Limbe (South West) on the Atlantic Ocean and river Dibamba (Littoral). According to forecasts, river management in an area of 100 m2 each should produce an average of one ton of shrimp per entity. Besides industrial production, the production community could be operational within a year, since the lava shrimp products in the operation centers will be distributed to shrimp farmers within the next six months [5].
  • 2010 Telefood fund raising campaign
Telefood is an annual FAO initiative aimed at raising funds and awareness about projects fighting hunger worldwide. These include small-scale fish farming projects. Telefood gives a direct support to communities suffering from food insecurity. It helps them increase income and productivity [14].

Gambia
  • History of Aquaculture in the Nation
The earliest freshwater aquaculture trials were carried out in the 1970s and involved the culturing of Tilapia fish in small family fishponds by farmers in their rice fields in the fresh water zone of the river. Such earlier efforts at pond culture failed to produce the desired production levels, however, important lessons were learnt by the Fisheries Department. In the 80's, two Black Tiger shrimp farms have been operated in Pirang and Sanyang points by Scan Gambia Limited from Norway, but they closed down in 1992 due to financial problems. At the same time, the Gambia industrial farm, "West Africa Aquaculture", a semi-intensive farm, including a hatchery and a processing plant came in producing to the EU standards. Of the original 200 hectares, only 50 are being used for production today. The development of oyster cultivation in Gambia has also been a priority for the government for some years now. Today, aquaculture activities are currently being carried out by the Department of Fisheries in co-operation with Department of Agriculture. Tilapia is one of the fish species considered for future culture in the trial rice fields of the project. The Gambian leader himself is today the leading aquaculturist in the country, practicing the fish farming method in his home village of Kanilai. The strategy of the Gambia government includes the development of community participation, training farmers in pond construction methods and maintenance, tidal irrigation methods and access to loans [4].

Kenya
  • Sack all incompetent staff, minister directs
Mop up the excess workforce employed under dubious circumstances, fisheries development minister Dr Paul Otuoma has directed the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. According to the KMFRI management up to about 200 people who were recruited in the 1990s did not have the relevant qualifications but were only engaged through political machinations. Certificate verification done in early 2000 netted about 200 staff with fake certificates who were eventually terminated however any attempt at downsizing is always viewed negatively since most staff are skewed to one or two specific communities. But speaking during the KEMFRI board workshop on re-invigoration and re-strategising the mandate and vision of the institute at the Sun n Sand hotel in Kilifi, the minister said the human resource issue should be addressed immediately. KMFRI Board chairperson Prof Penina Aloo-Obudho thanked the government for recognizing the important role the ministry of fisheries development played in reducing poverty levels, food security and creating jobs for the Kenyan youths. “The government has provided a stimulus package for selected sectors and its gratifying that the ministry benefited and received an allocation of Sh1.2billion for the national aquaculture development,” she said [19].
  • A little ingenuity, more cash
As Kenyan farmers struggle to find ways to overcome the high prices of feeds and fertiliser, one man is already ahead of the pack. Mr Jackson Kanyinge, a fish farmer from Gangarithi in Nyeri, is now saving a lot as he continues to rear his Tilapia species on a three-quarter acre piece of land. Instead of using commercial feed that most people rely on to breed his fish, the farmer-cum businessman has found a cheaper alternative - pigs droppings - to keep them alive as his business continues to flourish. The farmer also eliminated catfish from his pond, which he said started feeding on Tilapia fingerlings as soon as he stopped feeding them with poultry droppings. Due to a shortage of fish supply from his farm, the farmer was compelled to close the fish shop that he had established in Nyeri Town in 2004 when he started rearing fish. He decided to keep pigs as a means of earning money, which would help him buy feed for his fish. And as time went by, the 55-year-old father of three decided to try feeding fish in one of his two ponds with pigs droppings and the other one with fish meal. After harvesting fish from the two ponds and comparing them, those that fed on pig droppings were larger than those that grew on fish meal. Now Mr Kanyinge has constructed pigsties near the ponds to facilitate easy drainage of waste directly into the ponds which acts as pond fertiliser and supports dense growth of natural fish food organisms.“Besides, fish also feed directly on the pig waste and no other feed or fertiliser is applied to the pond. This makes it simple and cheaper for me,” he says. Now he is considering restarting his shop due to the increasing demand of the fish [20].
  • Villagers turn stone into fish
Once worthless and abandoned, a quarry at Harambee in Kenya's Nyando District has been reinvented and is helping to bridge a deficit in fish supply at the local market. Having lost its top soil to road construction works along the adjacent Katito — Kendu Bay Road about two decades ago, the gaping two metre deep crater was an eyesore. This was before it was fashioned into a fish rearing ground by Mother Nature. Ground water seeped in from beneath and filled it up. For sometime, it became the village watering hole for livestock but with time, a new role was born: they realised that fish could be reared in cages immersed into the water. Aided by the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute’ the locals community is rearing tilapia in cages immersed into the dam. Last year, the group, Nyando District Centre for Environmental Conservation (Nyadec) harvested its first batch of fish from the facility, which according to the group’s chairman, Mr Peter Ochola, was worth Sh350,000. The immediate beneficiaries of the fish are the local community, whose supply has been sliced by the growing export market. Most of the food landed from lakes such as Victoria, Baringo and Turkana, and the Indian Ocean go to the export market, says Dr Richard Abila, the deputy director of KMFRI. The cage culture project at Harambee is part of the BOMOSA project, which was introduced much earlier to exploit small underutilized water bodies. Implemented in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the project is a collaboration of several institutions handling different aspects of the project such as socio-economics and research [21].
  • New feed protocol to boost fish farming
Kenya will soon have in place a fish feed protocol to offer guidelines to manufacturers. Fisheries Development minister Paul Otuoma said the move is aimed at ensuring that fish farmers get quality feeds. The minister said fish production from Lake Victoria has declined from 200,000 metric tonnes in 1999 to about 114,000 metric tonnes last year with no signs of stocks recovering soon. He said they had carried our aquaculture suitability survey noting that preliminary results indicate that there is enormous potential for fish farming in the whole country. Mr Otuoma said the potential area suitable for fish farming is over 1.14 million hectares adding that if the potential is fully exploit, production could be increased to 11 million metric tonnes per annum and fetch Sh750 billion. Dr Otuoma said the current production is only 4,220 metric tonnes with a total area under aquaculture production standing at 722 hectares. He added that the project will employ 280,000 youths and who will earn Sh700 million [22].

Madagascar
  • Japan cooperation should develop soon a very large aquaculture project in Boeny region
The Japanese government through its Executing Agency JICA plans to build a large aquaculture project in the Region Boeny from the month of December 2009. Following various feasibility studies conducted since 2007, Marovoay, Mahajanga II and Ambato Boeny have been considered suitable for aquaculture of tilapia. The Senior Advisor of JICA Chikami Satoshi and his team went recently to Mahajanga last week to work on the issue of qualified personnel for this project. Indeed, "the staff should be provided locally," said the representative of JICA [1] [14] [24].
  • Philippine seaweed processors scrambling for supplies could import from Madagascar
Philippine seaweed processors will push for measures to boost local seaweed production and tap other countries as potential suppliers, following Indonesia’s decision to restrict its raw seaweed exports. Indonesia, which supplies about a third of the raw seaweed requirements of Philippine manufacturers of the gelatinous extract, is following the path chosen by the Philippines, which was transformed in the last decade from a major seaweed exporter into a net seaweed importer and major carrageenan supplier. Benson U. Dakay, president of the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP), told reporters other countries that have the potential to supply raw seaweeds for the manufacture of carrageenan are Madagascar, Vietnam and Cambodia. Raw seaweeds from these three countries are also priced lower because they are just starting to develop the industry, he added. Another potential supplier is India. Philippine raw dried seaweed exports declined to about 80,000 MT in 2008 from almost 100,000 MT in 2000 as processing capacity grew. The Philippines became a net seaweed importer in 2007. Seaweed imports reached over 15,000 MT in 2008, a study by Seaplant.net Foundation in Indonesia showed. The Philippine seaweed industry now exports mostly value-added carrageenan or blended ingredient solutions rather than raw seaweeds. As of last May, over 140,000 MT of carrageenan dave been exported to 78 countries, the study added. More than half, or 55%, went to France and China [13].

Mauritius
  • Transfer of knowledge regarding fish farming from National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) to Mauritius
Mauritius aims at increasing its fish farming activities. The National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) contributes with scientific advice in order for Mauritius to establish appropriate legislation and monitoring of both fish and feed. In 2008, Norad started a 3-year programme of co-operation between the Centre for Development Co-operation in Fisheries, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, the Directorate of Fisheries and the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) on the Norwegian side, and the Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries (MAIF) in Mauritius. The aim of the project is to share expertise on management of fisheries and fish farming activities. - Through several workshops NIFES will contribute with expertise within monitoring systems to assist public management in Mauritius and the establishment of monitoring systems for the island's fish farming activities [16].

Mayotte
  • 5 millions euros for the development of aquaculture
Following riots in French tropical territories earlier this year, a wide consultation has been launched after which many investments have been decided. In the case of Mayotte, the investment will include 5 millions Euros for the development of aquaculture [11].

Nigeria
  • Major challenge in fish farming identifies disease outbreaks as a major challenge in fish farming
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos has identified disease outbreaks as a major challenge in fish farming, according to its Executive Director, Mr Olajide Ayinla. Ayinla said that outside the problem of high cost of fish feeds, health problems in fish farming constituted a serious threat to sustainability in the industry. “The use of antibiotics in fish farming by untrained hands is a serious threat to public health and this will continue until farmers have viable alternatives,” Ayinla said. He, therefore implored participants at the training to use the opportunity to provide alternatives to self medication as presently practiced by many fish farmers [6].
  • Uduaghan’s aide lauds aquaculture development
Executive Assistant to Delta State governor on Micro Credit Programme (DMCP), Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu, has hailed the development of aquaculture in the state, saying it has become one of the major sources of livelihood to the people. The Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos, Dr. O.A Ayinla, in his lecture on Building Technical and Management Capacity in Aquaculture, stated that “the role of aquaculture in increasing protein consumption in the world depends on demand.” Also speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yakubu Adams Femi of NIOMR, Sapele outstation, advised against the use of fertiliser nutrients containing toxic chemicals as they could reduce the quality and quantity of fish production. Dr. Adekunle Oresegun of NIOMR, Lagos emphasised the need to supplement pond-raised fish with fish feeds as natural food is limited or almost absent [17].
  • World Bank’s US$150m agric project kicks off
The World Bank assisted Commercial Agriculture Project worth $150 Million has taken off in the five participating states of Nigeria. The states are Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Cross River and Kano. According a statement from the World Bank country office in Abuja, endorsed by the Senior Communications Specialist, Mr. Obadiah Otohomdet, the project will support three value chains per state, and it will be aquaculture in Lagos [23].

Reunion
  • Reunion is the perfect place to develop a micro-algae production chain
Carlos Vaca-Garcia is a professor at the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse and researcher at the Laboratory of Agro-industrial chemistry. On the occasion of meetings at Qualitropic, he came to plead the cause of micro-algae for Reunion. Micro-algae are already used in Reunion for biofuel production. Could there be other applications ? According to Carlos Vaca-Garcia, yes. Micro-algae are a new biomass from which one can produces energy but also biomaterials and food components. Local entrepreneurs such as Bioalgostral are already involved in the biofuel production but he believes that the current single-use and valorization is the wrong solution. In Reunion, developing micro-algae would reactivate the local economy without harming the environment. Only thing needed is sun. Micro-algae are grown in vertical reactors, there is no need for large areas of farmland. Reunion is ideal for the microalgae sector [15].

Senegal
  • Slight change in Senegal Government affects Ministry of Fish farming

After the change, Mr. Modou Diagne «Fada» becomes Minister of Health, whereas Ms. Thé­rèse Coum­ba Diop, former Minister of Health, becomes Minister of Biofuels and Fish farming. As a consequence Ms Fatou Gaye Sarr, who used to be the Minister of Agri­cul­ture, Fish Farming and Bio­fuels is now Minister of Agriculture [10]. However, this decision raises protests from supporters of Ms. Thé­rèse Coum­ba Diop who consider she was unfairly "downgraded" to a less important administration [9].
  • A White Grouper Aquaculture experience
Between 2007-2009, Kawamura Kenji (also known as Khalifa Diouf) and Senegalese fishermen made an aquaculture test of White Grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) farming in Senegal. This video (in french) relates the experiment [30].

South Africa
  • Coega port is hit by a R10bn torpedo
More than R10-billion worth of projects have been scrapped or temporarily shelved at the port development of Coega over concerns about Eskom's proposed tariff increases and the global recession. The projects, including a proposed R9.2-billion prawn-farming venture, have been canned just months after aluminium producer Rio Tinto Alcan ditched plans to build a R20-billion smelter. The companies involved include Rainbow Nation Renewable Fuels, SeaArk, Straits Chemicals, Coega Chemicals, Maritime Motors, Mediterranean Shipping Company and SATI. Rio Tinto Alcan, which had already spent about $130-million on the 720000-ton smelter from November 2006, announced its decision to jump ship in October. It had initially announced that it would put the project on hold until about 2012, while reviewing South Africa's electricity supply problems. Coega, a 12-year-old deep-water port and industrial area 22km outside Port Elizabeth, became South Africa's first industrial development zone. But electricity shortages and repeated blackouts, along with the global economic crisis, have made investors hesitant to plough more money into the site. The dropping of the 1200 ha prawn-farming project, which was expected to create 11000 jobs by 2014 and which was to have had the capacity to grow 20000 tons of prawns a year, has resulted in the retrenchment of almost all 50 employees. The electricity-intensive prawn project was launched in 2005 by SeaArk, which is affiliated to the controversial Bosasa group of companies. The company has blamed the recession, a lack of bank funding and Eskom's proposed tariff hikes for the decision. Bosasa spokesman Papa Leshabane said the project had come to a halt as banks "were not keen to put money into such projects", with Eskom's hikes costing "a fortune in electricity bills" [29].
  • Southern Africa links water research expertise
A project to boost water resources in southern Africa, first announced in 2003, held its first executive meeting last month. The Water Centres of Excellence Initiative, started by New Partnerships for Development in Africa (NEPAD), aims to promote cooperation and knowledge transfer among water research institutions to secure adequate clean water and manage resources for national and regional development. It was established after the first African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology in 2003 but an expansion of the centres is only now under discussion. Centres of water excellence are already operational in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia, and other Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries will be invited to become partners if they have water research programmes [28].

Tunisie
  • Aquaculture: 3.2 thousand tonnes of production
Aquaculture in Tunisia is a growing business and the National Institute of Science and Technology for the Sea (INTECHMER) hold on Thursday, December 10, 2009, an information day on "the use of the scientific research results in the field of the aquaculture". The Tunisian aquaculture landscape contains 14 projects under development, including 7 saltwater fish farming, 5 freshwater fish farming and 2 projects for shellfish farming. As regards to productive projects, they are 23 with 4 projects for the fattening of bluefin tuna, 6 shellfish farming projects and 4 freshwater farming projects [16].
  • Country seeks to promote fish farming industry
Organized by the National Institute of Science and Sea Technology, a conference was held in Tunis, to take stock of scientific research in the fish farming sector with a view to strengthen this activity and set up new projects. Research results on the control of fish farming techniques and ways to improve its production, in addition to the promotion of fish farming in Tunisia's major dam reservoirs, were discussed during the conference. The conference aims at increasing the contribution of this sector to the production of fish products to 10 % by 2016 to reach 8, 000 tons of marine fish, 5,500 tons of freshwater fish, 800 tons of shells and nearly 300 tons of shrimps. Tunisia currently boasts 23 fishing projects, including 9 for fish farming, 4 for blue fin tuna farming, 6 others for shellfish and 4 projects for freshwater farming. In addition, 14 projects are currently underway, including 7 fish farming projects, 5 for fresh water farming and 2 dedicated to shellfish, besides 20 other projects under study [26].

Uganda
  • Fish Farming Brings Quick Returns in Short Time
Agriculturalists at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (Muraik), Kabanyolo, said within eight months of good feeding, a farmer can harvest tilapia of one and half Kilos which is sold at about Shs5,000. In case of other types such as lung and mud fish, one can harvest them within the same duration although at six months these species are ready for harvesting. The Kabanyolo farm assistant manager, Chrysostom Tweyambe says this is one of the simplest types of commercialised farming methods to venture into with big profits [7].
  • Busia Border Fish Ponds to Give Farmers Shs150 Million
Communities living in the Sio-Siteko trans-boundary wetland in Busia could soon be raking in millions of shillings following the launch of fish ponds' project. The three community groups of Bunyide, Budimo and Bunyadeti made up of former labour groups that have depended on tilling farmlands for a paltry earning most of their lives, are poised to earn Shs50m each at the first harvest come February next year. The ponds, seven in number, range between 200 to 400 square metres. With funding from the Swedish government, the $90,000 (Shs166m) project was offset by Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in July. In case of any mismanagement of the project, the communities who run the project will be forced to forfeit the enterprise to another group. The groups are made up of 25 people each. This is a new strategy through which NBI together with the government transform the way wetlands are used. It allows the communities to sustainably earn a living without contravening environmental laws. If the strategy works, it could be replicated in other wetlands [18].
  • Sio-Siteko Trans-boundary Wetland Management Plan
Kenya's Mulwanda location rolled out the Sio-Siteko Trans-boundary Wetland Management Plan. The wetland management plan was developed by both Kenyan and Ugandan communities residing on the 1,370 square kilometres wide wetland, with support from Nile Trans-boundary Environmental Action Project (NTEAP), and the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi Investment Project of the Nile Basin Initiative and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. The launch was graced by Kenyan dignitaries led by Kenya's Assistant Minister of Environment and Mineral Resources, Mr Ramathan Seif Kajembe [18].
  • NAADS Officials Offer to Pay Back 350 Million
Technical and political officers in Iganga district, who were accused of having caused financial loss of over sh350m to the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) programme, have accepted to refund the money. The decision was reached during a meeting with a sub-committee of the taskforce which visited the district to carry out more investigations. The investigators, drawn from the Internal Security Organisation, the Anti-Corruption Department and the Criminal Investigations Department, said the officers they interacted with, including NAADS coordinators and sub-county chiefs, agreed to refund the money [27].


REFERENCES
[1] http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Tres-bientot-un-grand-projet-d,13143.html (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[2] http://www.research4development.info/news.asp?articleID=50531 (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[3] http://www.lemessager.net/?p=3531 (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[4] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912020270.html (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[5] http://www.icilome.com/nouvelles/news.asp?id=45&idnews=13656&f= (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[6] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=14292 (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[7] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912020237.html (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[8] http://www.lefaso.net/spip.php?article34315&rubrique3 (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[9] http://www.rewmi.com/Des-partisans-de-Therese-Coumba-Diouf-manifestent-contre-son-depart-du-ministere-de-la-Sante_a19993.html (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[10] http://www.afriqueavenir.org/2009/12/04/leger-reamenagement-du-gouvernement-du-senegal/ (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[11] http://www.viefemme.com/index.php/4424-mayotte-le-depute-ps-victorin-lurel-devrait-montrer-plus-de-responsabilite.html (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[12] http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=126427 (consulted on December 8, 2009)
[13] http://www.gmanews.tv/story/178878/local-seaweed-processors-scramble-for-supplies (consulted on December 9, 2009)
[14] http://www.lexpressmada.com/display.php?p=display&id=31960 (consulted on December 11, 2009)
[15] http://www.clicanoo.com/?page=article&id_article=230664
[16] http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?article_id=84895&page_id=76 (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[17] http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/12/09/uduaghans-aide-lauds-aquaculture-devt/ (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[18] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912160091.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[19] http://www.nation.co.ke/Mombasa/-/519978/684406/-/item/0/-/9uwuys/-/index.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[20] http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/money/-/435440/638462/-/item/0/-/55922i/-/index.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[21] http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/artandculture/-/1222/621294/-/item/0/-/h00s91/-/index.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[22] http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/829084/-/hf3145z/-/index.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[23] http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=24533 (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[24] http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200912110383.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[25] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912310667.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[26] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912141541.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[27] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912020586.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[28] http://www.scidev.net/en/news/southern-africa-links-water-research-expertise-1.html (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[29] http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/article238071.ece (consulted on January 4, 2010)
[30] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhbSwDbK_Wg (consulted on January 4, 2010)

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Aquaculture in Asia-Pacific / December update

Disclaimer: This is not an extensive review of aquaculture in each country, this is a digest of the news about aquaculture in Asia released on Internet this month. The validity of any information or figures quoted is the responsibility of the individual newspapers and websites concerned. Also, please check previous updates: August 2009, September 2009, October 2009, November 2009.

This page is updated irregularly but frequently. To easily monitor changes, you can use this firefox extension: Update Scanner

Bangladesh
  • Fingerling tilapia production in paddy fields found profitable
Production of fingerling genetically improved farmed tilapia in paddy fields can be additional income generating activities in the country’s northern districts, according to research findings of the Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service, Bangladesh and the WorldFish Centre, who found fingerling GIFT production in the region highly profitable. The RDRS along with 10 other NGOs in cooperation with WorldFish Centre is implementing fingerling GIFT production programme in 22 upazilas of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur and eight upazilas in Barendra region of Rajshahi. More than 8,800 farmers of the region are now involved in production of fingerling tilapia and Karfu fish in ditches dug in the corner of paddy fields, RDRS sources said. About 344 tonnes of tilapia fry worth about Tk 1.5 core and 70 tonnes of Ruhi fry worth about Tk 70 lakh have been produced by farming in paddy fields in the region this year, the sources added [12].

Brunei
  • Establishment of a halal fish-processing facility
Last month BioMarine Sdn Bhd, the joint venture between a Bruneian company and Raoping Jin Hang Deep Sea Cage Development Co Ltd of China, signed a contract to establish a halal fish-processing facility in the Sultanate once the newly-formed company has settled in. The Chinese investment is among a few foreign direct investment (FDI) in the fisheries sector. “The long-term plan for this joint venture (JV) is so that smaller local farmers will be able to learn more from the expertise that the Chinese company is bringing in and to be able to sell their harvest to the company to increase export capacity in the future,” said Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim, director of the fisheries department. The facility, along with other plans to introduce a fish hatchery and nursery, cold storage room and blast freezers, requires the joint venture to inject a further $6 million to its initial investment of $1.45 million into the “fish cage culture project” located near the Pelong Rocks offshore from Muara Town. “There’s no competition at all because the company is rearing the fish purely for export, and the local farmers don’t have the capacity to be able to export in tonnes,” said the department director [8].

China

  • AgriMarine signs MoU with Siping City Government in China
AgriMarine Holdings Inc. announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the People’s Government of Siping City and Tiedong District, Jilin Province, China, for the development of salmon rearing operations and associated feed supply and processing industries utilizing AgriMarine’s solid wall closed containment technology and operations expertise. Pending favorable outcomes of the environmental and business studies, AgriMarine will design, build and install closed containment rearing facilities; creating a salmon aquaculture production presence in the region. AgriMarine’s solid-wall containment technology was developed to solve many issues faced by traditional net cage rearing practices that are used worldwide. The AgriMarine system reduces pollution of the receiving water systems through the capture of waste feed/feces and facilitates improved feed conversions; mitigates environmental effects on wild fish through the prevention of escapes and avoids proximal contaminations such as marine parasites [16].
  • Skystar Acquires Aquaculture Vaccine Technology
Skystar Bio-Pharmaceutical Company, a China-based producer and distributor of veterinary medicines, vaccines, micro-organisms and feed additives, has bought an exclusive aquaculture vaccine technology from China's Fourth Military Medical University for RMB 8 million (approximately $1.2 million), granting Skystar exclusivity on the patent through 2012.Skystar has also signed a collaborative research and development agreement with the university. The vaccine has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing bacterial infections in marine life without harmful side effects. The patented technology is designed to address the Company-estimated $150 million underserved aquaculture market opportunity in China. Skystar believes that its 2010 total vaccine revenue will be approximately $6.0 million with gross margins of approximately 60-70 per cent. The Company had previously targeted $14.0 million in revenue contribution from the new vaccine facility in 2010 [20].

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
  • NMC aquatic lab spurs another tilapia project
Another local businessman has joined the CNMI’s aquatic farming landscape with the help of aquaculture officials at the Northern Marianas College. James Matsumoto, a resident of Capital Hill, recently released over 800 juvenile pearl white tilapia into two tanks set up at his residence. Matsumoto now joins the 14 other aquatic farmers in the CNMI. NMC's Aquaculture & Fisheries Department is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act Formula Funds [3].

Fiji
  • Seaweed potential for Chinese market
Fiji has huge potential for aquaculture and villages along the coastline can expect a windfall from the demand for seaweed from the Chinese market, according to Viliame Naupoto, chairman of the Fiji Trade and Investment Board chairman Viliame Naupoto who also revealed that China wanted 7000 tonnes of seaweed per month. "We are talking about a six-week crop that fetches $800 a tonne. This price is better than dalo, copra and sugar. All our people need is a little education on money handling," Mr Naupoto said [2].

French Polynesia (Tahiti)
  • A new minister in charge of aquaculture
President Gaston Tong Sang (To Tatou Ai'a-TTA) unveiled the composition of his new government. The minister in charge of the marine resources and promotion of pearl farming, fisheries and aquaculture is M. Temauri FOSTER [4].
  • Aquaculture of giant clam
Moana Zumbiehl presented his draft aquaculture of gianr clam project, with two goals, one to restock the Tubuai lagoon, and one to market the clam on the Tahiti market. Estimated at 70 tons per year, exports of giant clams on Tahiti, could well become the Southern black pearl. For this project, private initiative, Moana has already met with fishermen from the island that would be associated with the operation. The next step now is to get the support of local authorities to submit the draft to the government, so that orders are taken for attributions of maritime concessions. Thus, on Tubuai, six 400 m2 leases could be established. For each, the investment is about 3 to 5 million francs. Technically, each of the concessions would have a potential of 160 to 170 000 clams. Some of them must be relocated in the wild, the other would be marketed at different stages of development. One should know that two to three years are needed for the clam to reach 4 inches, five years for 12 cm, and seven years for 20 centimeters. After this meeting, the mayor of Tubuai and some elected officials did not hide their support for the project [9].

India

  • Impacts and adaptation to climate change
NACA’s ‘Aquaclimate’ project is taking up the case of small-scale shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh, India, to investigate the impacts and adaptation to climate change. Andhra Pradesh has had many weather related impacts in recent years such as the worst drought in half a century, which occurred in early to mid 2009, followed by a severe flood of once in 100 years in October 2009. These extreme climatic events have had severe consequences including heavy economic losses to shrimp farmers in the state. The case study aims to assess the degree of vulnerability of the small-scale shrimp farmers and to provide guidelines on suitable measures to assist them to adapt to climate change and sustain their livelihoods [18].

Maldives
  • Government to open aquaculture fisheries in Maldives for investors according to President Nasheed
President Mohamed Nasheed has said that the government planned to open the fisheries sector, especially the aquaculture fisheries for investors. The government will hold an international seafood exhibition in the Maldives on next year’s Fishermen’s Day. The Maldivian fisheries sector and the economy as whole were badly affected during the past year [18].

Philippines
  • Current status of Pangasius farming in the Philippines
Pangasius was introduced in the country by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources–National Inland Fisheries Technology Center (BFAR-NIFTC) as early as 1981. Palma, chief of Tanay, Rizal–based BFAR-NIFTC said that breeding trials were started in 1985 and protocol for breeding and grow-out had been developed in succeeding years. Apparently, market was not ready at that time hence, pangasius fingerlings that were produced were passed on to the aquarium fish trade as "freshwater hammerhead shark." Currently, pangasius fingerlings are both imported and produced locally by big-time companies such as the Blue Bay hatchery and Vitarich corporation. There are also private and government hatcheries in Regions 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Fishery officials say that the country currently imports 40 20-footer container vans of pangasius flesh monthly. This amounts to an outstanding 400 MT mainly for fast food outlets and for the fish fillet market. The national fisheries center estimates current demand at 15,000 MT. The BFAR NIFTC, which is the central pangasius hatchery in the country, has formulated a roadmap outlining establishment of regional satellite hatcheries and demo sites, development of pangasius processing plant and promotion of value-added products, genetic improvement of pangasius and the conduct of training courses, to complement current interventions. Likewise, Vitarich corporation is offering contract growing schemes mainly in Bulacan and Pampanga area in order to increase local production. Imee Chun, an official of the corporation, said that they plan to later on tap into the export market. Aside from its fish fillet business, Vitarich has come up with processed pangasius products like longganisa, Hungarian sausage, shanghai, franks and nuggets. Chun said that their company is also pushing for skin-on fillet, which is good for ihaw-ihaw and grilled, frozen gutted and steak cuts [5].
  • Aquaculture registers 5% growth
Aquaculture registered a 4.95 percent expansion in the third quarter in contrast to the contraction of the total fisheries production for the same period. Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Sunday that modest growth was recorded for bangus, tilapia, mudcrab, catfish, seaweeds, oysters and mussels from July to September. Aquaculture production was estimated at 496,701.32 metric tons (MT) during the third quarter of 2009, up by 23,427.11 MT from the output during the same quarter last year. It accounted for about 46.11 percent of total fisheries production for the third quarter. Bulk of the yield of 128,689.16 MT was traced to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Seaweeds topped the gainers, with harvests accounting for 65.03 percent of total aquaculture production, while fins and shellfishes accounted for 34.97 percent [10].
  • Aquaculture training starts in 3 Leyte public schools
High school students in the province of Leyte now have a choice to train on aquaculture farming with the newly launched Aquaculture Training and Production Center that was recently started in three public secondary schools in the town of Leyte. The new skills Aquaculture Technology Course is initiated under the Leyte province’s expanding ICOT-P training courses, or Income Creating Opportunities Technology-Project, which is funded by the provincial government. Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla led the opening of the ICOT Aquaculture Training and Production Center that is located around 10,000 square meters of fish pond apportioned for the aquaculture students in Leyte town [6].
  • BFAR Region 2 typhoon rehab allocates 5.8 million fingerlings
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office No. 2 has started the provision of rehabilitation assistance for fisherfolk in Cagayan Valley affected by the recent super typhoon ‘Pepeng.’ As outlined in its rehab plan, the bureau will provide a total of 5.8 million fingerlings for some 2,787 fish farmers affected by the calamity. The super typhoon Pepeng which slammed into central and northern Luzon last October has damaged a total of 1,079.95 hectares of fishponds and communal production areas, 37 fish cages, 26 fishing boats and assorted fishing gears, mainly in the province of Cagayan. The typhoon has devastated harvestable fish stocks estimated at 236.73 metric tons worth P15.39 million. A total of 7.91 fingerlings and juvenile stocks were also lost during the typhoon. The marketable stock represents 5.78 percent of Region 2’s aquaculture production target for the third quarter of the year while the non-marketable stocks represent 1,111.4 metric tons of potential production within the next two to four months [11].
  • Bahrain companies to visit RP, eye investments in fish production
Several Bahrain companies have been visiting the Philippines, seeking business ventures in local mariculture parks, which are self-contained fishery production zones. These companies, which belong to the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce, will hold meetings with the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) officials, said Marriz Agbon, president of the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC). The Philippines has completed a $300 million investment package with the Bahraini government to put up agro-fishery businesses in the country. Under the agreement, a joint committee will meet twice a year to monitor the development of specific projects in the investment package [7].
  • Philippine seaweed processors scramble for supplies
Philippine seaweed processors will push for measures to boost local seaweed production and tap other countries as potential suppliers, following Indonesia’s decision to restrict its raw seaweed exports. Indonesia, which supplies about a third of the raw seaweed requirements of Philippine manufacturers of the gelatinous extract, is following the path chosen by the Philippines, which was transformed in the last decade from a major seaweed exporter into a net seaweed importer and major carrageenan supplier. Benson U. Dakay, president of the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP), told reporters other countries that have the potential to supply raw seaweeds for the manufacture of carrageenan are Madagascar, Vietnam and Cambodia. Raw seaweeds from these three countries are also priced lower because they are just starting to develop the industry, he added. Another potential supplier is India. Philippine raw dried seaweed exports declined to about 80,000 MT in 2008 from almost 100,000 MT in 2000 as processing capacity grew. The Philippines became a net seaweed importer in 2007. Seaweed imports reached over 15,000 MT in 2008, a study by Seaplant.net Foundation in Indonesia showed. The Philippine seaweed industry now exports mostly value-added carrageenan or blended ingredient solutions rather than raw seaweeds. As of last May, over 140,000 MT of carrageenan dave been exported to 78 countries, the study added. More than half, or 55%, went to France and China [17].

South Korea

  • Tuna plan foments aquaculture
The Korean government will introduce a plan to both promote the farming of tuna, the country's main seafood export item, and combat increasing international restrictions on tuna fishing. Korea currently fishes 95 per cent of its tuna supply; it has since been advancing its aquaculture efforts. The tuna farming project located off Jeju Island is proving successful. The farm’s three net cages host a total of 400 juvenile bluefin tunas. Back in September, scientists at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) said that commercial tuna sales would begin around 2015. Korea hopes to export the fish to Japan, China and other Asian nations [15].

Vietnam
  • Pangasius exports climb
Pangasius export volumes to most export markets have shown a striking recovery between January-October, announced the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exports and Processors (VASEP). Vietnam’s major importer of tra fish is still the US, with exports worth USD 15.5 million just in October – a jump of 2.5 times compared to October last year. Export values to this country for the first 10 months of the year came to USD 111 million, 71 per cent higher than during the same period in 2008. Although Spain is Vietnam’s second largest tra importer, with a 31.7 per cent year-on-year volume jump in October, exports barely yielded USD 104 million in the January-October period, a drop of 0.8 per cent from a year ago. Tra fish exports to the European Union (EU) took a nosedive of almost 7 per cent to USD 454 million. Earnings from Vietnam’s two main markets last year, Russia and the Ukraine, sunk 95 per cent and more than 82 per cent, respectively. Vietnam exported 500,000 tonnes of pangasius in the first 10 months of 2009 for USD 1.12 billion, a 10.3 per cent-lower value than during the same period last year [14].
  • Tra Fish Association to be established
The Vietnam Tra fish Association will make its debut at a congress scheduled for late December 2009 or early January 2010. The association, which will involve of administrators, scientists, export businesses, animal food manufacturers, fish farmers and local associations, is expected to come up with solutions for fish farming-related problems [13].
  • Commodity production-oriented aquaculture in Hanoi
The Programme on Aquaculture Development in Hanoi in 2009 – 2015 period with an orientation to 2020 has been approved by the municipal People’s Committee for a total cost of over VND 1.9 trillion, creating a favorable condition for aquaculturists to be able to get rich. According to the municipal Aquatic Products Subdepartment, after expansion of Hanoi’s administrative borders, the city has over 30,000 hectares of water surface which is capable of developing aquaculture including 6,700 hectares of ponds and small lakes and 19,800 hectares of low-lying fields. Caged fish breeding can be developed in the Da, Hong, Tich, Bui and Day rivers. However, the current area of aquaculture is only 17,800 hectares with the low average productivity of 3 – 5 tonnes a year for each hectare. Small ponds and lakes all are near the residential areas and polluted, and at the same time, the area with ponds and lakes is limited, so the breeding method based mainly on extensive aquaculture and as a result, the large-scale concentrated aquaculture areas are yet to be formed. On average, each hectare of aquaculture in the commune brings about VND 102 million of revenue (with the average productivity of 7 tonnes a year for every hectare) whereas revenue from rice-growing in the pre-change period only reached VND 15 – 25 milllion. The objective of the programme is that the total area of aquaculture in the whole city will have reached 23,000 hectares by 2015 and 24,000 hectares by 2020, with a total output of aquatic products being around 115,000 tonnes in 2015 and 132,000 tonnes in 2020. The average productivity of aquaculture will be raised to over 5 tonnes a hectare and the area of intensive aquaculture will increase to 10.4% while the area of extensive aquaculture will reduce to 18% [1].
  • ILDEX Vietnam Aquaculture Conference 2010
ILDEX Vietnam Aquaculture Conference 2010 to discuss a new dimension for aquaculture in Vietnam as Vietnam needs to move quickly toward sustainable aquaculture before it is too late. The aquaculture industry forum will take place on March 25, 2010, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.ILDEX Vietnam Aquaculture Conference 2010 is a forum where leading aquaculture experts from around the region share views and visions on global aquaculture practices and trends. Pearls of wisdom from the experts should form the basis of a plan to enable the Vietnamese aquaculture industry to continue to thrive. Indeed, the ILDEX conference will prove a superb way for the Indochina’s aquaculture industry to discover slightly new goals and practices. ILDEX Vietnam Aquaculture Conference 2010 will focus on three major issues: sustainability and certification; innovations in culture technology; and feed management & development [19].
  • Former Bush official promotes US supply chain in Vietnam
Vietnamese exporters can boost their business in the US market by linking with US traders and suppliers established in Vietnam, said Susan Schwab, a former US Trade Representative under President George W. Bush. More and more US producers, traders and suppliers are setting up shop in Vietnam as US subsidiaries around the globe are now supplying half the country’s imports. Local businesses in Vietnam should work with these direct supply chains to boost sales in the US [21].



REFERENCES
[1] http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/011209/business_v.htm (consulted on December 1, 2009)
[2] http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=134722 (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[3] http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=95458 (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[4] http://www.ladepeche.pf/fenua/politique/7431-la-composition-du-gouvernement-de-gaston-tong-sang.html (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[5] http://balita.ph/2009/12/02/here-comes-pangasius-the-new-darling-of-the-aquaculture-industry/ (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[6] http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/231469/aquaculture-training-starts-3-leyte-public-schools (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[7] http://www.gmanews.tv/story/177729/bahrain-companies-to-visit-rp-eye-investments-in-fish-production (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[8] http://news.brunei.fm/2009/12/02/china-fdi-in-fisheries-a-boon-for-sector/ (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[9] http://www.ladepeche.pf/iles/societe/7493-le-benitier-tresor-du-lagon.html (consulted on December 2, 2009)
[10] http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232763/aquaculture-registers-5-growth (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[11] http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232428/bfar-region-2-typhoon-rehab-allocates-58-million-fingerlings (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[12] http://bangladesheconomy.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/fingerling-tilapia-production-in-paddy-fields-found-profitable/ (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[13] http://www.vnbusinessnews.com/2009/12/tra-fish-association-to-be-established.html (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[14] http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&country=0&special=&monthyear=&day=&id=34799&ndb=1&df=0 (consulted on December 7, 2009)
[15] http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&country=0&special=&monthyear=&day=&id=34535&ndb=1&df=0 (consulted on December 8, 2009)
[16] http://aquacomgroup.com/wordpress/2009/12/07/agrimarine-signs-mou-with-siping-city-government-in-china/ (consulted on December 8, 2009)
[17] http://www.gmanews.tv/story/178878/local-seaweed-processors-scramble-for-supplies (consulted on December 9, 2009)
[18] http://www.miadhu.com.mv/2009/12/local-news/government-to-open-aquaculture-fisheries-in-maldives-for-investors-%E2%80%93-president-nasheed/ (consulted on December 12, 2009)
[19] http://www.pressabout.com/dimension-aquaculture-vietnam-31888/ (consulted on December 12, 2009)
[20] http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/11378/skystar-acquires-aquaculture-vaccine-technology (consulted on December 12, 2009)
[21] http://www.thanhniennews.com/business/?catid=2&newsid=54171 (consulted on December 13, 2009)

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