| Abstract | The objective of t hi s study was to investigate the role of the
Department of Fisheries (DOF) in inland fisheries development with emphasis on Northeast Thailand. The relationship between the
National Economic and Social Development Plan with DOF policy was
analyzed. Research a nd extension activities were assessed, whether
the emphasis was on implementation in terms of capture fisheries or
aquaculture . External assistance from other agencies was
recommended in this study, in particular collaboration with Phase
II of the ODA funded AIT aquaculture Outreach Project. DOF planning
for their future operation and their policy framework were
presented.
An analysis of extension projects during 1987-199 1 was
conducted. Seed use in activities of seven se1ected fisheries
stations and centres was quantified and 79 % of the total was used
for capture fisheries while aquaculture used only 21 % of the total . Also the objectives of research projects were defined in terms of aquaculture and capture fisheries. It was estimated that
86 % a nd 14 % of the total, respectively, involved aquaculture a nd
capture fisheries. The themes of aquaculture research were defined
as breeding , feeding, nursing, growth, r ice/fi s h culture,
integrated culture (with he n, duck, and pig), pen culture , cage or
ha pa culture , and fish culture in saline areas. The highest
estimation was for breeding at 30.1 % of the total with 12.3 %,
8.8% , 8.3 %, 7.6 %, 5.9 %, 5.2 %, 4.6 %, and 3.6 % of the total
estimated for growth, cage or hapaculture, pen culture , feeding , rice/fish culture , integrated culture , nursing and fish culture in
saline areas respectively. Thus, DOF's emphasis in seed utilisation
for extension projects a nd area of research activities were
opposite i .e ., emphasis in the former was capture fisheries but t he
latter was a quaculture. Th is was because , during the Fifth
NESDP( 1982- 1986), t here was anurgentdem and to all eviate
widespread poverty while the budget was limited as was the number
of DOF personnel. To have intensive activity only in spec ifi c areas
was not considered appropriate. Therefore, capture fisheries was
considered to be the most suitable approach to implement extension
projects in more widespread areas. Another reason for research
emphasis on aquaculture was that the s kill of most DOF's fisheries
biologists was aquaculture . Also less time is needed for conducting
aquacu1ture research, which inf1uences requests for yearl y
promotion. The budget for capture fisheries research was therefore
greater t ha n for aquaculture a nd fund a nd personnel for aquaculture
research were not sufficient . DOF did not systematical l y plan
emphasis in terms of either capture fisheries or aquaculture in research . For the future , DOF's extension projects have planned to shift
emphasis to aquaculture in principle by the increase of the number
of either relevant activities or projects. Aquaculture
demonstration and accele rated aquaculture development projects by
i i
providing heavy equipment will be implemented in more areas and
with larger numbers of fish farmers. Farmers already have
experience in fish culture, particulary surrounding communal
reservoirs of the Village Fisheries Project of DOF. An important
point is the climax of widespread poverty in Thailand had already
passed because the fish consumption has increased from 18
Kg/caput/year in 1982 to 27.2 Kg/caput/year in 1989. Also expansion
of fisheries stations has occurred throughout Northeast Thailand as
well as increased personnel recruitment. At present,
systematisation of a research framework are being improved, with
changed emphasis on aquaculture. |