PRIMEX Projects: Strategy for Sustainable Aquaculture for Poverty Reduction (TA 4708- PHI)

The Technical Assistance project seeks to develop and disseminate a medium- to long-term aquaculture subsector strategy and integrated action plan for the Philippines with a forward investment program that will reduce poverty and enhance the sustainability of the subsector. The outcomes will include rationalization of subsector policies, institutional arrangements, and planned interventions for expansion of aquaculture production and productivity that will particularly benefit the poor.

Under the project, strategies and interventions would be identified for the entire sector, its subsectors and specific areas, and will be recommended for implementation over the medium to long term. Policies and strategies will be based on an in-depth study and evaluation of present conditions and projected changes in the regional, national, and international settings. The Project will involve surveys to gather pertinent information in support of strategy formulation, and workshops for consultation with stakeholders. It covers the following areas: (i) a subsector overview; (ii) subsector policies and institutions; (iii) aquaculture subsector production, utilization, and management; (iv) aquaculture support infrastructure facilities and services, including research, training and extension, credit, trade and marketing; (v) environment, workers and consumers health and safety, and fish health management; and (vi) social development and economics.

As its key activities, the TA aims to (i) analyze existing policies and institutional arrangements and identify required changes for subsector development; (ii) review technical issues relevant to aquaculture development and management, and formulate a strategy and innovative measures to effectively address the issues; (iii) review existing and potential environmental problems in the subsector and recommend technical, legal, and institutional measures to mitigate such problems; (iv) assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the aquaculture support services and credit facilities and recommend improvement of those services and facilities with private sector participation and investments; and (v) formulate a medium- to long-term aquaculture development strategy and integrated action plan with a forward investment program that would foster private sector participation and benefit the poor and the environment.

PRIMEX provides the services of all the project’s domestic specialists, namely the Aquaculture and Fisheries Policy and Institutions Specialist; Aquaculture Product Processing Specialist; Aquaculture Trade and Marketing Specialist; Aquaculture Specialist (Marine/Brackishwater); Aquaculture Specialist (Freshwater); Environment and Fish Health Management Specialist; Community Development Specialist; Credit, Economics, and Finance Specialist; and Fisheries Legal Specialist to carry out the following tasks:

Review and assessment of the present state of the country’s aquaculture sector with particular emphasis on current resource status and potential for expansion, present and projected production, policy and institutional aspects, economic and social impacts, and national development plans and programs;
Design and conduct of a survey of fishponds covered by FLAs in selected pilot sites to determine the status and extent of unutilized or underutilized areas and recommend ways to bring them into operation;
Identification of opportunities and constraints, problems, and issues on which to base the formulation of the aquaculture subsector strategy and the
Identification of broad interventions or courses of action and investment options for the three main types of aquaculture (brackishwater, freshwater, and marine) and for small, medium, and large-scale aquaculture enterprises;
Preparation of the Aquaculture Subsector Action Plan and Investment Program, including prioritization of investment options, prototype projects (including those involving support to aquaculture development such as research and Development, training and extension, credit, infrastructure development/improvement), policy and legal recommendations, institutional arrangements, and capacity-building programs in support of the proposed Strategy; and
Preparation of cost estimates and financing requirement for the implementation of the proposed strategy and action plan cum investment program over the medium to long term.

PRIMEX Consultants Involved

Annabelle C. Trinidad – Aquaculture and Fisheries Policy and Institutions Specialist/ Deputy Team Leader
Dr Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap – Aquaculture Product Processing Specialist
Dr Flordeliza A. Lantican – Aquaculture Trade and Marketing Specialist
Wilfredo G. Yap – Aquaculture Specialist (Marine/Brackishwater)
Rafael D. Guerrero III – Aquaculture Specialist (Freshwater)
Dr Celia Lavilla – Pitogo – Environment and Fish-Health Management Specialist
Ma. Linnea V. Tanchuling – Community Development Specialist
Eleanora E. Tan – Credit, Economics and Finance Specialist
Atty Jay L. Batongbacal – Fisheries Legal Specialist