Đề tài In-Pond floating raceway production of marine finfish - milestone report no 9

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development PROGRESS REPORT Intensive in-pond floating raceway production of marine finfish (CARD VIE 062/04) MILESTONE REPORT NO.9 Improvement of competence of Nha Trang University’ staff in research and analytical techniques as an direct impact of the CARD VIE 062/04 Project Report Author: Tung Hoang1, Michael Burke2 & Daniel Willet2 1 Nha Trang University, Vietnam. 2 Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Australia December 2007 Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  2  PREFACE The CARD VIE062/04 Project “Intensive inpond floating raceway production of marine finfish” aimed to develop an innovative nursing and growing system for marine finfish, i.e. floating receways using existing pond farming infrastructrure in coastal areas of Vietnam and Australia. Apart from this very technical aim the Project also targeted further improvement of research capacity of its Vietnamese partner, i.e. Nha Trang University in in-pond raceway production and environmentally sustainable management of marine finfish systems through a number of activities: 1. Supported two MSc students of NTU to carry out research related to in-pond floating raceway production: Mr. Luu The Phuong (2005 – 2006) and Mr. Ngo Van Manh (2006 – 2007) 2. Organized a training workshop on Essential Analytical Techniques for In-pond Floating Raceway Production at Nha Trang University; an SE Asian International Conference on integrated farming system at the completion of the project. 3. Get NTU staff involved in research activities of the project in order to facilitate “training on the jobs”. This report is to summarise the project’s impacts on Nha Trang University’ staff regarding their improvement in research capacity, opportunities for career development and the incorporation of research outcomes and experiences into teaching materials. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the CARD Program, QDPI&F, NTU and the Khanh Hoa Fisheries Extension Center (KFEC) for their consistent supports to this project. Thanks are extended to Dr. Adrian Collins, Mr. Benjamin Russels, Mr. Luu The Phuong, Mr. Ngo Van Manh, Mr. Huynh Kim Khanh, Ms. Banh Thi Quyen Quyen, the technicians working at the research station of KFEC in Ninh Loc and a number of BSc students at Nha Trang University who had dedicated their time and effort making this project a success in several aspects. Nha Trang, March 27 2008 Hoang Tung Vietnamese Project Leader Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  3  1. TRAINING MSC STUDENTS The CARD VIE062/04 Project have supported MSc research thesis of two students: Mr. Luu The Phuong and Mr. Ngo Van Manh (Table 1). Mr. Manh also spent three months for hand-on experience in raceway construction & operation at Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre (Australia) in late 2005. On one hand the project provided opportunities for them to learn and work on a new farming system, which was firstly introduced in Vietnam. One the other hand their dedicated efforts and particularly research outcomes do contribute to the success of this project overally. Apart from collecting information for their own research (designed by the Project) Mr. Phuong and Mr. Manh had also been involved in daily management of on-site project activities. Table 1: Research performance of MSc students supported by CARD VIE062/04 Project Name of students Research period Thesis title Final evaluation Mr. Luu The Phuong 2005 – 2006 Trials to nurse barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from 2 cm to 10 cm total length in in-pond floating raceways Excellent (8.2/10.0) Mr. Ngo Van Manh 2006 - 2007 Effects of stocking densities, stocking size and feeding regime on survival and growth of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) nursed in in- pond floating raceways Outstanding (9.6/10.0) Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  4  Figure 1: Mr. Luu The Phuong (left) and Mr. Ngo Van Manh (right) participated in project activities The project also supported BSc research theses of six other students of Nha Trang University between 200 5 – 2007. These two MSc students and six BSc students were all supervised by the Vietnamese Project Leader, Dr. Tung Hoang. Mr. Luu The Phuong has been employed by the Quang Ninh Fisheries Department while Mr. Ngo Van Manh continues his works at Nha Trang University as a lecturer for the Mariculture Department of the Faculty of Aquaculture. Both students had managed to publish their works in the form of scientific papers. Indicators for the success of this activity include: • MSc thesis of Mr. Luu The Phuong • MSc thesis of Mr. Ngo Van Manh • BSc theses of six students (filed at Nha Trang University Library) • Published research papers: Tung Hoang, Luu The Phuong & Huynh Kim Khanh (2007) Trials to rear the Asian seabass Lates calcarifer in floating raceways in coastal earthen pond. Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology 2007-1: 12 - 18 (in Vietnamese). Ngo Van Manh & Tung Hoang (2008) Effects of stocking densities, stocking size and feeding regime on survival and growth of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) nursed in in-pond floating raceways. Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology (in press) 2. IMPROVEMENTS OF ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES RELATED TO IN-POND FLOATING RACEWAY PRODUCTION In order to improve essential analytical techniques related to in-pond floating raceway production the CARD VIE062/04 Project had organized a training workshop in 2007 that covered four important areas: • Production of marine fish fingerlings using in-pond floating raceways: practices and the needs for constant monitoring of water quality and fish health (by Dr. Tung Hoang) • Water quality sampling and analysis (by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung) • Useful plankton in coastal ponds and sampling & preservation protocols (by Dr. Hoang Bich Mai) • Common diseases in marine fish and methods for sample collection and preservation (by Dr. Do Thi Hoa) Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  5  Thirty four staff of the Faculty of Aquaculture, four technicians of KFEC and nine BSc students had joined the workshop and actively participated in both theoretical and practical sessions. The practical sessions were organized at the research station of KFEC in Ninh Loc (25 km north of Nha Trang). As these techniques are useful for most aquaculture research all participants agreed that the content of the workshop was helpful for their works, either to supervise student research projects or to conduct their own research. More importantly, the four technicians of KFEC and project staff are all able to carry out these techniques in the field. Figure 2: Lectures on water quality followed by practical works at KFEC station in Ninh Loc 3. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION The original plan to organize an international workshop at the end of the project to disseminate project outcomes was later replaced by joining the Asian Pacific Aquaculture 2007 Conference in Hanoi for three reasons: • Wider explosure of the project outcomes to both national and international scientists, farmers and policy makers, thus greater impacts; • A great chance to promote the CARD Program and the Project itself to local and international enterprises; and • To overcome the problem of insufficient funding for organizing an international workshop. Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  6  This change had been discussed and agreed between the Australian Project Leader (Mr. Michael Burke) and the Vietnamese Project Leader (Dr. Tung Hoang). The CARD VIE062/04 then organized: • An exhibition booth (No. 62, 4 m2) with posters about project activities in Australia and Vietnam including introduction about CARD Program, QDPI&F and Nha Trang University. The Asian Pacific Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society who organized this conference had offerred this booth for the CARD VIE062/04 Project at a special rate, 50% of the official rate. • Extension materials about the application of in-pond floating raceways for aquaculture purposes. • Raceway models (the Australian design and Vietnamese design) for demonstration purposes • Two oral presentations in Marine Fin Fish technical session: one presented by Mr. Michael Burke for the project outcomes in Australia and one presented by Dr. Tung Hoang for the project outcomes in Vietnam. Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  7  Figure 3: The Australian Project Leader (Michael Burke), Vietnamese Project Leader (Tung Hoang) and Project Secretary (Quyen Banh) explained the operation of floating raceways to both Vietnamese and international companies at the APC Aquaculture 2007 Conference in Hanoi This change resulted in great success. The exhibition booth of the CARD VIE062/04 Project was among the most attractive booths at the Exhibition. The Australian Project Leader and the Vietnamese Project Leaders both had to spend a substantial amount of time providing information and consultancy to many visitors. Among those visitors a number have applied this new technology after discussing with the Project staff at the Conference including: • Minh Thuan Co. (Vietnam): using floating raceways for barramundi fingerling production in Phan Rang and Ben Tre provinces. • Truong Thanh Co. (Vietnam): using floating raceways for eel production in reservoirs in Phu Yen province. • Viet Seabass Co. (Vietnam): using floating raceways for barramundi fingerling production in Vung Tau province. • Australis (USA): using floating raceways for barramundi fingerling production in Nha Trang, Vietnam. • Coral Seafood (Bundaberg, Australia): planned to use floating raceways for cobia fingerling production. • Binh Dinh Province’s Fisheries Extension Center (Vietnam): using floating raceways for monosex tilapia fingerling production. 4. INCORPORATION OF RESEARCH OUTCOMES INTO TEACHING MATERIALS The research outcomes of this project have been published in several papers nationally and internationally; thus could be used for teaching where appropriate. At Nha Trang University, information about floating raceway concepts, operation and management, limitation and future research have been incorporated into the teaching materials of at least five subjects: • Coastal Aquaculture Systems: for MSc students, taught by Dr. Tung Hoang • Marine Fish Farming: for BSc students, taught by Mr. Ngo Van Manh • Aquaculture Engineering: for BSc students, taught by Mr. Vo Ngoc Tham Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  8  • Experimental Design and Data Analysis: for BSc students, taught by Dr. Tung Hoang • Research Methodology in Aquaculture: for MSc students, taught by Dr. Tung Hoang In addition, some information about diseases of barramundi, groupers and cobia nursed in floating raceways are referred in lectures of the course “Fish Diseases” taught by Dr. Do Thi Hoa. The CARD VIE062/04 has been a good example on how research outcomes can be used for teaching and stimulate student’s interests. 5. OTHER IMPACTS ON RESEARCH CAPACITY OF NTU STAFF It is important to note that not only the technical experience and knowledge, but also the managerial experience gained from the project are valuable assets to all project staff. Their promotions somehow reflects the project impacts. • Mr. Vo Hoang Duy, the first Project Secretary has secured a teaching position at Tien Giang University after one year working for the project. • Ms. Banh Thi Quyen Quyen, the second Project Secretary was granted an MSc scholarship by V.L.I.R. Program and currently doing her MSc at Gent University in Belgium. Needless to say that the research experience and publications she gained by working for the CARD VIE062/04 Project had played an important role in her application. • Mr. Ngo Van Manh: project staff had successfully completed his MSc and currently teaching at Nha Trang University. Mr. Manh’s confidence in research has improved significantly as he is planning for a number of follow-up research. • Mr. Huynh Kim Khanh: project staff had successfully passed the entrance exams for MSc student in 2007 and currently doing his MSc study at Nha Trang University. • Dr. Tung Hoang: the Vietnamese Project Leader was promoted to Associate Professor in Dec 2007. His works on the CARD VIE062/04 has significantly contributed to this promotion. 6. REMARKS The impacts of the CARD VIE062/04 Project has been reviewed according to the project activities and milestones, mostly refering to immediate beneficiaries. It is hard to estimate in-direct impacts of the project or its long-term influence. However, for a two year research project like the CARD VIE062/04, it is Milestone 9 Report |CARD VIE 062/04 Project – Inpond Floating Raceway Production  9  appropriate to conclude that the project’s impacts are positive on the improvement of research capacity of NTU’ staff, particularly those actively involved in project activities. LIST OF APPENDICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED ON REQUEST • MSc thesis of Mr. Luu The Phuong (in Vietnamese) • MSc thesis of Mr. Ngo Van Manh (in Vietnamese) • Lecture on water quality management and analysis by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung (in Vietnamese) • Lecture on beneficial plankton in coastal ponds by Dr. Hoang Bich Mai (in Vietnamese) • Lecture on marine fish diseases by Dr. Do Thi Hoa (in Vietnamese) • Oral presentation at APC 2007 Aquaculture Conference by Hoang et al. (in English) • Oral presentation at APC 2007 Aquaculture Conference by Burke et al. (in English) • Published scientific papers (in English or Vietnamese)