Project: A.I.D. csd-2270
Task Order No. 3
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AQUACULTURE
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERIES NO. 1
SEPTEMBER 1972
Progress
Se. Report
on
Fisheries
SDevelopment
in
Northeastern
Brazil
I.
International Center for Aquaculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Dennis Rouse, Director Auburn, Alabama
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author wishes to express his gratitude to all who
played a role in this project. The staff at Auburn University,
U.S.A.I.D. officials and, most of all, the Brazilians are all due
a sincere and everlasting "muito obrigado" for everything.
Progress Report on Fisheries Development
in Northeastern Brazil
L. Aquaculture
N. B. JEFFREY'
INTRODUCTION
A SURVEY of fisheries problems and possibilities for de-
velopment in northeastern Brazil was initiated in 1966 by an
Auburn University team on a subcontract under a U.S. Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries - U.S.A.I.D. contract. Personnel
were E. W. Shell, E. E. Prather, and J. S. Dendy. Prelim-
inary investigations were on the potential of the irrigation
and water supply reservoirs constructed by DNOCS (Na-
tional Department of Works Against the Droughts) to supply
under management large quantities of fish for local consump-
tion in this food-deficient area. The team recommended the
intensive management of ponds for fish production as a
productive supplement. Upon return of the team to north-
eastern Brazil in 1967, a suitable area for a pond research
station was located below the dam of the Pereira de Miranda
Reservoir at Pentecoste. However, land at this site could not
be made available. In 1968 an Auburn team consisting of
E. W. Shell, E. E. Prather, and N. B. Jeffrey investigated
and approved an alternate site on DNOCS lands near its
Training Center. The water supply would come from the
General Sampaio-Serrota Reservoir via an irrigation canal.
A plan for a modern fishcultural experiment station with 40
experimental ponds was devised by E. E. Prather.
Construction at this site began in early 1969 under a
U.S.A.I.D.-DNOCS project with assistance by Mr. Harold
Magnusson and Mr. George H. Reese, A.I.D./Brazil. Task
Order 3 to Auburn University's worldwide project, A.I.D./
csd-2270, was approved and initiated November 21, 1969.
Under this contract, the author began a 2-year tour in North-
east Brazil with the primary duty of advising on construction
of the experimental station and training DNOCS personnel
in developing systems of aquaculture. At the time of his
arrival, 20 experimental ponds had been largely completed
except for water supply systems.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This report is a summary of work carried out and recom-
mendations made by the author during the tour of duty in
Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. The tour began on November 21,
1969, and terminated on October 25, 1971.
The scope of work as defined in the contract document
was:
1. Assist the National Department of Works Against the
Droughts (DNOCS), the Superintendency for the Develop-
'Formerly Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquacultures; present address: Division of Inland Fisheries,
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
ment of the Northeast (SUDENE), and qualified organiza-
tions and individuals in the private sector to program, de-
velop, and implement effective methods of intensive fresh-
water pond fish culture in Northeast Brazil.
2. Assist the CONVENIO/DPAN (a subdivision of
DNOCS for the development of freshwater fisheries in the
Northeast) in the development of its Northeast fisheries re-
search program by providing technical assistance in:
a. the design, construction, and operation of research
demonstration facilities specifically designed for intensive
freshwater pond fish culture;
b. the development of freshwater fish culture research
activities to provide the most effective combination of
species for commercial fish culture, control of fish diseases
and parasites, control of weeds, and testing of locally
available fish feeds;
c. the training of local technicians to assist the private
sector in establishing intensive freshwater pond fish culture
techniques and operations;
d. the development of DNOCS research facility to par-
ticipate in the comprehensive and systematic international
information exchange system on fish culture techniques.
The following accomplishments were achieved during the
period of the contract:
1. A modem research facility consisting of 48 earthen
ponds and a laboratory building was constructed. Construc-
tion on the facility is continuing.
2. A research program was initially aimed at evaluating
species for fish cultural potential. A total of 20 different
species of fishes and shrimps was studied in the research
program.
3. Brazilian counterparts were trained in basic principles
of fish culture and aquacultural research techniques.
4. Contacts between Brazilian counterparts and worldwide
fish cultural interests were developed through personal con-
tact and literature exchange.
5. A contract proposal for development of extension ac-
tivities was initiated between U.S.A.I.D./DNOCS/Auburn
University, and an extension of the contract for the position
of fish culture advisor was recommended.
6. The author participated as team leader and interpreter
during special 10-week training tour, October to December
1971, in which four Brazilian counterparts, Jose Fernandes,
Jose Bezerra, Francisco Nepomuceno, and Edmundo 
Duarte,
visited various aquacultural and fisheries research facilities
in the United States. The principal objective of this training
program was for counterpart personnel to receive first-hand
knowledge in areas of fishcultural research, fish hatchery
management, and commercial fish farming operations.
Experimental Facilities for Aquaculture
hitl foold researclh fac ilts loctatedf appfroxiloatcfx ')1) kilo)
i ('tels w5est of For)ltaleza, is~ pofab 
'ahy the b est of its Ix ' pe ill
South Anmerica. It p1 -eseotlx- 
conlsists of 48 eat theroi polods
cloid a JIatoi to- 'lvnbildling. 
There('trlt 4 poiids of 
approi-
toateix 4,600 sipiat' mett't 
each; 37 poids of approximit'lx
:390) to 4001 squiare imeter-s each; 
doid 7 poo ds of appt oxiltatefx
I1000 squlare n'ieters e'ach. -Illt' 
laltoratot\ htiltlilg 21 00
:1() toctel ) toilsists of an office, 
a chemilcal ,ili( tissettiol
laltotatorx , a-i feed anott 
et 10010, a we tt lalboratorl 
d e 111(ightl
enirs c olol) x it \ w xaY of 
all irrigitioli Cana1l.
FIG. 3. Laboratory building and cement 
holding tanks at DNO( S station,
FIG. 1. View Df some of the expr-ininu rronids a7 the 000(25 
aquucul
lural research facility. Pands in forergrournd are 350 sq meters 
and 'hose
in background are 4,600 sq. meters.
FIG 4 Crop 7 ,n7~iii C 779 sirs
FIG. 2. One of te 350 sq meter ponds witn a nylon 
net fence to prevent
escape of freshwater shrimp (Macrobrochium 
sp..
Research Program
A total itf 21) speties (If fishets' ,id 
sfltilllfs xx ats stoice
ttti the t exealth phase of the piogramin. 
Var-ioos fex t's otf
fishl cuturtes xwere ex afoatetf, ft t'ftluittg 
nIattrl prtttducti oll,
organicut and tinioI rgil it' fertiflizaltiotn, 
atndt feetdinIg Ill preparerd
l'it iot ts In ate x itft focafls'-aix ib he 
miaterials.
Species Research
.4paiari. The ita~li li f As-f ottiotu 
s (clt'i'll) is at fishil thalit
fas fleetn pt iwtet fot iitix 
xcr ('y1 hx l)OCS tattherics
forI stot'ktig ill plonds andt reserv5oitrs. Thle 
apilajari, or osca2.1
as it is ktioxx t to thet a(fttaritlol trade, is a food 
ff51 iii Sooith
\inet ic. It is easil , tt'ptotltctd 
iii pontds ill ttortheastt't
Brtazil. It is a fish that hlantles wxel 
,itit is l('latixe cl tasx to
I Ilture. Howevtetrt. its growth frln lal l iitiaf 
sizte of .5 gramls
to 85~ gtis itt 6 11olttfs is ref atix tkx slo\% 
. It is ati itmllix 1)1 is
npecit's that hecom-les nollrt fpisti\oou 
wittt h x11 age.
Produc tion of apaiat 1 i I\ un 11i vai)11s 
t'\erinitllI cot tdi-
il~tis ait thle reseatrch fat'ifitx' is sutmtttat izet 
ill Tfabtlt I. Fish
%\etre st ocketd at 2,8001 fer' fltctte atl 
ti e tIIte togtf of thle ex-
petriieItt wxas 6 Iniot Is. E ath figurte 
reprn ('lts a tliell o (f
lx 0 fpoolts. Pontdts usetdt ill tht' ('\xrimnelt 
wxere -350 s(Inw-lle
tll('ters ill s111fte atrea.
ISTBLt I. \ I I PRl UCIt fUttER 1(\ \iT 
HREEt tl'
EX tEI'ILN I XL (;ttDtlI1('S'
5Vt11ll xx'ttgh 9('t pttoi
Phl ospha~te
Phoiisphtei
pis' feer'r'lilr
5 28 :35.7 1,1000
5 4:3 52.3 2,25))
Net pro-
(Ilitit-ot
Kg. /Itca.
28
6:3
85 58.4 4,961) 1:39
Esc tht iotigth tiaitiat is at species tihat gl-oss s at a 
ftoodl
Cr ate l ate, it pt obl)/ shotul1d be conidIeired for 
fi sh enitt i
itt muIt i sp
1
eeies corn i/tatt/)ts teeaonse of its h ig gin 
rket v alute,
the ease xx itit \x iie it ean b~e reproduced, 
antd its retsistan e
to itlinit uItoig hatndlinig. Its possible role 
mtilit lie that
of at small predla tot to) eotri iol treprodcti 
on of otiher species
soueh ats F i/opi sp 5. or to cotro i x id ftisihes 
tihat eci ter t(,
tused i s the pi imrt " fish lit pond( eultutte. 
I-osses et, thte small
iitiall si/ce 5 gertants) pis tite shoriit peto ttcotf 
tint]W titis ftsht
species \\ as te sted( prtettnte(d prtotper 
e\ dalttatiot of its p]itt
Curintata cont. D)'\S hiatchtetries has 
e alstt splciel
this spci e s and c prod/teed fiit t erho ttges fti- s ttekiitg 
lot in ,
vearIs. 'Ile( cuiitit coinktttt Ptltjhltls sp. ) i 
t5 ,tltl~
,tttdf tiaditiottal fttod fish ill ttttttheastet t i Bazil. It is tttte (
the ttttst athtitattmt fishltit ttal catch ji! the 
freslis aters tif ft
Not tltst. It is sli5i/edliit the IDNOCS 
lietic's ttstt,
pit/ltitl ilieetittits. 'I'lttlt/ -1-inlata hl/~s tlittoi 
tts jitt atittts I
atl isottcs ato
1 
ilt timles t sets sttol tttgeitddx ttt itti1st\ titstt
It ts prilariks at lttsx etst fish it ttli/ec pr iliiplls let 
tlte pl(.t
pettple, bttt it is sets, platlit t l/i'eless 
bIectuse ti' its as at]
ihbilits itttd lttxs cttst itt t elttttttt ttt sitltsxate' lisltes, tteat 
ati,
l)'xOCS researchi leil/ts v a\is slo\x frtim 
attt itoitial sizew
2(0 grt nts to T:3 grtamt s itt ft ttillJ.s tisilge 
it stoekit g tate
1,250l pet hectare attd phmosphtate let tili/atitttt. 
It did itt,
pellets sottetned.
foTih citr , eit tit \is t I)l rem ix tt an 5 eors t fsill
I ilapia. TIhe tiIltpias te stttme ttf the ttttst eliiett att(I
t',tsils ectltturted pttttd fishies. Filapia tI t(I(lli (fo Itrnie Ix '.
tttt /ittpltcu tt hIIas beet spilwx ed ict t t reare ltx l)OCS
sittce 19.50. T his partiettlar species is herbhisvorttts. It feeds
pimvarilx tt\pon the high er attjttie plantts lit tt pontdit eti
S ittoltttettt. It (ftes ttot gtttsx ais t itpicdls its cdo sttnte ittl
sfpecies tif tIlatpia, st ite s T. tIiltIic. The inetit xx ei gI t of
tdl s tiig.-tl-thea etr 1'. r, tta//i itl e\peilink ttts stotcked ttttl5
xx itli lbtrtttt fisht \\asit ~ poxiliatelY It) gt ttts after t af-1mitil
izr\Ittxilg petitt/. lThis xwais the resttlt ttf thet tt etetdotis
fisht usinig it etttlit atiott of tile tilatpia itttI at piset i ti/ls
sp/eci/s \\itll prttdutce lilget ts ti age si/es ttf ttlap~ia 
atil ai
FIG. 5. iurimato (Prochiodus sp. i s the most obundant freshwater fish
in northeastern Brazil where it is a popular and traditional food fish.
Curitnatt pilco. The cutrim atit piit ( Pto 'Itil//I/I sp. Iis
ersv sttttilllt ill its eilttaetet isties tti tite ct/Iitnitta c//irIum.
bi-ot it dttcs t tts tti% to Itt iget size. Recseatrcht re(stults iticate
tha~t xx l/ this fish xx\as sttiekec att 6i25 pc'r teetilrc' and cixxitit
get attis tti 214 gtrins itt 8.5 tttottis.
'lie ct ti ilti tt paeui is p1 tiiathl scuitablc fit 5/ tow I initedl
fisit cui t/tid opetra)'t~ti/ilns. Its t e~tii ~ aec'epfiti/ii]its it tile to itt
kets oIt the Nthteatst comn~ii ed x itli its fatit g-r/ixxl tit t rc'l
,ttix els loss stttekintg rte~ts mtghldt itntdica~te its possible use its it
talittor species itt Ilit i speci('s cottlibittltittl s. It its bee'n
spawn ted unde/rc i/,tc'~eli ti/looitimtis ttsiit ho/t'rmone~ itijcti/ils.
FIG. 6. Titopio rendo/i, formerly T rrte/onoptesrro. These fish were part
ot the commercial catch from General Sompolo Reservoir.
hiv e st fttal e pied atotIs ottI ce prtopcer stock ittg trates tof
tia pia~ antd thtc predttor species cati Ibc est ablfishI ed. ExperIi-
mtentts shltttd illsoi bte ettttc tee t/t test tile tI/ctiit/re ( (hit/la
oct ffl( y) t .Is it p) 'iedittt i species xxi t / tilaipia.
(11 tt. oetitlit atittt t is summ ar~izedI it T ale 2. Both spc'es
\e stockcet att 560t pe hectare, i :ttt(lc letiietli tif ti/c cx-
Itt it/tel tt \\a 1t88 (has s.
I\ ('l\is /INSI t/
I rcatmtiie
I k(1 fish.
NO ttt~ll
Kg. /tt.
170)
300t
Pt
2.5
16
7001f)
-1.76 krJv 6.sitiontt iv'rttts'r to, prou/s//
Pf t'Ilit such its '. ItIa il l tic' [i//ptcl, 7tt rutt / (' i s itt a I
onie rc'sersvotir. Also, it servc's its at spc'cic's SSic i/t llI c-/it/et
It is tccmitmenc'dced/ thatt ttis spces I/c li/et d lot" stocdk-
ill',' ill the lar gel resevxNi (Ill ~Iits it IlIIII!! s[pecies ill ((imo
TIra ira. [This predaciu l ei (~CC Ii I, dw iniaalaaii 1
XX idelv (listihtlile tllililigiii irt1 I wist e! i i Br~azil. ItI
XX ideX used~ tlitil f IX b tile [)irel. peopl~e oIt the i egiili hilt
iX ]lit ph te!! i'd species Ibel.iiile of its laige 111lliIIei of ill
tialiliiieliilii hiiiie. Thle tiairia epi odlici ll philds iiii lit 
I
I fllilIctill oII tifapiai (a 1W tll i s fromI!(il 7 gi ala i tot
'[lie( tra!!diX is pr aI)IX not a X \er , good~l sp~eciCX t fish (Ill-
til I IIXXC e it i pesenit ill the XX ate!s ot the rcilili a loiof
ill deX elilfillig etelisjX I'iliethodii( fih eiltiiieC. Its pllXsifi(i
IX l it peielil 111isel.olblaiol hudk
FIG ' , - - - 1- - 111
freshwater fish in northeastern Brazil.
.
0 
1, 
11
FIG. 7. Trairal floptias ntaoaricus), an endemic predacious fish that 
is
distributed throucghout northeastern Brazil. This species may be effecive
incnrlig ec 6 numbers of sn ill ticpn fir ponds
7Al
FIG. 8. Tucunore pinimo Cichia tmensis) an the left 
and tucunaore comumn
C. ocellaris) an the right.
Peseacla. T]111 peseilI I ( /
1
iwgsil NIllX((1 1(11 .X l ,iillN IX isI
iloi~t II ih tiiaf [IXits h beeiIi oiICCd fIX the i)NO(S ilatehli
ciliX f1)1 IllitiX X \ 'l X er. This fish 
[i C iI-cwioiI iiit tfeedX
lislilli 1)11iliXiIX tel Xrail1. tce i I XtIN 
liillioll 11111
'111od grIXXti rate. Tilt [){'X.ail does 
1
)X siii lnat!!! Ili
poiii(tX floiXX LX C it isX e XCI difficlit to hlim this sp,~cel
fisli eiii1tii i )i ipztIilXs. It is XClIX sensitiveC til iiiiaiiges ill
Becausit XXe of Iits IC~ poo h n li1
1
tj (Iit ie t iii the f l i t o I
iths'ltlld )i ll.lC e li tlls , iX s Ilisl willr X liiC Ili Tilll\I i it
Ilafe l. iie. TheX I X l Cld \ill) i X holill iflIs. isC iltiof
lit(F (itile riK h iriiiti.dSo FaleXorvrSS
FIG. 10. Mandlube (Aegeniosus brevififis). This catfish was spawned 
far
the first time in captivity using pituitary, harmane injections.
Stirttlbim. ThIisX speiesC (h PwiltpO/!y.Xtoma~ X. IX i 
11 o ito
XXhere1 it iX aiX lilillC. ExperIimenI~itX ill (oibIlliltll 
XX itil
Xize' of its Illililthl it \X abXle toilljihilati' hilIot 
oft thie III i.(illtii
,
1
ul0r
- . 41L -
broodil Stock. I IIt tilc t it \ka, loo Ittit i i tlts a pi odiittol I()]
efft (ill ish i 11i
FIG. i -,ii i tPsr opiorystur p , si , of the large piscivorous
catfishes Occurtrincj in the major rivers.
\Iaiidi. liiitiidtti ( I'Pilildio Iuaiii.x ) ix oitt of tI li
IMIiliei toiitx th ttt speciex til catfixshes. It ix all exce'llet
food fiih, ctituipat lug fax -t .li xx iih the tilittei catfishi
gi.roxx ixst, but thisxx axil l-i d tix btcausxe of piotlemst xx itli
Tisx fixsi doesl~ tittixtime i9119tti iatitil (Ijiite \%il eiatici il)
l)*it Sfto lie it xpectex thait is liilti tot iilir x (1-lig t hll-
tIilttg. It ifite hav\e shiarp is iiiiex xx iitl cauxe xttii pi lt
It is t 
5
eittitiiiced thlt aitidjtiiol eliolt ble placedi iii xftdx-
ill(,x t x 'liaidi Exx ts it oul ci]tiiii t i titit tl xxi]] ut flit Illii
f ii ( 1(\ pi wi t d r Ixiiitililh I i l m ld if xf 1 1i i tr r
FIG. 12. Mandi
tensive culture systems
(alrati. Tlis fishi / I i i~ mii ,~ j) , itii If Il
xiiler petciex itf cattihex. Iii rxperimlenlts it gi exx x(i
itixx i it pi epatei ratiton. Thei xpecies cait hi teptitiicti
it) eaiptix it\ tixitig pittlitit xv ilifeetiotix.
FIG. 13. Well dlevelop , oo ar es of ria l llu-
ttit \%\1 itis fish.
1 rii jtu li. T timlt) tj l l X ctjl ft dr s)iI i is tite of tiit
iarget citrii i fron lti thet \tia i/ il itti It is rete d to
itachla iniii itiiin sizt oft 25 kilo tiaits. It is alsoi all e\(eilttti
tood fih III itix 1969, 11)11 t\tiii tch 25 spectittictis X
Otin tetd 1w INO(S T)heti iteiwe st iz i oinx iii-a %\-it 19
Trix ()it Martch 1, 19 1,j the ix uilo \Ngexeigilit \\dxtiits toi-
to ielx a3l ii. inicxatd posbities tit it su (ital Lxic gultt
ltoxx tot it 
1
iititiicet tis fixst ill itixi dx y. )ie treproidutionti
,.~
FIG 14 irsiroty b.iolgist Air-ry it-- D,, i tntborqu
Myletes brdensl, a large churocin from the Amazon River Basin. This fish
reaches a size of over 3 kilograms in 2 years.
Pirapitixiga. Thle pi iapltli.a. t1lttossoioi sp.) iIs ailso 
ooc1
of the lim1 el tlillill" 1i 101 theAliatl Bili/Iilsiii. ft 
is I-c
p~ortedi to reath it iiiimin~i size of 5) kifiigiai ati1 
hi~ lis
tlelo~lstlritec ectellentf 1411155tl. A slii
1
)Iltlt of 4ff sfpec mels.
s6t it Ia l I 55ejtlt of 2ff (Ti.ills. ii liv C oil juiii 6, (I 970.
)it \Iiti cl 1, 1971. thei as eio- ii4(5eight \\ is mole tlliio 
I
kilo'llilii. l1liiis, ill 9 Ilootlis the fish (T1ic\\ to 111011 thanl 
I
fbilqu fill 111id ij 1 If 1( i
Trlopicail. th'lese fishes are biiii ised toit .1stitabf!i' sue foi
reproducflltionl ISo thati 1151)( d iiitioli fietss (C the ft\\(i species
imlle~l T. hrolint 11 h X felliiie T. fiiltottice1 till Ible attii)
puished. This ciross is repor11tedl t(1 prloduce I 0ff per tcent 11ialce
It is i (i.11iliniiICd thiat it great delca of (11111 be plfacedf
ill cllilif Sc tet'sio of iti liiil llls aul ex (otic spies tot
iheifiici the mo1st iffhiiiiit iiolfbilittiols of fishies fiii pondi~
It otr iii their acttC
1
)filijf ol flcal irkcts ill 11111 fieast-
II tllililil11a S the fiifts o tllo\ fii.w iiltls specties appefatr stilt
,ibl lotmore iotni~cecnh lil~loi rlp Mtl
A
FIG. 15. Pirapitingo Mylossome sp. is another largo, chotacin tram the
Amazon River Basin.
Piall 5 erduideiro. HIrood( stock ot this sfpeties I/(L ) ills
I1. Ik iiilii4 1411)5511 at thei I)NOCS reseairci faiilst flotlfi-
tihi icseacii. \o alctul tesclit \,ssas tfoll ssit ilik lsp
1
ctics
11111111 this cotiliiatt piod.1( Hesiclic 191101ts ss itli this sfpecies
shouI(Ith e i liied at es iflatii 14 Os irole 5as i pssib le iliolfilsk
toiN tiott agt if)II tiulnitllioli fish ti11ftilles ll
1
d its lfflciellu\
lit foodi iltl iiiiioll
Exotic species. Spetlilieis ot tur speies oIf tlltit fishes
- ais's (,Hp (CO iiophflwtiotol, 
1111 sie ils li) (Ill/-
pollai~llili/lll llllItris) Tila ll00( Oi ctil 1iii I. /ittt lil
lle 9111114 14111551 ftoi, lesialt i stuiels. Thie alass talf pI
sf~ctloiilis I a ill the si l il al p 6 sfpetil)i is I scII ohtiioit
29, I 91. Thitst fish i t bioi gitissii ats fbtoodh stock so that
ill f it it ill C I ficef sp1a55 ili \\145ill [iI tS it 5 lilli1 fih 
1()l
HG 1 F-s-turshiinip (Macrobrachium
was aptued i Serota Reservoir.
FIG. 16. Gross corp Ctenophoryngodon idella) is o promising 
species
for fish culture and aquatic wieed control.
Thei t\%0o species of tflalpia \%r( ic 5tlit to the l)OS 
hroli
\fliil I)s \f-. 1. Hardi of thie Ccitie CTedliIlic 
Vtltstj( I
8
cries This large male
Pit". Tlie jpitii ( AiIacrobhiu /iiil lrc/itis is a i t ft esfi-
%\autei slIlllip Axxtrts otf iil~trtst. Cultuie ttctfilies for
the Jpitidfitiilli of' 115 tiii(5os a fittli 
tdes eoptt ill FlIritla
I lasaii, aiiii ttlitiis ill Asia fior itfated species. 
'fhe pitu
is frest~ti il liiimitetd lililihwill s om ii 01)9 s (Ills oIf 
ft Notrth-
east. Feiialt sfietinis xx itfi (141s 55919 af capre 
1111111 Set-
I tta ilestli 1, iii the eggs ssc~ C l siihsjiitit httthetd. 
The
laps ile rtliliif ittI ilivefiflrIol ifs8 (las s orI less. Fioi 
slIrSisal
ttf thle fitS if slil ill)) safii itY mo1(st rloiili ahose 10f 
pp.t.
After 1-iticlii the jus eiie stagt ilies iiati toi freshw5attrs
all&
4
where they grow to maturity. Successful culture for this
species will depend upon the development of suitable fa-
cilities near supplies of fresh and salt water so that the critical
water quality conditions required by the young larvae can
be maintained. DNOCS should consider the development
of a larval raising facility near Fortaleza for the production
of postlarval shrimp. This species has potential for culture
in the Northeast. One other area that might be investigated
is the stocking of pitu in many of the reservoirs that do not
have sizable populations of the pitu because of lack of ac-
cess for the young shrimp that hatched in the downstream
brackishwater areas of the rivers.
Research on Feeds
To obtain the higher productions in fish culture, it is nec-
essary to use prepared rations. To evaluate the possibilities
of prepared rations, a pelleting machine for experimental ra-
tions was ordered. This machine is now being used to pro-
duce experimental rations. Staff of the International Center
for Aquaculture provided valuable assistance in analyzing
samples of locally available agricultural products and in ad-
vising on the formulation of the rations .
An excellent report, "Racoes para Piscicultural Intensiva
No Nordeste Do Brasil," prepared by Paiva, Freitas, Tavares,
and Magnusson, is a summary of the research done in the
preparation of rations by DNOCS. The recommendations
made in this report should serve as a guide for the prepara-
tion of rations for use in Brazil.
Efforts should continue to be made to develop suitable
rations for fish cultures, but major emphasis should be placed
on the utilization of organic fertilizers. Because of the high
costs of the agricultural products required for rations and
the traditionally low market value for freshwater fish prod-
ucts, intensive fish culture systems for the near future cannot
be based upon feeding prepared rations. Systems that use
organic fertilizers such as manure from pigs, chickens, and
ducks seem most appropriate for the present.
Counterpart Training
The Brazilians who worked with this project included the
entire staff of the Convenio-DPAN at one time or the other
(12 to 15 persons). However, the actual technical staff as-
signed to fish culture included only 3 Brazilians, one of
which is also an administrator. With the support of AID
Brazil, one of these, Amaury da Silva received 9 months
training in fish culture techniques at Auburn University.
Two other biologists, Helio Melo and Odilo Dourado, re-
ceived training in related fishery fields of limnology and
fisheries biology. Also, four Brazilian biologists took part in
a special 2-month training tour of various fish hatchery,
aquaculture, and fisheries research stations in the United
States. This group, with Dr. Jeffrey acting as coordinator
and interpreter, visited the following facilities:
1. Oct. 22, 1972
2. Oct. 26
3. Oct. 27
Eastern Fish Disease Laboratory
U.S. Department of Interior
Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife
Kearneysville, West Virginia
Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery
U.S. Department of Interior
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
Pisgah ForestLN-orth Carolina
North Carolina State Fish Hatchery
Marion, North Carolina
4. Nov. 1 School of Marine and Atmospheric
Sciences
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
5. Nov. 2-3 Tropical Atlantic Biological Laboratory
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Miami, Florida
6. Nov. 4-5
7. Nov. 8
8. Nov. 9-10
9. Nov. 11-12
10. Nov. 15
11. Nov. 16
12. Nov. 17
13. Nov. 18-19
14. Nov. 22-30
15. Dec. 6-9
16. Dec. 10-11
Biological Laboratory
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
St. Petersburg, Florida
Marine Resources Laboratory
Alabama Department of Conservation
Dauphin Island, Alabama
School of Forestry and Wildlife
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Biological Laboratory
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Galveston, Texas
Department of Wildlife Sciences
Texas A & M University
College Station, Texas
Warm Water Fish Culture Research
Laboratory
U.S. Department of Interior
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
Stuttgart, Arkansas
Kelso Exploratory Fishing and Gear
Research Base
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Kelso, Arkansas
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Mississippi State University
State College, Mississippi
Department of Fisheries and Allied
Aquacultures
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Southeastern Fish Culture Laboratory
U.S. Department of Interior
Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife
Marion, Alabama
Department of Zoology
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Illinois
Formal academic and research training programs for per-
sons in fish culture should be initiated and have been rec-
ommended for future contracts. The ultimate success of this
entire program will depend on the ability of the Brazilian
Nationals to carry out the program without outside technical
aid, and it is to this end that the program objectives should
be directed.
During the 23 months of this contract, the Brazilian tech-
nical staff working with fish culture became familiar with
many general techniques in carrying out the research pro-
gram and to some extent with the general principles under-
lying aquaculture. Continued technical assistance should in-
crease their rate of development of suitable pond culture
methods for Brazil.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Facilities. Construction of more ponds utilizing the avail-
able land should continue. Sufficient resources to complete
construction of approximately 100 ponds of 1,000 square
meters each should be sought. This number should be
adequate to furnish the facilities necessary for the compre-
hensive research and production program. The present fa-
cility with 48 ponds and the laboratory is the largest in South
America. An all-out effort should be made by DNOCS,
U.S.A.I.D., and Auburn University to complete development
of this facility and to assure its continued participation in the
overall fisheries program of not only northeastern Brazil but
the rest of South America. It is recommended that DNOCS
establish a permanent annual budget for proper maintenance
of this research facility.
Research. The philosophy behind the first 2-year program
was one of training and preparation for the future. It was
deemed most important for the overall program to train the
Brazilian Nationals in principles and methods of fish cultural
research for development of culture systems. Many species
of fish were used at different levels of culture. This has
served to make the Brazilian biologists more knowledgeable
of the many possibilities available to them. The program
now has at its disposal brood stock of numerous native and
exotic species of fish from which to select suitable species
for fish culture systems. In the author's opinion, emphasis
should be placed on some of the exotics, such as the tilapias
and grass carp, for which culture systems already exist. How-
ever, such species as the tambaqui, mandi, and pirapitinga
should remain an integral part of the research program.
These and other endemic species could contribute signifi-
cantly to a successful fish culture program. Attempts should
also be made to secure other species such as the filter feeding
catfish, madara (Hypothalemus edentatas), from the Amazon
Basin. This fish could have worldwide impact as a cultured
species.
Counterpart Training. The DNOCS scientists are capable
persons who would benefit greatly by additional training in
fisheries. Scholarships should be made available to furnish
specific advanced degree programs in fish culture.
The Brazilians are aware of the potential the program has
for them and the future of fish culture. Technical assistanc.
from U.S.A.I.D. should probably continue for a period of at
least 5 years. At the end of this time, the Brazilians will
have the necessary facilities and should be adequately trained
to carry out a comprehensive program that will greatly
benefit not only Brazil but other countries as well.
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