_

I

I

JI

lI

A~

Progress Report on Fisheries Development in Northeast Brazil
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AQUACULTURE
AUBURN UNIVERSITY Auburn, Alabama Project AID/TA BOA-1 152 T.O 2 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION R. Dennis Rouse, Director Research Od Development Series No. 10 JANUARY 1976

Progress in development of a fish culture extension program is evident in these scenes: TOP-Fish culture extensionists discuss construction details for a new fish pond being constructed by a local farmer. CENTER-Local farmers look on as DNOCS personnel sample Tilapia hybrids during a fish culture demonstration program at a private fish pond. BOTTOM-Both fresh and saltwater fish are sold in Fortaleza's markets. Tilapia hybrids (foreground) were marketed during a market test carried out by DNOCS. The study indicated large demand for Tilapia which sold for Cr$5.00 per kilogram (U.S. $0.26 per pound).

CONTENTS Page
IN TR ODUCTIO N ........................................... 3 PRESENT STATUS

4

Personnel

4

Fin g erlin g s ............................................ 5 Fish Farming Activities Private Fish Culture Projects--RECOMMENDATIONS

5 6

7

Tr ain ing -----.-------------------7 DNOCS ColonizationSettlement Project 7

Model Farm Demonstrations............... 7 Fingerling Production
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

7

7

COVER PHOTO. Moist balls of wheat bran were fed to Tilapia hybrids in this 8,000square-meter pond on a daily basis at selected feeding stations.

Auburn University is an equal opportunity employer.

Progress Report on Fisheries Development

in Northeast Brazil
JOHN W. JENSEN*

INTRODUCTION
Works Against the Drought (DNOCS) 1 has received technical assistance in intensive fish culture extension since 1972 through an Auburn University International Center for Aquaculture/USAID contract. Task Order No. 8, contract AID/ esd-2270, provided technical assistance funds from May 1972 through June 1974. The last year, from July 1974 through June 1975, was funded under Task Order No. 2 AID/TABOA-1152. In 1966, Auburn University personnel surveyed the DNOCS fisheries program to establish guidelines for improving freshwater fisheries management practices in Brazil's Northeast region. At that time, intensive fish culture was recommended as "the most feasible solution to increase fish production in this drought-stricken area." In the relatively short period since that recommendation was made, an intensive fish culture research facility was built that has become South America's largest. Its work in tropical aquacultural systems has already brought international recognition to this facility. Intensive fish culture techniques, applicable to the physical and economic conditions of Northeast Brazil, have been developed using the Tilapia hybrid (Tilapia hornorum (male) x Tilapia nilotica (female).2 Through DNOCS, an extension program has been established to carry these techniques to the producers. In addition, training of fellow Brazilian and foreign fishery biologists has been initiated using expertise of DNOCS fishery personnel. The author's contract participation dealt with assistance in fish culture extension. Therefore, this report will be limited to discussion of progress made in that field from May 1972 through June 1975, with emphasis on the period 1974-75. Additional information for the period 1972-74 can be found in "Progress Report on Fisheries Development in Brazil."a Progress was made during the 3 years that the DNOCS Center for Ichthyological Research was provided with assist* Research Associate, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and International Center for Aquaculture. Departmento Nacional de Obras Contra as Secas.
2LovsHIN, DA

THE

BRAZILIAN

GOVERNMENT'S

National

Department of

SILVA, AND FERNANDES.

1974.

The Intensive

Culture of the All Male Hybrid of Tilapia hornorum (male) x Tilapia nilotica (female) in Northeast Brazil. FAO/CARPAS Sym-

posium on Aquaculture in Latin America, Montivideo, Uruguay. (In print.) SJENSEN, J. W. 1974. Progress Report on Fisheries Development in Brazil. Project AID-2270 Task Order 8, International Center for Aquaculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Directorate of Fisheries and Fishculture (Directoria de Pesca e Piscicultura).

ance in aquaculture extension. The following items highlight the most significant activities and advances related to the development of the fish culture extension program: 1. A counterpart extension worker was assigned by DNOCS, thereby initiating the first fish culture extension program in Northeast Brazil. 2. The former Division of Fisheries and Fish Culture under the Directorate of Irrigation was established as an autonomous directorate 4 under the administration of the General Director of DNOCS, providing new organization and vitality to the program. 3. Intensive culture of the all mal' Tilapia hybrid (T. hornorum x T. nilotica) was proved to be technically and economically feasible. With this culture fish, DNOCS began an extension program aimed at helping regional farmers. 4. A simple but comprehensive fish culture manual (Cartilha do Criador de Peixe) that could be easily understood by farmers of the Northeast was published by DNOCS to promote fish culture and teach methods. 5. Twenty-five ponds of the Waldemar de Franca fish hatchery were placed in Tilapia hybrid fingerling production. These ponds had been used for raising fingerlings used in reservoir stocking programs. This action increased hybrid fingerling production, but most importantly it directly involved DNOCS fish hatcheries with the intensive fish culture program. 6 During 1974-75, farms involved in intensive culture of Tilapia hybrids increased from 1 to 13, giving momentum to the rapidly developing program. 7. DNOCS fisheries extension workers participated in training Brazilian and foreign biologists. The International Training Program in Fish Culture sponsored by DNOCS during March-April 1975 included on its agenda training in aquaculture extension. When the Auburn University fishery investigative team surveyed the DNOCS fishery program in 1966, reservoir fish production was not meeting consumer demand. Hunger and malnutrition were commonplace among the Northeast's poor. Although the region is still plagued by these problems almost 10 years later, knowledge from the new fish culture research program may help alleviate such food shortages in the future. A fish culture system has been adapted to conditions of Northeast Brazil and numbers of fish farmers have increased as word of success has spread. A real impact on food production in Northeast Brazil can be made by fish culture now that resources are available. To do this, larger efforts in extension and fingerling production will be necessary.

PRESENT STATUS Personne
Twxo full-time extension xworkers headquairtered in Foi-taleza are presently eharged wxith the duties of prumotig fish eultire and providing technical assistanice to farmers. Tlxxo parttime wxorkers, xxho aire primarily hatchery biiolcogists, operate from [xxo DNOCS fish hatcheries xxithin the state of Cearii. The Center for Ichthy ological Research has bieeii closely associaited xxith L SAID technical assistaie programns sinIce 1966f. Althrough administered cdirectly byx[tie Directorate of H sheries and Fishculture, this reseaiclh center is not properly struetuired to administer an extension~ programi. Hoxxexver, DNOCS regional direetorates have a structure capable of manraging, an extension program. Under these direetorates are inicluded the tour fish hatcheries in the N ortheast. InI ]tue 1975, the extension dixvision xxas added to the regrional directorates* responlsiility. Exteiisien wxorkers headquar tered in IFortaleza wxere placed unider the Second Regional Directorate. This directorate is respoinsibile foi Cearfi, the state xxhere alimost all fishi ponids alie lcocatedl. For intensixve fish cultuire to have a larger impact on the N ortheast, howxexver, other regional directorates miust haxve at their disposal tr ained extension peisonnel to carrx on this xwork in other N ortheast states. Extension personnel xxorking iil Ceai a are able to respondl to requests for assistance from local fairmers. Piromotional

0 (Ilk [to ilicrease

[bie number of: farm pols

fiI tile regiull01

limited, ho\\sCX er due to the lack of a constant suipply hybirid fin gerliii' gs and a shlortalge of exteilsiol xxirkers.

is of.

Iiiitiatioi Iof exteilsioni efforts thl oughiout the Northleast wxili reifuil - alu in]tensix C per sonnel trainig program. To begiu, al least txxoI extension wxorkers should be traiued arid assigned to each DN OCS fish hatchery. Tils xxIllld require six more wo lrkers plus a couordinator. To trajo these aditional plec~c will rirejO( outside assistance, most lilkely thruoubh U~SAID. Traiuing '<5ouldclelude iInstlOctil,0 ill practical fish culture. exteilsiou methods alnd theor\x and ecI ilouncs. Additional fish culture, extensioln xtaff wxould he trained ax thle nceed arises. The Peutecoste Aq1 uaculture Statioui has lbecome all internationlally recognlizedc tr aininlg center for intelisix e fishi culture and othier fisheix -related fields. DN OCS fishecries personnel ar coClmmittin g thecnselx es to a programn aimned at traininlg fisheriollogists fromt other Latin Armerjcall coun1tijes. Fish

culture exterlsju

is included iii the curr iluim o~ffer ed in D\ O('S spollsored pr ograms, wh Iich xxill requfire exten si01n spec ialixts w5ithI advanl ced ti ailino as ilistructlix. Am( lug Lain Amyericall counltr ies, ()I]\ Brla/il alld El Salxvador flax C ilte siX C fish culture extelixioltI lgr0amns. M~any Coun1triP 1(5Illx laquacultul e research pl ogIamns m id gfood rec suilts all Cbleinig obtainled, hut ai lack of exten~sionl wxorkers 1 irex elts commlunlication of resear ch r esults to piroducers 01 p1rospective&p1roduicers5. In1 man cases, resear ch is clone for 1researchl's salke xxithi 11o practical objecctive c Illxxexer, the

Dr. John Plumb, of Auburn University's International nosis to international trainees.

Center

for Aquoculture, demonstrates techniques of fish parasite and disease diag-

TOP-International students attending c 1-month training program conducted by DNOCS observe Dr. Leonard Lovshin examining fish for spawning condition. BOTTOM-Laboratory exercise in water quality being carried out by an international trainee under direction of DNOCS water chemist Helio de Melo during the tropical aquaculture training program.

Brazil project has practical research in progress that can be immediately utilized as dependable results are obtained. DNOCS administrators and biologists recognize the importance of extension for implementing new methods that will be used to benefit producers and consumers alike. Their support in training more extension workers can be assured.

Fingerlings
Tilapia hybrid fingerlings are produced exclusively by DNOCS at its txwo Cear hatcheries and at the Aquaculture Research Station in Pentecoste, Cearnil. Fingerling production has barely kept pace with demand to date, and demand is expected to outstrip supply in the near future. The fish hatcheries were not built for the special requirements of Tilapia hybrid production. The Pentecoste station, which produces the majority of fingerlings used for stocking private farms, has research as its primary function and should not be responsible for fingerling production. At the time of this report, money from the Ministry of Planning was being appropriated for constructing facilities specifically for hybrid fingerling production at DNOCS hatcheries. With these facilities in operation, the extension effort will be well supported. If plans do not materialize, DNOCS can opt for introducing fingerling production to private farmers. With assistance from DNOCS biologists, commercial fingerling producers can be trained to the point that they will he able to meet the demands of commercial growers. Fish Farming Activities Fish raised in family or community ponds could provide the necessary dietary supplement to increase protein consumption in Northeast Brazil. But small farmers seldom have this opportunity because of the land holdings and watershed controls of large private farmers in the Northeast. Three problems exists: 1. Poor subsistence farmers do not as a rule own land, but are tenants or sharecroppers of large landowners. 2. When small farmers do own land, it generally does not
contain wxater, either from lowland sources or reservoirs.

They are therefore dependent on rainfall to grow crops. 3. Financing for subsistence level projects is not available. Funds are obtainable only for projects that promise to stimulate economic flow. All fish culture projects initiated to date, with one exception, are owned and managed by larger farmers. These own land appropriate for fish culture, have adequate water supplies, and are financially stable. Thus, the three problems
are overcome, Fish raised commercially generally reach the lower economic class through the local markets. Some larger farmers

allow their tenants to consume fish grown in farm ponds, but this is an exception. Most producers prefer to sell at regular market prices. Fish at the market place is always less expensive than red meat and is consumed by all classes. The poorest people are seldom able to buy any type of high protein food, either fish or red meat, but they more commonly eat fish than higher priced meat. In summary, cultured fish reach the poor consumer only through regular market channels at high prices. Large private farmers presently are benefiting more than others by intensive fish culture activities. Soon, however, [5]

somxe loxx in eomc txxi il cx xill Ie hcld c thrxiouigh axiiaci ii tore be~cause ,f anoagi iiaix irefoim inpro giaxil that lxxixe-ix I mi pogress foir 5 s eai s. 1)\0-1~S is clexvelopxinxg and iimxproviixg laixd doss xstreaix firni resei ixis Ixiif bv tlxat xxgexxcad is leasing~ tlxis Laid axd hxxouses to lxoxxixcomre, iroral e familie s. Soils xo imup lxied xaidx irigatiox xsstc mx ai c prosided. Coopxceiatixvex 0organized at earls site hlixdle mnarketixig aixd prxoxvide xxr tr actxr ieixt a] x aix a ric xx]tx Al exteci ioix sei xice, aind fiiinclixg of agricultxi xx sxsjxplic Slxoitiv, D'xOCS, xxctix as pi-xxcipxai advxisei to thxe coopeixsix e fish culture tox ax fes ]xiojerat ixes, xx-ill iixtroduce ii ects in a moxxe to dix xrxifx crops iraisecd onixroxigated landsl. Fish culture by] fxailies xxii1 bxe xxi ixumed dlirectly bxx pxioducixig fairxific'x, bxought xxid cxxxxxnxecl byx x ther settlers, oi mairketed lxxTtixe cxxcperativec tlxioualx go"alxr clxi ixels. Tixis actix its xxi] mxake a source ofl iiixpeixix x aiximal pxirotein axvailablle tix loxxiixeoix groups. m idx tixe The DNOCS Ceixter fori Ictlxsixixigical Re'seac Secuxid Ilegixixal 1Directxxrate xxrcei .xxs des clopixg ax siumilxx pjxect bxased oxifish airinix inix %Iiebh agiriculture is pxrolaa grxxixmed ax a secoixdai actix its. Siaxe loss Laids lx Dcxx Lx reservxoirs arc comxposed of sxoils tixisuitable foxr tenrestiaxl cropx~s ox ti e ircservocir xxatcr is toi alkalinie txo sxpport ixxigateci iakixxx cirxpsx. Fisix caix be iraised cidespxite txese cxoxnditioixs, it possible txx 11xt coimlxx l ix~rxxclctis e Lxix I itxx foxod pxrxti p xa diictiox. PLais xxxe ixxxs lxcixxg xdeveloperd Ixxi settling Ixi iixcoxme faxmilies xxix tlxex" lhxixcs. Alsx, tixe pxxrimxtei s ox] te reservoi xxxxill lxe des elxpecl b.\ iatiuiallY placinxg xx coxntxxxrole ixumxblei of fishxermenxoxx lxxt ixaxxixxxxxx xistaixxecl s iel'l call heI cobtainxed lxx, xixaxxagiuxg ixatox al fishx stocks . Snucx x pxroject xxill ixeixefit tlxe loss ixcoine famiiliex dxrectls' xx]ixile fixe' x xsiixg tlxc axmounxt of proteix sour ces asvailxle at regionacl mixxxk, t pxlaces. Duse txx its hxighx xlxrrt-texxx iixxpaet lxx Ic eixtial. tlxis pxroject shxould bxe xnxplexxiited xxitlxxxt clelaxv

also addedL at x ai onS times dxi gr the ixe iod. Afteri 207 day s, 50) of xxhieli xxcrc iis( for haesteing, (lie total pi oductox c reaiched t,97.5 kiloairms or 4,233 kilograms pei hectare per as Year. Snri isa] xx W.5 perecia aind fish asveragecd 266f garm each. T11 follo\\7iiio isx a brief economiic analx xis of this entere prise lbased on a pxxid of O.S xicetai size aoid a cultuire e in period oft 207 daxs Fixed costs Total poi d coisli ictIixix Cosxt ----C ost of oict Maintenxan ce rpotid andic equoipmnt)Variable costs Feed (.3 9(05 k(_ ic lrat brxxn) Chxeiia] fcertilizer (1110 k, --raxspxxtatixix ofl igxxxxx fertilizer froxmx Ixixer's pivsate soxxiii c----Cc' arri scrii i--c--'-. 'lo-ru xxx i xis i'xx' mid x aiaxle) - -1 --Grxoss prxixxt ( fixsx Iax esteil lxx bucix'c 9,875 (a, C1.85 (000, 1g) ---- - 0-853,146" "xci, Ilxxi ii
SThe~ ixixixil 11"t profxit fxxi this ajxx'xatxxi xxi ax ixrtxrc lbxsis

--- - - -

0-8S.3, 700 2')0) '50)

xxl( In x xxix xlC1it C1 86,931. ixxc to

Private Fish Culture Projects
Thilxrteenx pivate fishx cuclturie px'xjects xxcrc ixitiatedi xlii ix 197:3-7.5, tue moxr~ity afiter Decrxxex 1974. Iatexrest rapidly spreacdinxg-. At repxort tinxe, 16 pox xd svec ii i pro dclxtioix uxiix mxxixx'x thle 'Iilapia lxx liricl. Thle siiiface axe~ 0.lxxeta of poxxnds iixvoxlved totxxlx 4.3 1ixeccarex as ex ,xxxxr(3 eaich. Samplces takex xoxtlxls shoxw tixat fish iec a pplxx~.o c xx 'xx Stoxckedl at ix~r N, 8,010 ixtels 275 giarrs ix 0 rui,xxtx. fishx p er hectaxre, txis grxxwxthx xcpi csc-xts a ti tlx poteixitJ plrox 1 dclxxtiox of 18.s metr ic- [cxxx fox 19c7 5 . Thxe pirofit xxarginx xi- Cx 52.47'- pxer kxloxgxramx slxxxssi i)1\ oixe fairmer is aix ixidicatox xxf [lie economxiic feasibI its ol the Tilapia lxx lxxid ccxl ture. Curriexnxt s xxripl iii~ aid cxtix g \ix ciciionstrate thxat otiex laixixexs xuxx ixitiaxtiixg ciltix,. x expexrieixce siixxilax pri fts. A~ioix xxxly h igh xrcfit ox xxgix shxoucl d disapxpexx lxxxsses cx, as cxx c farmiixeirs Iegix xx xxiii hctil x ixigc aixd larger supplies loss cc market pr ices. The folxiss1( amplxe illuistirates txe hxighx proxfits olitaixaxle at px cxsc i ax I xlxxxxx x that ax relatis els lairge cdrop ini the xxarket lx icr ca lbe tolcirated lby pi oducxers. Ani 8,0Cf-l) xxfcixicxter poxd wxxas cxonstructed xixx~ *Fxx,"ida Passageri xxEl xxca," axcxii faxrm, iixxxe li.tlxc l xxh a ixxelicxm xix rcexir. Total iixxCstxxxeixt cost xx-as Ci 5':.700. Tilapia lxybi rids xx'pe stocke d xxt 10,2.51) per hxcctarxe. Fix', xxere fed xxlixcat lxx at :3 1xerceii of bx xii ody xxi cIglxt. 7 dalxx xxcek. The pondi3xx s frtill/zed 55ithx 10,000 kilogram ixxx x xxeiglxt cxf cattle xxxaxixre bxefoie lislx xxci e stocekecd axx xx x per l' ctaxxe xxf ti iplc scxjx2x 1 liuxspxlxxte at stock 125 kilo(x xixxxi ix g. Tixexeal ter. 188 kihigrxxxis p1er hxectaxre per xxeek of quiil mx irie xxcxc used to iiritiixx pxxixl lertilits . Pig loxiixi xa Cil ixro i Co-

t S. SO. 143

H-aivest operations at the Possagem Franca Farm resulted iin a praductiori af 1,975 kilagrams af Tilapia in an 8,000-squaremeter paond duringx a 7-manth grawing periad, which is equivalent ta 4,233 kilogramis af fish per hectare per year.

fatrtetrs, butt lat ge fish

supplies could be ptoduced

and,

throughi a Cooperativ e mar keted inl a rational mann N that 5 ola bentefit H ~emaximutm numh'nr of cotsumers at tlve lnxx st' Cost. ]DNOCS is urged to exp tdite dev elopment of this project so that fish protein reachies consumners inl sigidficant qutatntities.

Model Form Demonstrations
Tue most imupr t nt extension toel is the practical demot,Iainii. Ibis tCachiitg tool is h ~ing used in Not th 'ast Biaail, wxith pivatc hurm ponds servtig as demottstratiott utnits. Delottstt ations dttrected bx pubflic ittstitutiotts cat ottcn) pinsvide farmers xxitlt a hettet conicept of fish citltuta methods be cause Braztlilan fatrmers ate geoci alix not interested ill demGlri~rtig tchiques to petei tial comptiion.
Large fish of uniform size typifies Tiloojo hybrid cultue. Also the fact that Tilapia live several hours out of woter makes it an excellent fish for marketing in tropical areas where refigerarion may be limited.

Alter one harsvest, the fartmetr's total initial iiixestmettt wxas recoxveteH. As a result, stubseqluetnt annual parofts wxill recachi Ci 815089 pet hectare. This meanis that to ptr(ducce 1 kilogram of fish wxill cost 0-8S1.53 in futurte yeats, fat lieloxxv the piesent wxholesale matrLet pr ice of Cr 85.(1( pc tki~logra m.

metods ecomened tat DNOCS craepublic, itis ititensive fish citre demonstrattotis throughout the N ortheast's more suitable tregiots. Possible locations include DNO( S's expet imetttal faitrts and state agiclttural model t at in s. All such dc mot ssi atiott type projects should apply Sound uto ds Hexveloped through i 'seat ch to demonstrate techniques of pond ctiisttructioti, fish stocking. fertilization, and matketinu to farmers leeding, box esingposn,
anld othet intetcestedi petrsons.

RECOMMENDATIONS Training
Itntensixve fish etilture in thie Nor theast is piresentlx limited

Fingerling Production The future of fish tarmna in N ortheast Brazil is noss Hepetndent on sufficient fitigeiling production to satisfy fairnet \ ithout a Conltinuous adequate supply, fishi culture demand. itcart make a significant a pitthat wxill tnt po'resto impact in Brazil's Notrtheast t egon. can lie supplied thttough otie of txxo methods. Fing7erlings Fit st, DN OCS can metcrease fin gerling production through its CM1.initiatixve. F or example, extstinig facilities can be expanded liy consttuction of more produtction pontds mnd related holditig facilities. Such expansion wxould trequire employof mote petrsotitel. Second, fingerling mneet and trainitt could be inicreased by the gov erment relinptroductin quishing control and alloxxitng capable petrsons in the ptrixvate sector to ptroduce fit get hogs ott a comntercial scale. Eithet or' these miethods should help attain the gToal of producitng att adequate supplx of fingerlings so that rettuits out itixestinetits it ccrinetcial fish ptroduction facilities canl

to Ceara! State, hut DNO( S is obligated to expand toall
regiotis under its jturisdiction. To teach these tegions amid to tiltimatels make a significan t impact out local fish supplfis, more fish cultuire extension wxotrkers mtust be trineo, preferably through F SAID assistance. A fish ctltur e extensi on adxvisor is needed tnt oly for assistinig it tiraitning of more fish cultuire extension specialists. liut alsi for assistitng in] DNOCS-spotisorod internatiosial and regional traiining progr ams. As tr aining wxill he contintiotis, assistance prosvidoed lix UiSAID wxill lie necessars fot at least .3 xyeaiis.

DNOCS Colonization-Settlement

Project

u Experience of DNOCS in the last 5 sears has shown tha~t previously under-utilized and uder prodmietix e laid could f easibily lie put to crop prodtuction thi oughl rtiional plannig and proper management of stored wxatet resources. These -colonization" projects xxith terrestrial crops atid lixvestock haxve beetn successful. Aquaculturo is a xviabile option for lantd that is tnot Stuitalble for cultivation. Fish cultutre colotnizatiotn projects sitnilar to 0ucini inl the pt ehiintars agricultur al pioet nioxx

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
All data and petrtinetnt infotmlatioti contained in this report wxecie obitained thn ough the genetrous cooperation and participation ofi[the Depaitrtintto N aciot al He Obras C ontra as Secas ( DNOtCS). The author thanks all DNOtCS piersonnel tot thour coope ration, support, and frienidshipi Hutring the past .3 years anti giveOs a special '"fotrte alitaco" to his Counterparts and friends, At Lonio Cariteit o Sobrinho aiid lose Andersot) Ferinatndes, wxithi xxwhom lie 'x7orked closely.

p lanting stages. Such projects dleseixve piriority attenitionl due to their short-teim impact possibil ities. Not otily wouldc such a project bring direct fiticual bienefits to loswit Ico nl