Shrimp Farming and the Environment - Library

those in developing countries. The main recommendations from this document are highlighted below,supplemented with conclusions from the current study.Project identification and preparationProjects should be based on sound concepts, using already implemented technology and institutionalframeworks. Aquaculture projects must be designed on the basis of well-founded market analysis andtechnical information about fish resources, environmental conditions and legislation, suitabletechnology, and prevailing market conditions.• Demonstration projects should be modest, simple, closely monitored, and involve only proventechnologies;• A pilot phase should be mandatory for any projects that seek to introduce new technologies orcredit and institutional arrangements;• All communities affected by the project should be involved in the preparation and planningprocess from the beginning; and• Project preparation and appraisal are fundamental stages for successful implementation; theyshould not be skipped or shortened, particularly for big projects covering large and/or diverseareas.Projects must incorporate some degree of flexibility to be able to adjust to changes in market andenvironmental conditions, development of better technologies, and disease outbreaks. Attention shouldbe paid to possible shifts in government policies, particularly during long preparation andimplementation periods. As a rule, the simpler the project, the less difficult it is to respond to changingconditions.Technical aspectsFull account should be taken of the siting, design, and technology recommendations to minimizeenvironmental impacts, discussed in Chapter 3:• A primary requirement for a successful aquaculture project is a reliable and adequate watersupply;• The choice of site must take into consideration technical, managerial, marketing, and socialconstraints;• Aquaculture projects should avoid dependence on wild-caught seed supply;• The bidding process for equipment acquisition should give greater weight to technicalconsiderations and quality of equipment, and less to price;• When using contractors in a project, the selection process should consider both competenceand experience in the type of work to be done; and• Adequate time for completion of work in advance of contract awards, as well as forunexpected events, should be factored into planning.Institutional aspects• Project organization could be kept as simple as possible and the roles and responsibilities ofpeople and agencies involved in the project, both existing and newly required ones, should beclearly defined. There must be a clear consensus among the Bank and all parties involvedabout the nature (public and private), objectives, organization, financing, and operatingprinciples of the various bodies;• Agencies tend to work more closely together at lower levels of government; placingresponsibility for meeting requirements at the district or local level rather than at the centrallevel usually improves performance; and• The agencies responsible for technical aspects of the project should work very closely withthose responsible for providing credit for project implementation.Implementation issues• Thorough project preparation is the best insurance against occurrence of technical problemsduring project implementation; preparation should include a good set of initial technicaldesigns, and detailed water and soil analysis;66