Improving coastal livelihoods through sustainable aquaculture practices in Hon Mun marine protected area, Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam: a report to the collaborative APEC Grouper Research and Development Network

This case study describes the present status and trends, and provides recommendations for the improvement of aquatic resources management within Hon Mun Marine Protected Area (MPA), Nha Trang Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. The case study also evaluates options for improving the livelihoods of local villagers through the development of ecologically sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, which include diversification following careful selection and trial of appropriate culture species, and application of “best practice” culture methods. (Pdf contains 43 pages)

Blue frontiers: managing the environmental costs of aquaculture

The report begins with an overview of the current status of world aquaculture. It then goes on to describe an approach for estimating the current combined biophysical resource demands of aquaculture for producer countries and regions. Following a comparison of these results with those available for other animal food production sectors the report then examines the consequences of likely future trends in production on the environmental impacts of aquaculture. Finally, the policy implications of the report’s findings are discussed along with the research agenda that should be pursued to meet the challenge of sustainable food production

Molecular geometry optimization with a genetic algorithm

We present a method for reliably determining the lowest energy structure of an atomic cluster in an arbitrary model potential. The method is based on a genetic algorithm, which operates on a population of candidate structures to produce new candidates with lower energies. Our method dramatically outperforms simulated annealing, which we demonstrate by applying the genetic algorithm to a tight-binding model potential for carbon. With this potential, the algorithm efficiently finds fullerene cluster structures up to ${\rm C}_{60}$ starting from random atomic coordinates.Comment: 4 pages REVTeX 3.0 plus 3 postscript figures; to appear in Physical Review Letters. Additional information available under "genetic algorithms" at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~deaven

Aquaculture Asia, Vol.13, No.4, pp.1-51, October-December 2008

Editorial An increasingly secure future for wastewater-fed aquaculture in Kolkata, India? by Peter Edwards. First culture-based fisheries growth cycle in Lao PDR is overwhelmingly encouraging, by Sena De Silva. Revival of abandoned shrimp farms in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, by National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA). Growth of forward and backward industries linked with aquaculture in Kolleru Lake area, Andhra Pradesh, India, by A. K. Roy, G. S. Saha, P. Kumaraiah and N. Sarangi Effective marketing strategies for economic viability of prawn farming in Kuttanad, India, by Ranjeet K. and B. Madhusoodana Kurup. Applications of nutritional biotechnology in aquaculture, by S.D. Singh, S.K. Nayak, M. Sekar and B.K. Behera. Some technical and management aspects of catfish hatcheries in Hong Ngu district, Dong Thap province, Vietnam, by H. P. Hung, N. T. T. An, N. V. Trieu, D. T. Yen, U. Na-Nakorn, Thuy T. T. Nguyen. Nodavirus: An emerging threat to freshwater prawn farming, by Biju Sam Kamalam, J., Saravanan, S. and Ajith Stalin, J.L. Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network Magazine: Asian seabass farming: Brainstorming workshop and training in India. Comparative study for broodstock management of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) in cages and earthen ponds with hormone treatment, by Nani Gopal Das, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Sushanta Bhattacharjee and Prabal Barua. Cultivation of gilthead sea bream (Sparus auratus L.) in low saline inland water of the southern part of Israel desert, by Samuel Appelbaum and A. Jesu Arockia Raj. Mariculture development opportunities in SE Sulawesi, Indonesia, by La Ode M. Aslan, Hotman Hutauruk, Armen Zulham,Irwan Effendy, Mhummaed Atid, Michael Phillips, Lars Olsen, Brendan Larkin, Sena S De Silva, Geoff Gooley. Improved hatchery and grow-out technology for marine finfish. NACA Newslette

The improved management of small-scale cage culture in Asia: final technical report

The purpose of the project is to develop sustained small-scale cage fish culture in inland and coastal waters through improved understanding of the social, institutional and resource environment of resource poor groups. Two Asian countries, Bangladesh (inland systems) and Vietnam (marine), were studied with this workshop bringing together both sides of the project together with representatives of collaborative institutions, government departments and universities. Addressing the overall aim of producing guidelines for the planning and extension of cage aquaculture in Asia a combination of group work and plenary discussion was conducted producing the following outputs. 1) An assessment of cage aquaculture potential, 2) Development options for small-scale cage culture, 3) A review of tools and methodologies and 4) Policy initiatives for sustainable cage culture development. Key issues raised were the use of outputs as a guide to be adapted to regional circumstances to facilitate farmer and extension worker discussion and not as a rigid methodology. The degree of linkage between development, research and government institutions was also considered a crucial factor in benefiting the research and development of cage culture at the local, regional and national level and vital in affecting the future policies by both development and government institutions. [PDF contains 242 pages

Methane Hydrates – Australian perspective

Purpose. To analyze Australian methane hydrate resources, exploration, and production, its current state and future potential. Methods. Analysis of data published in different sources concerned with geological surveys and government reports related to Australian natural gas reserves, production and consumption of gas in Australia. Analysis of theoretical and experimental research into methane hydrates properties and prevention of gas hydrate deposits formation in pipes during production and transportation of natural gas. Findings. The study of gross figures associated with the present state of gas production in Australia testified that enough gas is extracted to meet the current needs. Increase in natural gas consumption in future creates good chances for developing gas production from unconventional deposits, specifically getting methane from gas hydrates deposits. While predicting main trends in the efficient exploration and use of methane hydrates resources it is necessary to consider their possible impact on the environment. Originality. On the basis of the conducted analysis, the current state of methane hydrates research in Australia is examined. For its gas industry, it is critical to estimate their reserves and assess methane extraction from gas hydrates deposits in the near future. Practical implications. The obtained results can be used to evaluate the investment attractiveness of future exploration of methane hydrates resources in Australia.Мета. Аналіз австралійських ресурсів гідрату метану, поточного стану розвідки гідратних покладів і потенціальних перспектив їх розробки у майбутньому. Методика. Аналітичне вивчення даних, опублікованих у різних джерелах даних геологічних пошуків та урядових звітів, пов’язаних із австралійськими запасами природного газу, видобутком і споживанням газу в Австралії. Аналіз теоретичних та експериментальних досліджень властивостей гідратів метану, попередження відкладення газогідратів у трубах при видобуванні й транспортуванні природного газу. Результати. Аналіз валових показників сучасного стану видобутку природного газу показав, що його добувається достатньо для забезпечення поточних потреб споживання в Австралії. Зростання споживання природного газу в майбутньому визначає перспективу використання газу з нетрадиційних покладів, зокрема метану із покладів газових гідратів. При прогнозуванні основних напрямків ефективного дослідження й використання ресурсів гідратів метану необхідно враховувати їх можливий вплив на навколишнє середовище. Наукова новизна. На підставі проведеного аналізу описано поточний стан дослідження гідратів метану в Австралії, показана важливість для газової промисловості уточнення у найближчому майбутньому їх запасів та видобутку метану із газогідратних покладів. Практична значимість. Представлені результати можуть бути використані для оцінки інвестиційної привабливості майбутньої розвідки ресурсів гідратів метану в Австралії.Цель. Анализ австралийских ресурсов гидрата метана, текущего состояния разведки гидратных залежей и потенциальных перспектив их разработки в будущем. Методика. Аналитическое изучение данных, опубликованных в различных источниках данных геологических изысканий и правительственных отчетов, связанных с австралийскими запасами природного газа, добычей и потреблением газа в Австралии. Анализ теоретических и экспериментальных исследований свойств гидратов метана, предупреждения отложений газогидратов в трубах при добыче и транспортировке природного газа. Результаты. Анализ валовых показателей современного состояния добычи природного газа показал, что его добывается достаточно для обеспечения текущих потребностей в Австралии. Рост потребления природного газа в будущем определяет перспективу использования газа из нетрадиционных залежей, в частности метана из залежей газовых гидратов. При прогнозировании основных направлений эффективного исследования и использования ресурсов гидратов метана необходимо учитывать их возможное влияние на окружающую среду. Научная новизна. На основании проведенного анализа описано текущее состояние исследования гидратов метана в Австралии, показана важность для газовой промышленности уточнения в ближайшем будущем их запасов и добычи метана из газогидратных залежей. Практическая значимость. Представленные результаты могут быть использованы для оценки инвестиционной привлекательности будущей разведки ресурсов гидратов метана в Австралии.We wish to thank Dr. Edward Rravets, Technical Consultant, Rainbow Pty. Ltd., China for his support and encouragement for the work presented here. We also thank Mr. Oleg Pogreb, Technident Pty. Ltd. for his willingness to share his knowledge, information and data on unconventional gas production in Australia

Remote sensing and field assessment of tsunami effects on coastal pond aquaculture in northern Sumatra

An attempt was made to conduct spatial assessment of the pattern and extent of damage to coastal aquaculture ponds along the east coast of Aceh province in Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting from the tsunami event of 26 December 2004. High-resolution satellite imagery, i.e., SPOT-5 multispectral scenes covering the 700 km stretch of the coast, acquired before and after the tsunami, were digitally enhanced and visually interpreted to delineate pockets of aquaculture ponds that were discerned to be damaged and relatively intact. Field checks were conducted at 87 sites in the four eastern coastal districts. The results indicate that SPOT-5 multispectral imagery was minimally sufficient to detect areas of damaged and relatively intact aquaculture ponds, but the 10-m spatial resolution poses limitations to evaluating the extent of pond damage. Nevertheless, the 60 km swath of the imagery makes it reasonably affordable for large-area assessment to identify pockets of severe damage for targeting more detailed assessments. The image maps produced from a mosaic of the SPOT-5 scenes can also serve as base maps for spatial planning in the challenging task of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the disrupted livelihoods of the coastal communities.Remote sensing, Disasters, Spatial analysis, Coastal zone, ISEW, Indonesia, Aceh,