Skretting sponsors scholars to attend hatchery training in Indonesia
The three Skretting Scholars, from the left, James David (India), Hiro Matsumoto of Skretting Asia, Pramote Sangsuksirikul (Thailand) and Hla Pe (Myanmar).
Three people working in fish hatcheries in the Asia-Pacific region have been selected as Skretting Scholars to attend a training course in Grouper Hatchery Production organised by the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA). The scholarships provide financial support, including travel and accommodation, for the scholars to attend this intensive course which runs from 20 November to 9 December 2006 in East Java, Indonesia.
The three Skretting Scholars are Pramote Sangsuksirikul, a lecturer in sea bass breeding and farm management and hatchery owner from Thailand; Hla Pe, a senior technician and hatchery operations manager from Myanmar; and James David, the general manager of a shrimp hatchery in India that plans to breed marine finfish.
Hosted by the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre-Situbondo in East Java, the course provides practical experience in breeding and fingerling production of several grouper species. There are field trips, for example to hatcheries, nurseries and grow-out facilities and to fish exporters.
“The sponsorship of Skretting Scholars helps to tackle the bottleneck in aquaculture caused by low productivity in hatcheries in the Asia-Pacific region,” says Rik van Westendorp, Managing Director of Skretting Japan. ”Skretting Australia initially supported NACA with a contribution towards maintaining the office and website, then in 2005 we decided to sponsor Skretting Scholars to attend the hatchery workshop.”
Prospective scholars apply to NACA, which selects the Skretting Scholars based on criteria agreed with Skretting. A key stipulation is that they should be actively working in private aquaculture production. NACA received well over 30 applications in 2006.
“For many small private aquaculture enterprises in Asia, such a course can be extremely useful but much too expensive when travel and accommodation are taken into account,” adds van Westendorp. “As Skretting is expanding its activities in the Asia Pacific region and is introducing hatchery feeds, we feel that sponsorship of Skretting Scholars on this NACA hatchery management course is entirely appropriate.”
Professor Sena De Silva, Director General of NACA, says, "We welcome Skretting's support to these important Scholarships. The Skretting Scholarships will enable key marine fish hatchery operators to develop the critical skills needed for successful marine fish hatchery operations. NACA looks forward to continue this partnership with Skretting in skills development for sustainable marine fish farming in Asia.”
