Dr. Ir. M. Fatuchri Sukadi

Dr. Ir. M. Fatuchri Sukadi

Director General

Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries

Directorate General of Aquaculture

Jl. Harsono RM. No. 3

B Bld - VI Jakarta 12550

INDONESIA

20 June8 May 20054

Dear Dr. Fatuchri,

Visit by Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons to pilot project for rehabilitation of small-holder tambaks for income and livelihood in three villages in Pidie District, AcehProvince

I have recently returned from AcehProvince and am pleased to inform you of the substantial progress that has been achieved to repair supply channels to three villages in Pidie District. During my visit to Banda Aceh and AcehProvince, the staff at Ujung Batee proved to be invaluable guides and colleagues. They were able to show me several regions that had been devastated (Lamnga, Ladong, Sigli) in addition to the Pidie District. The scope of the disaster and its impact on local aquaculture is really beyond comprehension. The number of people who still need assistance to restore their livelihood through aquaculture will require all of the resources we can muster.

Specifically, on May 16Sugeng Raharjoand Hasanuddinshowed me the devastation at the Ujung Batee station and gave me an overview of the situation in the region. The next day they drove me and two representatives from Professionals International, another NGO supporting restoration efforts, to Sigli. We first visited a project supported by Professionals International to repair pond dikes and a bridge into a small fishing village outside of Sigli. We also visited the site of a small-boat building program supported by USAID. In this location most of the efforts have gone to boatbuilding and road repairs, along with the pond dikes associated with the road. We did notice two tambak owners repairing individual ponds by hand, removing debris and patching berms. After reviewing progress with a couple of community leaders, we drove onto Pidie.

On arrival we slowly drove along the coast through all three villages (Jemerang, Pasi Lhok, Lancang). There is still a tremendous amount of obvious damage. Most brick and concrete structures were knocked down and many people were still living in tents or temporary wood frame houses. A French Red Cross truck was dispensing water, a Dutch group had constructed a couple of wood frame buildings for relief activities and a utility truck was digging holes and placing utility poles. The crew did not know when they would be able to return with transmission lines to re-electrify the villages.

Repair of the aquaculture supply channels have begun in all three villages. However the most progress has been made in Pasi Lhok, where the accompanying photos were taken. Figure 1 demonstrates the amount of damage and debris encountered in a channel that has not been cleared. Figures 2, and 3 demonstrate the repairs that have been accomplished so far. Almost one kilometre of channel has been cleared and prepared for shoring with bamboo. Much of the bamboo (Figure 5) has been obtained and delivered to the site (not clear if it was cut locally or purchased). Photos of a crew from the village of Pasi Lhok working on the channel are attached. (Figures4 and 6)

The staff members from Ujung Batee obviously have done an excellent job to have made so much progress in the short time since this project was funded by NACA and AwF. They have developed a good rapport with the local community and have provided excellent technical guidance. As we were leaving the village leader approached on his motorbike and we stopped to meet with him. He was most appreciative of the project and expressed his personal thanks to all of the people and sponsors involved. (Figure 7)

During our visits to Pidie and the Ujung Batee facilities, Sugeng, Hasanuddin, and I spent considerable time discussing other aspects of the restoration efforts. The most critical issue we returned to several times was the need to develop a more sustainable production system than what the farmers have been doing for the past several years. Many of the farmers reported that shrimp yields have been low or non-existent for several years due to diseases. On visual examination of undamaged ponds it is obvious that the farmers have not been practicing good pond management (high organic loads in the sediment, no screens on incoming water, direct discharge of wastes to public waters, etc).

We reviewed several models of sustainable shrimp farming that have been developed across Southeast Asia. We also visited an experimental system that was to have been harvested the week after the tsunami by the Ujung Batee staff. These systems are based on various polycultures of shrimp with tilapia, milkfish, seaweeds and bivalves. They also incorporate mangrove wetlands as biofilters. Rigorous biosecurity is needed including Specific Pathogen Resistant shrimp broodstocks and post larvae, screens on in-coming waters, and crab and bird deterrents. We discussed these options with the Professional International staffers and they will incorporate this model into the restoration effort at Lamnga. The Ujung Batee staff will implement it into their demonstration project when it is repaired. Since I left Aceh, I have had additional meetings in Jakarta and Penang where I have further discussed the opportunity to support efforts to contribute to restoring a more sustainable form of aquaculture in Aceh.

Further to that regard, AwF has received proposals(which have been approved, and the funds transferred) to support the restoration of two small shrimp hatcheries. Although I did not visit the two sites proposed, I saw half a dozen other small hatcheries that were destroyed. Hatcheries will certainly need to be rebuilt, and I suggest we start with the two proposed. We should also take the opportunity to train the hatchery managers in current biosecurity practices. Much of the restoration work will be undone if we do not help to upgrade the skills of the practitioners.

Finally, I want to thank you again for the wonderful reception accorded to all of the WAS –Bali participants. Several people have told me the conference was a great success and I have even gotten this word relayed by several who were not attendees but were told this by colleagues.

Best Regards,

Kevin Fitzsimmons, PhD

Volunteer, Aquaculture without Frontiers

Immediate Past-President,WAS

cc. Dr. Agus Budhiman

Dr. Michael Phillips.

Dr. Geoff Allan

Michael New

John Cooksey

Tim Grooms (YSI)