44 JUNE 2016 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG quality should be near perfect. Furthermore, operating a hatchery requires much more money than simply buying fry and growing them in raceways. An adequate facility is needed. The mortality risks are high at early developmental stages. Nevertheless, increasing hatcheries in Hermel proffer three advantages to the industry. First, on the community development level, hatchery operations create job opportunities and generate income in rural areas (Edwards 2000, Karim et al. 2006). Second, at farm level, increased local production of seed reduces costs for the farm owner. Finally, the multiplication of hatcheries in Hermel would help in organizing an agricultural almanac for the region: various hatcheries would allow for staggered seed supply throughout the year. Therefore, rather than harvesting rainbow trout from all farms along the Assi River at the same time and exceeding market demand, harvest timing could be organized. Staggering production year-round would allow farmers to sell fish at better prices and allow processing plants to operate continuously. Locally produced fish feed could also support local socioeconomic development. Starting production of feed in Hermel would greatly help trout farmers for three reasons. On the community development level, an aquafeed mill would create job opportunities, from workers in the mill to transportation and distribution of feed. Second, if produced locally, aquafeed would be available to trout farmers at a much lower price than what they currently pay (US$ 1,200-1,500 /t of fish feed), allowing a significant reduction of fish farmers’ debts and expenses. Finally, locally produced, on-demand pelleted feed would reduce the loss of spoiled feed, reduce the need for storage facilities, and reduce dependence on abusive lenders. An aquafeed mill could also give fish farmers advice on proper feeding methodology if they hire an aquaculture expert to help the fish farmers. In August 2015, construction of a feed mill in Hermel was initiated, with commercial operations starting in April 2016. Government Assistance. Fish farmers along the Assi River usually manage farms with very little financial or technical assistance. When floods or disease events occur and cause fish losses, no financial compensation is offered to farmers. No experts are sent to assess trout diseases and no medication or fish feed are distributed to fish farmers. Although all farmers desire help from the government, none could really specify what form of aid they would want other than free seed and feed. Aquaculture is a very risky business, subject to weather and climate risks (floods and droughts), anthropogenic environmental risks (water pollution), and security risks (July 2006 war, uprisings in Syria that block access to Syrian markets). If a season is lost, famers cannot pay their debts to merchants from whom they purchased feed and seed. Farm managers then spend years trying to recover from the calamity. Hence, some form of agriculture or business insurance is needed to support farmers in Hermel to help them through periods of market fluctuations and financial crises. Farmers often mentioned the reason why they were not assisted was Hermel’s fish farms were illegal because they were on riverside public property. According to aquaculturists in Hermel, the government allowed them to build without issuing permits and, as such, was not forced to assist in emergencies because the farms were not legal. Most of Hermel’s aquaculturists explicitly requested assistance from the government. Any government intervention in the socio-economic development of Hermel should include needs of the poor (Karim et al. 2006). For instance, the introduction of complicated technologies or methods that require less labor might not suit the local community’s capabilities or needs. Hence, any development measure should be introduced with full consideration for existing customary needs, socio-economic conditions, and indigenous knowledge. Finally, it is every government’s responsibility to develop infrastructure – such as good roads and dependable electricity – that are supplied to all citizens. Regulations. Based on discussions with stakeholders about the legal status of fish farms along the Assi River, the first intervention of the government in Hermel should be to find a framework to legalize businesses and make farms subject to certain rules. The Assi River is public property and that access to clean water is a right for all citizens. The Ministry of Agriculture should, as a first step, install a licensing system that would 1) acknowledge the existence of the current trout farms in Hermel, 2) give farm owners a grace period to ensure the transition of their facilities to meet established environmental and public health standards, and 3) regulate the establishment of new facilities on the banks of the Assi River. The Ministry of Environment should develop effluent quality criteria for the Hermel trout farmers with the aim of minimizing the discharge of specific pollutants and banning feeding regimes based on animal wastes, even if presently they are not yet used in quantities harmful to the fish or the environment. Criteria should take into consideration the effluents of individual farms and the additive effects of all farms on the Assi River. Increasing government regulation risks limiting local economic development. Regulation should be devised in conjunction with stakeholders and levels of restrictions should be introduced sequentially at a rate that does not cripple the industry. Markets. There can be no economic success for a productive entity if it cannot sell its product. Sales do not necessarily have to be in bulk to large markets; a mixture of customers would better ensure market availability. The key to success will be in filling diverse niches within local and export markets (Brummett and Williams 2000). Trout production should be organized to ensure year-round availability of fingerlings and market-size fish. Market prices at all times should be attractive to the farmers, and the value of rainbow trout as a healthy food should be advertised to consumers. Prices could be improved if the trout produced along the Assi River could be marketed as entirely locally produced. These issues cannot be addressed only by individual small-holding family farmers. Finance. One of the main constraints to the development of the aquaculture sector in Hermel is the lack of financial resources needed for land acquisition, good quality equipment and operational costs. Government guarantees for low-interest loans would give a strong boost to commercial trout farming. International donor funds could also be an important source of finances. However, donors will probably be more eager to fund projects that are clearly defined and where outcomes are unambiguous and somewhat fail-safe, which is not currently the case along the Assi River. To receive those funds and succeed in project development, fish farmers will be asked to abide by general sustainable aquaculture guidelines. They should be convinced there are basic principles they should accept, and flexibility in production to fit in the area’s general targets is necessary if they want financial support for their businesses (Brummett and
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