May 11, 2007

Aquaculture promoted in tsunami-hit communities in Indonesia

The American Red Cross and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a new partnership to support the recovery of fishing communities in Indonesia's Tsunami-hit Province, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

The initiative comes in response to a meeting held in March, attended by 100 fishermen, aquaculturalists and officials, from tsunami-affected districts.

The US$7.5 million project would help promote sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture in the region. About 750 Indonesian government officials at the national and provincial levels and around 4,000 people in fishing and fish farming communities will be involved. The project is expected to benefit a further 770,000 people indirectly.

The American Red Cross is providing financial support while FAO will take the lead in implementing the three-year project. The UN agency will provide technical and planning assistance and conduct training activities for the people of Aceh.

Gerald Anderson, Senior Director of the Tsunami Recovery Programme for the American Red Cross, said the project would provide people with basic needs such as food and income while helping them to develop the capacity to manage fisheries.