In addition to the ordinary Courses no. 1-11, we also offer several specilized programs which are provided in this sectioon. 

Specialized courses 

These programs were developed as a part of SSNS project funded by EU Erasmus programme.

Course 12: Pangasius / catfish culture

Pangasius (Pangasus hypophthalmus) is a native of Asia and the Pacific region. Unlike African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), it is omnivorous in nature. Vietnam is the leading producer and exporter of Pangasius in the world. Its production took off after 2004 and peaked in 2008 early due to successes in induced breeding for mass-scale fry production and expansion of export market. It grows fast and has white meat which is favoured by the western world. Many other developing countries are interested to introduce it to solve the seafood insecurity and malnutrition. It is grown in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Thailand and many other countries.

Adoption of its farming has been patchy due to limitation on skills in breeding and nursing technologies. If right method is not used, survival of hatchlings can drop to zero as they are carnivorous at the early stage. Therefore AIT offers training program to provide opportunities to participants with hands-on practice i.e. hormone injection and stripping, is organized in a private hatchery in Nong Suea which injects 500-600 females and collects up 40 kg eggs in a day and sells over 5 million catfish fry in a single day. The Manager says, demand reaches up to 10 million a day but that is too much work to do. Its again hard to believe but this is happening in Thailand. The course also includes scope of aquaculture and fisheries, catfish farming in Thailand & abroad, pangasius farming, pond dynamics, live feed/moina culture, fish health management & biosecurity, marketing, farm design and planning.

Course 13: Seabass culture

Asian Sea bass (Lates calcalifer) by name itself is considered as one of the best seafood items. Its white meat has a good taste and with no bones. It is a high value commercial species in Asia and the Pacific region. Many countries have tried Asian Sea bass culture with little success. Thailand is one of the most successful countries in farming Asian Sea bass. Techniques of induced spawning, larval rearing/nursing and grow-out farming have been successfully practiced by commercial farmers. As a result fry are readily available, and food fish is also available in almost all the restaurant and markets in Thailand. Grow-out farming is done in brackish water cages. But recently it is also grown in freshwater ponds. Fish is either sold fresh or on ice or exported to neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong Australia etc. Several countries are interested to develop its farming. This training course has been designed to provide up-to-date knowledge about Asian Sea bass farming and skills in induced breeding, larval rearing, nursing and grow-out.

The course includes scope of aquaculture including seabss culture, its breeding, series of nursing, and grow-out farming in cages and freshwater ponds.

Course 14: Snakehead breeding & farming 

Channa sp. is widely accepted fish in Asia. There are many species such as C. striatus, C. marulius, C. micorlepis, C. asiatica etc. As Channa were found in the wild, it was not cultured in the past. Culture began since mid 1970s. Initially, 1-2 cm wild fry or fingerlings were collected from the rice fields. Thousands of rice farmers in the rural villagers were asked to catch them and keep them alive in plastic bags to give to the farmers. Wild seed collection has always issue of unpredictable supply. Therefore, efforts were made to produce by induced breeding. Artificial breeding has been successful in near the natural condition. Culture methods have been developed in China, India, Thailand and Vietnam and its production is increasing recently. AIT organizes this training to make available to everyone who wants grow snakehead to provide its technology to and share experiences with any interested individuals and organizations, public or private, located in Thailand or any other countries

Course 15: Shellfish culture (oyster, cockle, snail etc.)

Oysters (Crassostrea gigas and others) are high value seafood items found in local vendors, grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants in fresh, dried and freezing forms. They are mostly caught from the sea. There is a concern about its sustainable supply while catching from the wild population. Therefore there is need to develop its culture systems. Farming could be highly profitable. More interestingly, some oysters are culture to produce even pearls. Similarly, there are other shellfishes, which can play an important role in food and nutrition security; namely, mussels, cockles, snails and so on. Thailand is one of the most successful countries developing breeding of a wide variety of aquatic animals and also farming. Research and Development has been carried out in many stations of Department of Fisheries (DoF), universities and colleges. Breeding and culture of oysters and other shellfishes is one of the few new innovations occurring in southern Thailand. 

AIT offers this training to make the technologies available to everyone who wants grow oysters to provide its technology to and share experiences with any interested individuals and organizations, public or private, located in Thailand or any other countries. The course includes:

• Lecture 1: Scope of fisheries/Aquaculture
• Lecture 2: Seafood Products Nutrition Security
• Lecture 3: Biology of Shellfishes & habitats.
• Lecture 5: Single cell algae and stock culture
• Lecture 6: Oyster Breeding and Research
• Lecture 7: Water Quality Management
• Lecture 8: Feeds & Feeding Management. 
• Lecture 9: Cooking shellfishes and products

  

Course 16: Seaweed culture  

Seaweed (Caulerpa lentillifera) or sea vegetables are forms of green algae that grow in the sea. and rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, seaweed packs a serious nutritional punch. Seaweed is part of a healthy diet and is used in herbal medicines in many traditional cultures. Seaweed may be able to find fresh seaweed, seaweed sushi, crispy seaweed, seaweed soap, Otherwise, you may find many types of dried seaweeds in the supermarket and online, such as on Amazon. Mostly of seagrass caught from the sea, cage culture in the sea and in the farm. Farming could be highly profitable, sustainable supply and processing for make more value. More interestingly, some seaweed is culture to produce even cosmetic and dietary food.

Thailand is one of the most successful countries developing seaweed farming and processing. Research and Development has been carried out in many stations of Department of Fisheries (DoF), universities and colleges. Culture and processing of seaweed (Caulerpa lentillifera) is one of the few new innovations occurring in southern Thailand.

Course 17: Crab culture

Crabs are important and high value products mostly caught from the wild. No one knows how long they will be available in the nature. Therefore, some countries are trying to conserve crabs establishing crab banks to keep berried females for hatching, nursing and release crablets. At the same time, efforts are also made to breed in artificial environmrnts which has been successful in Thailand. Trainees would get chance to see and do it by themselves and learn the whole process.

Course 18: Clam culture

Clams are fresh/sea water shelfishes which are collected from the nature. In many places they are also over fished. However, they could also be cultured in artificial environment so that we could spare them in the nature. Training of clam also includes as a part fo shellfish culture.

Course 19: Pearl culture

Pearls are high value items used as ornaments. They can be produced using oysters in sea water or clams in fresh water.

Course 20: IMTA 

It is an integrated and environmentally sustainable system in which seaweeds, shellfishes and finfishes are grown to utilized or recycle nutrients at different trophic levels. Training includes theoretical session, field visits, system set up and hands-on practices.

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Program duration of all these programs: 1 week

Program cost: US$1,000/person

Many of the abovoe mentioned specialized programs can be combined with other programes and customized to suit the need of particular groups or individuals, please contact us:

Email: info@aqua-centre.org

Or Click here to apply

Tel: +66 524 5222