This publication reviews the potential for fisheries production from irrigation canals. It deals with the subject under the following major headings: engineering aspects of irrigation systems; factors limiting fish production in canals; weed growth and associated problems in irrigation canals. Cage culture in irrigation canals is presented in case studies for Indonesia, Egypt and Thailand, and pen culture in China. Both cage and pen culture are considered to be the most suitable forms of aquaculture in irrigation canals. Fish can be profitably and successfully reared in irrigation canals to control unwanted aquatic weed growth, and there is some potential for the use of fish to control vectors and hosts of waterborne diseases. Amongst the constraints, levels of pesticides in fish tissues cultured in irrigation systems could be a problem in the development of foodfish production in irrigation canals. The major constraint to aquaculture development in such systems is that a continuous, preferably constant, flow of water is required throughout the culture period and this is not available in many irrigation systems.

Cost recovery from irrigation in almost all the countries presents a dismal picture. Low cost recovery coupled with declining government finances has led to the deterioration of both the quality of the built infrastructure and institutions managing and governing such infrastructure. This has created a vicious circle of low cost recovery, poor maintenance of infrastructure, inadequate and unreliable water supply, inefficient and corrupt institutions, and unwillingness of the farmers to pay. Breaking this vicious circle primarily requires identifying ways to improve availability of financial resources. Improving cost recovery from all users, including irrigators of the water, offers one of the most important avenues for raising financial resources. The present study examines some of the important issues that impinge on improving the cost recovery in canal irrigation, and assesses the feasibility of some of the efforts being made to improve cost recovery in irrigation to revitalize canal irrigation.

This publication contains background documents and papers presented at a workshop on integrated irrigation aquaculture (IIA), held in Mali in November 2003, as well as the findings of FAO expert missions on IIA in the West Africa region. The rationale for IIA development lies in its potential to increase productivity of scarce freshwater resources and to reduce pressure on natural resources, issues of particular important in the drought-prone countries of West Africa.

This publication contains 12 papers on the present use of irrigation systems for fisheries of the countries in the arid belt of Asia, covering areas in China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Whilst some countries are well advanced in use of irrigation systems for fish production, others are experiencing major difficulties arising from recent political and economic changes.

Published in Cooperation with THE UNITED STATES AQUACULTURE SOCIETY As aquaculture production continues to grow and develop there is a continuous search for new species to culture to be able to fully exploit new national and international markets. Species selection for aquaculture development often poses an enormous challenge for decision makers who must decide which species and culture technologies to support with public resources, and then how best to divide those resources. Species and System Selection for Sustainable Aquaculture brings together contributions from international experts with experience in identifying potential species and production systems for sustainable aquaculture with a socioeconomic focus. The book is divided into three sections: Principles, Practices, and Species-Specific Public Policy for Sustainable Development. An outgrowth of a workshop held as part of the Aquaculture Interchange Program with examples from around the globe carefully edited by PingSun Leung, Pat O'Bryen, and Cheng-Sheng Lee this volume will be an important reference for all researchers, professionals, economists, and policy-makers involved in selecting new species for the development of sustainable aquaculture.

Report of the special meeting held at the Centennial exhibition. Philadelphia, Oct. 6, 1876, is included in Transactions of 6th annual meeting.