USSEC / Soy Excellence Center and WorldFish hosted the 4th training program, USSEC Water Quality Management for Aquaculture Training Program at WorldFish Center in Egypt February 7 – 12. 45 fish farmers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Algeria listened to presentations on water quality management for aquaculture production. Attendees also took part in a full Practical and Assumptions day at WorldFish Aqua Farm in Abbasa, which provided them with additional training in best management practices.
Philip “Skip" Kemp, President, Kemp Fisheries LLC presented four talks on several aspects of water quality. The first, he explained, was especially designed to prime the audience for the basic chemistry and science of water in order to better understand the subsequent lectures. The talks were well received and there was ample time for follow-up questions and continued discussions during breaks on all days of the event.
“I engaged attendees outside of the formal presentations in impromptu hands-on and brainstorming learning exercises. The hands-on learning activity was a good chance for participants to renew their familiarity with the equipment. I'm sure most had already learned to use the water quality testing equipment, but most do not regularly use it on their own farms,” says Mr. Kemp. “There was a lot of time for discussion while doing the hands-on exercises. The meals were especially conducive to discussion of the day's instructional material as well as a chance for participants to get to know each other on a personal basis.
“Trainees composed a wide demographic mix; male and female, wealthy and not, young and old, educated and not, experienced fish farmers and new entrants. There was a general familiarity of water, but each person seemed to have a different view of water quality management stemming from their various exposure levels. Each day of the training found several formal and informal opportunities to converse and discuss the lectures and presentations,” Mr. Kemp continued. “I found the discussions to be helpful because there was a chance to listen and learn from others as well as to convey knowledge and instruct. The WorldFish staff were very helpful and informative to the entire process. The close contact of meals, breaks, and lectures helped forge new and positive relationships between fish farmers and aquaculture professionals in the region.”