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INTRODUCTION
A SURVEY of fisheries problems and possibilities for development in northeastern
Brazil was initiated in 1966 by an Auburn University team on a subcontract
under a U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries - U.S.A.I.D. contract. Personnel
were E. W. Shell, E. E. Prather, and J. S. Dendy. Preliminary investigations
were on the potential of the irrigation and water supply reservoirs constructed
by DNOCS (National Department of Works Against the Droughts) to supply under
management large quantities of fish for local consumption in this food-deficient
area. The team recommended the intensive management of ponds for fish production
as a productive supplement. Upon return of the team to northeastern Brazil
in 1967, a suitable area for a pond research station was located below the
dam of the Pereira de Miranda
Reservoir at Pentecoste. However, land at this site could not be made available.
In 1968 an Auburn team consisting of E. W. Shell, E. E. Prather, and N. B.
Jeffrey investigated " and approved an alternate site on DNOCS lands
near its Training Center. The water supply would come from the General Sampaio-Serrota
Reservoir via an irrigation canal. A plan for a modern fishcultural experiment
station with 40 experimental ponds was devised by E. E. Prather.
Construction at this site began in early 1969 under a U.S.A.I.D.-DNOCS pro)ect
with assistance by Mr. Harold Magnusson and Mr. George H. Reese, AJ.D./Brazil.
Task Order 3 to Auburn University's worldwide project, A.I.D./csd-2270, was
approved and initiated November 21, 1969. Under this contract, the author
began a 2-year tour in Northeast Brazil with the primary duty of advising
on construction of the experimental station and training DNOCS personnel in
developing systems of aquaculture. At the time of his arrival, 20 experimental
ponds had been largely completed except for water supply systems.