International Mud Crab (Scylla serrata/olivacea) hatchery Expert

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a technical, knowledge-based organization aimed at moving forward policy dialogues and advocating for the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; elimination of poverty, advancing economic and social progress for all, as well as sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations. FAO Bangladesh assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. The fisheries sector is vital for Bangladesh’s food security and is source of the livelihoods to millions of fishers and stakeholders along the fisheries value chain. The sector has emerged as a major growth driver, contributing close to 4 percent of Gross Domestic Product for the last decade, employing around 11 percent of the population and contributes up to 60 percent of animal protein uptake. Currently the FAO is supporting the Government of Bangladesh and stakeholders in the fisheries sector through a number of programmes, including the GEF funded “Community-based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh,” whose aim is to remove key barriers to effective adaptation to climate change and build resilience of the fishery and aquaculture sector through policy reform and capacity development. The project long-term sustainability for the fisheries and aquaculture sector, will be attained through up scaling and replication of climate resilient adaptation options across Bangladesh, and strengthening the capacity of Department of Fisheries (DoF), partner organizations and local communities on understanding climate change implications, resilient planning, and adaptation. One of the areas supported by the project is sustainable production of mud crabs. Currently crablets are collected from nature which has potential to affect biodiversity. FAO will provide technical support to DoF and stakeholders on how to achieve mass production of crablets, by improving the operational capacity of the DoF mud crab (Scylla serrata) hatchery, located in Coxs Bazar, and building the technical capacity of the DoF and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) officials in mud crab hatcheries management.

Reporting Lines

The International Mud Crab Hatchery Expert will work under the overall administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Unit (LTU) and the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), the Senior Fisheries Technical Advisor for the Fisheries Cluster in Bangladesh, and in close collaboration and consultation with DoF.

Technical Focus

The International Mud Crab Hatchery Expert will identify operational challenges and provide recommendations for improving the operational efficiency of the Government mud crab (Scylla serrata) hatcheries (DoF and BFRI), located in Cox’s Bazar. The consultant will submit a comprehensive technical report, highlighting gaps and challenges, areas for improvement and a hatchery upgrading or improvement plan, outlining actions that will guide DoF and BFRI when undertaking such improvements. The consultant will also be required to review the existing mud-crab hatchery operational manuals.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant main tasks include the following, but other related works may be assigned:

• Develop and submit methodological approach on how the assignment will be undertaken. The methodological approach will include workplan and highlight of assignment milestones. • Review, evaluate and recommend areas of improvement on existing DoF and BFRI mud crab hatchery nursery facilities which include the general lay-out of the facilities, filtration system, seawater source, assessment of water parameters, problems/issues/gaps encountered in hatcheries. • Formulate a hatchery improvement plan that will guide DoF on the actions to be undertaken when implementing the required recommendations. • Review the existing mud crab hatchery operation manuals (encompassing all activities involved in the hatchery and nursery operation) • Review hatchery techniques: production of larval and crablet feeds and feeding; disease control, chemical, probiotic inputs nursery management techniques. • Undertake at least six cycles of crablet production and rearing and orient staff working in hatcheries on crab brood rearing, breeding and production. • Provide training on hatchery-nursery operations of DoF and private entrepreneurs; training includes lecture (biology, broodstock management, larval rearing, nursery rearing, health management and practical sessions (broodstock management and larval rearing). • Present assessment findings to the national stakeholders on hatchery recommendations to improve productivity • Submit end of assignment report highlighting task undertaken and progress achieved as mentioned above.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree related to fisheries and aquaculture; • At least 10 years’ experience in Crab Hatchery operationalization and management; • Working knowledge of English (C level) and limited knowledge (B level) of another official language of FAO.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated working experience and expertise in managing crab hatcheries in developing countries particularly in South East Asia; • Excellent communication skills including strong writing skills, proven ability to convey complex ideas through clear communication, and concise reports, and effective oral presentations. • Ability to work under pressure in an independent manner and ability to work with inter-disciplinary teams of personnel with different educational backgrounds, different levels and cultural orientations