Terms of Reference
Development Guidelines of Aquaculture on land In The Aqaba Special Economic Zone
The Jordanian coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba is very short, its length does not exceed (27) km, known for the presence of various marine habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass, and high fish biodiversity but not high biomass. The Gulf of Aqaba waters are also characterized by low nutrient concentrations and poor primary productivity.
The national aquatic resources in Jordan, whether fresh water or marine water, are scarce, and therefore the majority of the aquatic organisms consumed in Jordan are imported fish. In order to fill the deficit in the national production of aquatic organisms, provide fresh fish, contribute to achieving food security, and support local communities, there is a national interest in encouraging aquaculture production in fresh and marine waters.
Given the nature of the Gulf of Aqaba being a semi-closed sea, and for the purposes of preserving biodiversity, habitats and fragile marine resources in the Jordanian coast from potential negative impacts on the marine environment from aquaculture, land areas have been allocated in the northwestern area of Aqaba for the purposes of establishing fish farming projects on land using sea water that will be pumped to that area via a pipeline from the sea.
This term of reference developed in full coordination between The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and The Hanns Seidel Stiftung Amman Office (HSS) to select a consultant to prepare guidelines / standard codes of reference for fish farming in land using sea water.
Objectives
Provide guidelines / standard codes of reference for sustainable fish farming projects in land in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, taking into consideration ecological impacts and non-ecological impacts such as social issues and human health, land use, air, soil and groundwater pollution, and post-harvest impacts resulting from processing and transportation.
Specifically, to achieve these objectives, the guidelines should include at least the following:
- Robust and up-to-date information for the public, consumers and the buyers to understand and assess the environmental impacts of aquaculture production and subsequently the seafood quality.
- Information about the groundwater status in the farm area, its characteristics, and the stock, if possible.
- The fish species suitable for cultivation and breeding, the sources of their availability, the success rates and their commercial and nutritional value.
- The best methods, techniques and practices used in fish farming in land, which ensure optimal and sustainable use of resources and water.
- The water required for the farm based on its size, and their properties.
- Methods and techniques for treatment, recycle and reuse of the fish farm water, and other wastes generated from the farm as a whole.
- Methods and techniques to to minimize or avoid the production and discharge of wastes at the farm level in combination with an effective management or regulatory system to control the location, scale and cumulative impacts of waste discharges.
- The necessary human resources, their number, qualifications and experience for to ensure the effectiveness of farming practices.
- Environmental standards, monitoring program and procedures to be applied at all stages and operations.
- The necessary procedures to ensure that the location of fish farms does not lead to a loss of ecosystem services, whether at the level of the local site or at the level of the ecosystem as a whole.
- The type of chemicals and medicines, their frequency of use, and their total use or disposal to levels that ensure low risks of affecting non-target organisms.
- Measures to ensure that aquaculture operations must source only sustainable feed ingredients or those of low value for human consumption (e.g. by-products of other food production), and convert them efficiently and responsibly.
- Mechanisms to reduce the impact of fish farms on terrestrial species and ecosystems at the site.
- The necessary procedures to ensure aquaculture farms use eggs, larvae, or juvenile fish produced from farm-raised brood stocks thereby avoiding the need for capture them from the natural habitat.
- Mechanisms to ensure aquaculture operations use non-lethal exclusion devices or deterrents, prevent accidental mortality of wildlife, and use lethal control only as a last resort, thereby ensuring that no mortalities of these species occur.
- Mechanisms to avoid the potential for the accidental introduction of non-native species or pathogens during the shipment of live fish, and to ensure that either the source or destination of movements is biosecure.
Tasks and responsibilities
- In this context the Consultant is required to do the following:
- Review the national legislation regulating marine fishing and fish farming operations.
- Collect and review the national, regional and international legislation, reports and studies related to fish farming in general and land farming in particular.
- Proactively contact with individuals or groups of stakeholders during the revision process to exchange views and information on related questions and issues.
- Review and analyze available data / information and identify information gaps.
- Prepare the first draft of the guidelines and discuss it with the Maritime Fishing Committee formed under the Fishing Instructions No. (G/1) for the year 2020.
- Amend the draft based on the committee’s feedback.
- Organize in close coordination with ASEZA and HSS a workshop for stakeholders and partners to take their notes and incorporate them in the draft guidelines.
- Develop the final draft of the guidelines document and hand it over to ASEZA and HSS.
- The consultant is expected to liaise with the focal points from ASEZA and HSS, as necessary during the development of the guidelines for coordination and securing access to relevant data from government institutions.
- The final draft of the guidelines shall be submitted in Arabic and English.
Required qualification, Experience Skills and Competencies
The consultant shall verify the following minimum qualifications:
- A postgraduate degree and ten years of experience in the field of natural resources management, marine environmental management, fisheries and aquaculture, coastal planning, or a similar field.
- Proven experience in development, strategic planning, scientific research or technical management in the areas of coastal management, fisheries management, sustainable use of coastal resources, with good knowledge in environmental impact assessment and prevention of excessively used habitats.
- Extensive professional experience in working with Governments and other Stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels.
- Ability to produce high quality reports, publications and legislative sound documents.
- Excellent writing, effective communication orally and in writing, and working skills in English and Arabic.
- Communication skills for complex information and techniques targeting subject matter, Stakeholders as well as wider General Audiences.
- Effective complex management issues solving, organizational, administrative and analytical skills.
Key outputs
- Output 1: Inception Report detailing comments on the ToR and a consultancy Workplan.
- Output 2: Draft Aquaculture guidelines / standard codes of reference in Aqaba in English and Arabic.
- Output 3: Review the draft with the Fisheries Committee and amend it accordingly
- Output 4: Facilitating a Stakeholders Consultation Workshop and submitting a workshop report.
- Output 5: Final Consultancy Report with the final draft of the Aquaculture guidelines / standard codes of reference in Aqaba in English and Arabic
Consultation duration
The consultant is expected to complete the required work and submit the final draft of the guidelines / standard codes of reference within (25) working days within (2) months from signing the consultancy contract.
How to apply
- A technical and financial offer will be sent electronically in English within (10) working days from the date of the announcement until February 11, 2022 to the following address as one pdf-file to amman(at)hss.de
- The financial offer should include the daily rate and the number of actual working days
- The technical offer should include a recent CV of the Consultant and a brief methodology outlining his / her practical experience in aquaculture.
- In the event of any inquiries, please contact ASEZA (Mr. Khaled Abo Aisheh - KAboAisheh(at)aseza.jo +962 7 9993 9493) or HSS (amman(at)hss.de)