Consultancy on Water Quality

Trout aquaculture has been practiced in Lebanon since early 20^th century (El-Zein, 1997). The first trout farm was established on 1965 in Hermel “farms of Oumairyeh”. The aquaculture sector was developed during these 20 years to reach now 367 farms mainly distributed in Bekaa area along Assi River with some smaller ones along the northern coast (Aquaculture census, 2020).

Currently, more than 90% of aquaculture production in Lebanon is Rainbow trout. The total production of Rainbow trout was 4143 tonnes in 2019 while 3672 tonnes of trout are produces in Baalbeck Hermel area (represent 88.8%). After 2019, due the national crisis and specially the economic crisis, the demand of trout fish is increasing because the price of meat and chicken is decreasing around 250% that why the consumer tend to buy this type of meat. While the aquaculture is the second economic activity after crop production in Hermel region, no public institution are provided services to govern, monitor and develop this sector.

Based on the above, the objective of this project is to provide the services that should be provided by the public institution to develop the sector of trout production and to implement the related good practices, biosecurity and hygiene standards along the whole value chain of the trout production.

Purpose:

Lebanese aquaculture sector is increased in term of production between 2011 and 2019. This positive trend is further noticed by the increase number of fish farms. The aquaculture sector suffers from several problems that hinder its development:

1- Absence of environmental monitoring system, rules and standards special for fish influence;

2- Absence of veterinary fish health monitoring;

3- Absence of extension services and vocational training;

4- Lack of good practices farming all along the value chain from hatchery practices till grow out, harvesting and processing.

In order to resolve these problems, a coordination will be held between USPEaK as a private organization (USPEaK) and the Lebanese University as a public institution to support the trout production in Hermel area. The specific objectives of the project will be training and building the capacity of farmers and laboring in a farm on good farming practices.

The specific objectives will be achieved through a set of activities as described below:

A.1: Promote responsible food production for an environmentally and socially responsible value chain:

A.2: Improve bio-technical performance of trout farms

A.3: To ensure the water quality of farms in term of food safety and public health, enhance water quality monitoring schemes at inflow and outflow water farms for any potential contamination by municipal discharges (Swage). 

A.4. Ecological diagnosis (Abiotic and biotic parameters).

Scope of work:

This call for proposals is situated within the specific objective Ecological diagnosis. The purpose of this call is to outline the requirements for conducting an ecological diagnosis to assess various abiotic and biotic parameters. The study aims to evaluate the ecological health of a specific ecosystem, focusing on water quality, microbiological assessment, physico-chemical analysis, heavy metal content, fish microbiology, and sediment analysis. This consultancy will require the submission of both a technical and financial proposal.

The main objectives of this ecological diagnosis are as follows:

1. Assess the Microbiological Quality of Water:

- Evaluate the microbiological quality of water samples collected from designated locations within the ecosystem.

- Identify and quantify the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and indicator species.

- Analyze the data to determine the level of microbial pollution and potential risks to human health and aquatic life.

2. Physico-Chemical and Heavy Metals of Water:

- Conduct comprehensive physico-chemical analyses of water samples to determine parameters such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, and nutrient levels.

- Assess the concentration of heavy metals in water samples and evaluate their potential ecological impacts.

- Compare the obtained results with relevant water quality standards and guidelines.

3. Assess the Microbiological Quality of Fish:

- Collect fish samples from the ecosystem and conduct microbiological analyses to assess the presence of pathogens and indicator species.

- Determine the level of contamination and potential risks associated with the consumption of contaminated fish.

- Evaluate the overall microbiological health of the fish population in relation to the ecosystem's water quality.

4. Sediment Analysis to Monitor Pollution by Heavy Metals or Chemicals:

- Collect sediment samples from selected locations within the ecosystem.

- Analyze the sediment samples to assess the presence and concentration of heavy metals and other pollutants.

- Evaluate the potential ecological risks associated with sediment pollution and provide recommendations for remediation, if necessary.

Deliverables:

The consultancy should provide the following deliverables:

- Detailed technical proposal: The proposal should outline the methodology, sampling strategy, laboratory techniques, and analytical methods to be employed for each assessment.

- Sampling plan: A comprehensive plan describing the locations, frequency, and protocols for water and sediment sampling.

- Data analysis and interpretation: An in-depth analysis of the collected data, including statistical analysis and comparison with relevant standards and guidelines.

- Final report: A comprehensive report summarizing the findings of the ecological diagnosis, including the assessment of abiotic and biotic parameters. The report should include clear conclusions, recommendations, and an executive summary.