By James Ngwaerobo

 

With the increasing pressure on capture fisheries, freshwater aquaculture has potential to develop among the PICTs. SPC and USP are taking a lead to assist the development of tilapia and freshwater prawn farming among the PICTs.  

The Aquaculture Development Plan for Solomon Islands, recently developed by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) in collaboration with SPC, listed freshwater aquaculture (tilapia and prawn) as a priority. To further strengthen the Solomon Islands Freshwater and Brackish programme , MFMR requested that SPC provide training to enable MFMR to build capacity to implement its programme. A three-week training and work attachment was conducted by SPC and USP in collaboration with the Aquaculture Unit of Dairy Farms (Fiji) Ltd. (DFF), and the Naduruloulou Research Station (NRS) of the Fiji Islands Department of Fisheries. As a member of MFMR staff based in the newly established Aquaculture Division, I was able to attend this training.