Research & Development
  • Macrobrachium shrimp

    vanuatu_lar1_b1Freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium lar) are cultivated in taro terraces for subsistence purposes.

    There is interest in further developing integrated agricultural farming systems with shrimp culture.

    Research results indicate that lar can be cultured and harvest within four months by using high quality formulated feed. This is a huge opportunity for Vanuatu because there is a lot of fresh water systems where post larvae can be collected and stocked into cultured ponds. Vanuatu government has already started approving and financing small scale M. lar projects.

    Future research effort will focus more on:

    - methods of post larvae collection from wild for culture

    - formulation of suitable feed for M. lar

    - hatchery production of M.lar PL for farmers

    - assessment of natural recruitment of M.lar and their potentials of ensuring a regular supply to farmers

    - production of awareness information on M.lar to ensure their biodiversity and aquaculture

    Macrobrachium rosenbegii

    M. rosenbergii has been identified under Vanuatu newly developed FIVE year aquaculture development plan (VADP) as a high priority species. The Government has already invested in training of a number of its key officers in certain husbandry of this species. Funded has also been obtained from SPC and Vanuatu Government to establish a simple M. rosenbergii hatchery. Recently FAO is providing some assistance in relation to obtaining hatchery equipments for use:

    Priority focus is to:

    - develop M. rosenbergii as a potential candidate species for aquaculture in Vanuatu by small scale subsistence rural farmers

    - establish a regular supply of M. rosenbergii postlarvae (PL) to community farmers

    - Assist interested farmers in establishing community farms or private farms to focus on M.rosenbergii aquaculture

    - Assist community/private farms to access funding from National, Government or private donors to establish M.rosenbergii aquaculture

    - Improve nutrition, create employment and improve life style of communities through involvement in aquaculture

    - Maintain regular supply of M. rosenbergii as a fresh aquaculture product to the national market.

    - production of awareness information on M.rosenbergii as an alternative aquaculture species