SPC ACTIVITIES

AQUACULTURE SECTION SPC Section publication: Regional strategy for developing marine finfish aquaculture in the Pacific Islands

In December 2007, the SPC regional framework for collabo- A technical report is now avail- Aquaculture Section hosted the ration to address priority able from the SPC Aquaculture Pacific-Asia Marine Fish Techni- research and development Section. This report will be post- cal Workshop. Representatives needs in the Pacific. ed online soon. Please contact from French Polynesia, New Antoine Teitelbaum for a copy of Caledonia, Marshall Islands, the report at [email protected]. Palau, PNG and Solomon Islands were invited to participate. Regional organisations from Australia, the Pacific and Asia (Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer [IFREMER]; Network of Aqua- culture Centres Asia-Pacific; USP; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and - Northern Fisheries Centre; The WorldFish Center; and the Aus- tralian Department of Agricul- ture, Fisheries and Forestry) also attended. Private sector investors for the region were represented as well, with Good Fortune Bay Fisheries (from Australia and Marshall Islands) and AQUALAGON (from New Caledonia) also in attendance.

This workshop was a technical consultation between marine fish aquaculture experts and SPC member PICTs that are active in marine fish aquacul- ture. Its goal was to provide SPC with advice on the most feasible options for marine fish aquaculture and identify a

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #127 – October/December 2008 7 SPC ACTIVITIES

A regional consultation to support the marine ornamental industry

SPC has been assisting the The workshop objectives were to: • Determine base require- region to develop management ments for national manage- and monitoring regimes to • Assess the global and ment plans; and ensure the long-term sustain- regional trends of the indus- ability of the marine ornamental try in terms of markets and • Identify priorities for trade whilst promoting best production systems; research, development and eco-friendly industry practices training. to ensure maximum benefits • Investigate criteria for com- from these resources. mercial viability at both Major exporting countries such community and company as Fiji Islands, Marshall Islands, As part of this effort, the levels; Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tonga and Aquaculture Section and the Solomon Islands were repre- Live Reef Fisheries Section of • Assess requirements and sented, while other countries SPC and the Secretariat of the issues related to international that have marginal or develop- Pacific Regional Environment agreements for export, such as ing trade in ornamentals, such Programme (SPREP) hosted a compliance with the Conven- as Cook Islands, French subregional workshop in tion on International Trade in Polynesia, New Caledonia and Noumea, New Caledonia, in Endangered Species (CITES) PNG, were also present and early December 2008 on the and the recent World Organisa- actively participated in the vari- marine aquarium trade. The tion for Animal Health (OIE) ous sessions. Representatives workshop was a technical con- veterinarian requirements; from Queensland’s Department sultation between private stake- of Primary Industries and holders, public stakeholders • Determine the role of certifi- Fisheries presented the and specialists from this indus- cation programmes; Queensland Great Barrier Reef try in the Pacific to examine cur- approach to managing this rent and new issues in the trade • Evaluate resource assessment industry, which is currently and to identify national and techniques to ensure sustain- being implemented. regional initiatives that will ability of ; ensure the long-term sustain- Private sector representatives ability of this important, yet rel- • Identify further opportuni- who are highly regarded in the atively unknown industry. ties for aquaculture; trade, such as Tony Nahacky from Fiji Islands, discussed the good practices of their compa- nies and stressed issues such as the safety of the collectors, quali- ty of the product and sustainabil- ity of the collection practices. Walt Smith from Walt Smith International presented his rock and coral farming projects, amongst other things, to the delight of smaller entrepreneurs from Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tonga who benefited greatly from those presentations. Tekinaiti Kaiteie from Moving Colors, a Kiritimati- based exporter, represented the Kiritimati Petfish Association and shared his experience and concerns about operating a busi- ness and shipping live animals from such a remote part of the world. The lack of support from NGOs and government agencies

Flame angels (Centropyge loriculus) at an exporters’ facility

8 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #127 – October/December 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES was also stressed and ways to improve this were discussed.

Representatives from NGOs, other independent organisations and USP actively participated in all sessions on topics such as aquaculture development, trade barriers, CITES, and sustainabil- ity of practices. Participants from the Marine Environmental Research Institute of Ponhpei, USP’s Institute of Marine Resources (IMR), and the WorldFish Center in Solomon Islands all contributed their knowledge and experience to help improve this important industry in the Pacific.

Two field trips were organised by SPC. The participants visited the newly refurbished Aquarium des Lagons on Noumea’s Anse Vata beach, where they were able to observe species from New Caledonia found in habitats ranging from the rivers to the outer reef. Some rare species were spotted by the more experi- enced fish watchers, while the 50 kg maori wrasse remained a favourite. A second field trip took over 20 participants for a snorkelling trip to the reef where ornamental trade enthusiasts and fish experts could see for themselves the fantastic New Caledonian marine life.

At the end of the workshop, an interactive CD with all the PowerPoint presentations was produced and distributed to participants. A technical report

Top: Kalmet Kaltabang from Vanuatu and Jeff Kinch from SPREP at the SPC workshop

Middle: Cultured corals (here Acropora spp.) are increasingly in demand on the global market

Bottom: Loading aquarium fish onto an air freighter for export on Kiritimati Island, Kiribati

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #127 – October/December 2008 9 SPC ACTIVITIES is currently being prepared and Certification for a ‘Pacific’ to also be members of OIE. The will be available online soon. product — a label for Pacific Pacific has become an uninten- exemplary practices tional victim of this new require- EMERGING ISSUES AND ment. Most, if not all, of the CHALLENGES Certification of best practices countries affected by this ruling for the marine aquarium indus- lack the institutional and fund- A few key issues emerged from try was deemed a high priority ing capacity to accommodate this workshop and form the by both government and pri- these measures. Fortunately, basis of the work that will need vate-sector stakeholders at the there are some conciliatory ges- to be pursued in the future. Noumea workshop. Eco-label- tures from EC indicating that a ing can add value to consumer regional approach coordinated Aquaculture – an alternative products, or at least help main- by SPC may provide a tempo- source of products tain market share. The industry rary respite. However, this really stakeholders, however, stressed only serves to raise a flag that Aquaculture is providing the a need to avoid past experiences increasingly stringent biosecuri- market with an increasing range with burdensome over-docu- ty measures in the trade are right of cultured products. For exam- mentation and to apply certifi- around the corner. ple, giant clam farming has cation in areas where operators increased since the first trials in already have strong commercial WHAT LIES AHEAD? the 1980s; in 2007 over 75,000 incentives to do well. The SPC- cultured clams were exported based Coral Reef Initiative in With growing interest in the from the Pacific. Cultured corals the South Pacific (CRISP) has aquarium trade from Pacific and cultured live rocks are also announced an intention to carry countries, the trade is expected being successfully marketed to out a feasibility study in 2009 to to continue to grow in the environmentally conscious identify possible models for cer- region. SPC will continue to aquarists. As the culture of tification and eco-labeling in the coordinate efforts and provide these products expands in the marine aquarium trade, and to the technical support and assis- Pacific, alternative employment seek the one that is most appro- tance required by PICTs to is being created for people in priate for the industry in the develop and manage this indus- rural areas. Culture of fish such Pacific. try in a sustainable way. A as the highly sought after ‘Pacific’ label that indicates high clownfish is also increasing International compliance quality eco-friendly products worldwide, and the Pacific that promote sustainability is an seems to have good opportuni- Today’s global market has made idea worthy of exploration by ties for development in this compliance and reporting Pacific Island nations. And as area. increasingly stringent and com- for international trade meas- plex. As aquarium products ures, they have the capacity to Air transportation – a move from one country to either become a barrier for the continuing saga another they must comply with Pacific marine aquarium trade the powerful CITES, which or to assist the trade in keeping The aquarium trade has a sym- aims to ensure that internation- a clean image. biotic relationship with the air- al trade is not affecting global line industry. Live fishes and biodiversity. Lately, the Pacific For further information please corals surviving on a limited has been affected by temporary contact Being Yeeting, SPC oxygen supply must be shipped bans that have been imposed on Senior Fisheries Scientist (Live quickly to their destination, and some species. A factor in these Reef Fisheries), email: the trade therefore depends on bans has been poor coordina- [email protected], or Antoine airlines to get its products to tion between environment Teitelbaum, SPC Aquaculture market. At the same time, the departments, which typically Officer (Aquaculture Section), flow of outgoing airfreight issue CITES permits, and fish- email: [email protected] cargo provides a steady stream eries departments, which are of business, helping these inter- responsible for the industry. national flight routes stay afloat. In Tonga for example, the ban Biosecurity is an issue of increas- on live-rock harvest caused a ing importance. Recently the drop in airfreight cargo and European Commission (EC) reputedly contributed to the imposed a requirement for all demise of one of the interna- live aquatic imports to be accom- tional flight connections. panied by disease certification and for the exporting countries

10 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #127 – October/December 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

Building capacity for Solomon Islands in freshwater aquaculture (By James Ngwaerobo, Aquaculture Officer, Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources)

With the increasing pressure on Fiji. There is a large freshwater The Fiji freshwater aquaculture capture fisheries, freshwater aquaculture centre and prawn sector includes polyculture, inte- aquaculture has potential to hatchery operated by the Fiji grated agriculture-aquaculture develop among PICTs. SPC and Islands Department of Fisheries farming (tilapia and ducks) and USP are taking a lead to assist at NRS in Tailevu, which is monoculture of both tilapia and the development of tilapia and responsible for overseeing the prawn. The different farming development of this sector methods have been proven to among the PICTs. among rural communities. The work well and are suitable for establishment of a second, com- PICTs. The main commercial The Aquaculture Development mercially oriented prawn hatch- species are Nile tilapia and rosen- Plan for Solomon Islands, ery by USP’s IMR, and IMR’s bergii prawn; grass carp recently developed by the partnership with DFF to operate (Ctenopharyngodon idella), big Solomon Islands Ministry of the Navua prawn farm, have head carp (Aristichthys nobilis), Fisheries and Marine Resources further consolidated freshwater silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys (MFMR) in collaboration with aquaculture in Fiji. molitrix), puntius (Puntius SPC, listed freshwater aquacul- gonionotus), gold fish and fancy ture (tilapia and prawn) as a pri- The training carp (koi) are also raised. ority. To further strengthen the Solomon Islands Freshwater The training covered a wide Grow-out — tilapia and prawn and Brackish Programme, range of practices in tilapia and MFMR requested that SPC pro- prawn hatchery operation, hus- Two weeks of attachment and vide training to enable MFMR bandry and grow-out. This training was spent on the pond to build capacity to implement involved fieldwork, hands-on cycle developed for prawn its programme. A three-week work experience, and lectures pond management: preparation training and work attachment on tilapia and prawn biology. and maintenance of ponds, was conducted by SPC and USP The training was conducted at application of lime and fertilis- in collaboration with the the DFF Navua prawn farm, the er, filling of ponds, stocking Aquaculture Unit of Dairy IMR-USP hatchery in Suva, and with prawns, feeding, daily Farms (Fiji) Ltd. (DFF), and the NRS in Tailevu. Vanuatu maintenance, pond sampling, Naduruloulou Research Station Fisheries staff member Glen Alo and record keeping. Also cov- (NRS) of the Fiji Islands was the first person sponsored ered were feed preparation Department of Fisheries. As a by SPC to complete this training (ingredients and equipment), member of MFMR staff based in (in September 2008) and I was harvesting, and packaging of the newly established Aquacul- the second (in November 2008). prawns. Field visits were made ture Division, I was able to attend this training.

Freshwater and brackish water aquaculture has been estab- lished for more than two decades in Fiji Islands, so aqua- culture infrastructure like feed mills, hatchery and culture tech- nology, supporting institutions and personnel are comparative- ly well developed. This has cre- ated a foundation for training so that other PICTs can learn from experiences in Fiji. Nile tilapia and Macrobrachium rosenbergii prawn hatchery and grow-out practices are in operation, including one large commercial prawn farm at Navua and a number of smaller extensive and semi-intensive tilapia and prawn farms in other parts of Prawn feeding, USP hatchery

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #127 – October/December 2008 11 SPC ACTIVITIES

tices for farming and hatch- ery practices under Pacific Islands conditions;

• Our knowledge about the pond cycle for prawns;

• Developing MFMR’s capaci- ty to conduct its own experi- ments in Solomon Islands;

• MFMR’s ability to conduct an import risk assessment on the viability of importing Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus as a better option for aquaculture than the Mozambique tilapia O. mossambicus already long established in Solomon Islands; and Grass carp harvesting, Naduruloulou • Capability of MFMR Aqua- to a number of other farms to a green-water technique for culture Section staff to carry observe the different types of prawn larval culture. This out training for its provincial farming (monoculture, polycul- method is an alternative to the officers. ture, and integrated farming). clear-water culture technique These topics were covered both usually practiced in Fiji Islands, The training will help strength- at DFF, which focuses on prawn and was learned under the en the work force and will con- grow-out, and at NRS, which guidance of Japan International tribute to current MFMR efforts maintains for tilapia Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop tilapia and prawn and prawn and produces juve- Senior Volunteer Tomohiro farming as an alternative liveli- niles for pond stocking. Imamura and the IMR hatchery hood under the Community- team. Training covered all Based Fisheries Management Hatchery — tilapia and prawn aspects of hatchery larval hus- Programme. This aims to bandry: water quality manage- improve food security for the NRS operates hatcheries for both ment, prawn larval develop- increasing population as well as tilapia and prawn. These are ment, and daily feeding. reduce the stress on our natural ‘master hatcheries’, responsible fish stocks. nationally for maintenance and Implications for Solomon dissemination of the best possi- Islands ble broodstock for these species. I spent time here going through Solomon Islands is preparing the steps for broodstock man- for the establishment of a fresh- agement and tilapia fingerling water and brackish aquaculture production for pond stocking. sector under its Aquaculture Development Plan 2009–2014. Prawn hatchery — green-water This training in Fiji Islands has technique contributed to:

One week was spent in the IMR • Capacity building on skills hatchery at USP for training on and knowledge in best prac-

12 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #127 – October/December 2008