Aquaculture increasingly vital for Pacific

[B]NEW CALEDONIA[/B]—The future of aquaculture development in the Pacific will be discussed at a meeting at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s headquarters in Noumea this week. The meeting—“Sustainability through diversity and cooperation in Pacific aquaculture”—is sponsored by SPC’s Aquaculture Section.

Dr Tim Adams, who heads SPC’s Marine Resources Division, told Pacific government representatives at last week’s meeting of SPC’s governing body that aquaculture “will become increasingly important for exports and food security. As wild stocks come under increasingly rigorous management—as they absolutely have to if they are to remain viable into the longer-term future—the economic balance will tip further in favor of aquaculture.”

Adams stressed that Pacific island countries and territories should have a forward-thinking plan in place before this happens “to avoid foreseeable problems occurring such as overcrowding of farms, or unintended introduction of parasites or invasive species”.

Pacific fisheries officials in charge of aquaculture will present updated country reports at this week’s meeting, and evaluate the general status and trends for aquaculture in the Pacific. They will then formulate a regional work program for the next five years.

SPC’s Aquaculture Section was established in 2001 and has since provided strong support for aquaculture planning, research and development by Pacific Island governments and private enterprise.

“The level of aquaculture development in the region varies and our programme’s role is to bring the regional collaboration into the picture,” said Ben Ponia, SPC aquaculture adviser. “Let’s talk about food security, for instance. We took Fiji’s extensive experience in fish farming and brought it to Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and other countries in the Pacific. This has not only improved food security in these countries, but also provided commercial opportunities.”

“I look forward to strengthening this spirit of collaboration between Pacific Islands and making best use of our comparative advantages, such as our biodiversity. But to look after our ecosystems and livelihoods, we also need to work together to strengthen programmes such as bio-security to ensure we have a disease-free, environmentally friendly industry,” he concluded.

“Meetings such as this one enable countries and territories to benefit by sharing their experience,” said Christophe Fonfreyde, a representative from New Caledonia Fisheries’ Department and chairperson of this week’s meeting. “It is my hope that at the end of the week, a concise and forward-looking five-year program will be adopted, giving SPC a road map for further developing aquaculture for the benefit of Pacific Islanders.” (PR)