‘Aquaculture could save NMI’

The Commonwealth is poised to start a significant aquaculture industry with a host of proposals to spur its growth now in development, according to experts at a workshop held Thursday.

Aquaculture is a multi-billion dollar business worldwide and proponents of it believe Saipan and the surrounding islands are an ideal location for the industry to take root because of the region’s isolated location—key to safeguarding crops against diseases—and the high quality of the local seawater. The industry could give the Commonwealth a major boost during the current economic downturn, proponents say.

The workshop comes as supporters of legislation intended to encourage the growth of shrimp farming on Rota is now awaiting Gov. Benigno Fitial’s signature. The bill, the Rota Aquaculture Act of 2008, would establish Rota as a specific pathogen free zone; meaning restrictions would shield the island against invasive diseases that can affect shrimp production.

Currently, aquaculture in the Commonwealth is limited. However, there are several key prospects for further development, according to Michael Ogo, aquaculture specialist for Northern Marianas College. In a speech before a significant crowd at the workshop, Ogo noted that the Commonwealth already has one thriving shrimp farm with a second soon to begin operation on Rota.

Moreover, Ogo said NMC is preparing to experiment with raising groupers in captivity on formulated feed, research that could help any future local aquaculture operations do the same. Some species of grouper, he noted, are popular delicacies in Asia that fetch high prices. The college now has a tank under construction for the project, he added, which it hopes to stock in August.

A staple fish in the region, Tilapia, is the focus of a second plan by aquaculture proponents hoping to begin private sector cultivation of the fish species, Ogo said.

Yet any opportunity to encourage an aquaculture industry in the Commonwealth, he added, depends on the support of the community.

“Not only is our location an advantage to us, but our proximity to the new and emerging Asian market is, well, it’s right there,” Ogo said. “We need to have the will to support this. We need to have the support of our leaders. We need to have the capacity, the right people, to pursue this technology and we need to have the facilities to do this. Most importantly, we need the financial backing to make this happen.”

Meanwhile, NMC is now in search of a site for a new marine science center where aquaculture research can be conducted in addition to educational courses.

Gov. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez in a statement welcomed any potential growth in the aquaculture industry locally.

“We are blessed with many islands, endowed with relatively undisturbed ecosystems, and we have high hopes for a stronger aquaculture industry and successful business ventures.”