PRIME Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has highlighted the importance of developing aquaculture for rural development and food security in light of pressures placed on the country’s fisheries resources.
Speaking at Guadalcanal Province’s Second Appointed Day celebration on Tuesday at Mamara, Northwest Guadalcanal, Prime Minister Sogavare said fisheries is a major sector not only in Guadalcanal Province but the whole country.
Thus, he commended the ongoing work in developing policy and regulatory frameworks to sustain and manage the countries fisheries between the National Government and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
Aquaculture, also known as fish farming involves the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants under controlled conditions.
Aquaculture is a major policy of the National Government implemented on Guadalcanal with more than $10 million spent so far in developing this sector at the Aruligo Fisheries Facility in Northwest Guadalcanal.
The Aruligo Fisheries facility is moving into its productive phase and will soon become fully operational and the Prime Minister urged Guadalcanal Province to partner in this undertaking as aquaculture is a promising economic activity that will boost the local economy in the years ahead.
“We anticipate increase demand for food therefore the need to produce more food. Aquaculture therefore plays a crucial role in meeting the growing domestics and global demand for seafood. Therefore, it will help to supplement wild-caught fish, which have faced declining stocks due to overfishing and habitat degradation,” he added.
Prime Minister Sogavare said breeding and raising fish in controlled environments reduce pressure on wild fish populations and supports ecosystem conservation, adding that aquaculture reduces the need for excessive fishing of wild species, allowing fish stocks to recover and maintain their natural balance.
He further highlighted that aquaculture creates job opportunities and supports livelihoods in coastal and rural areas and is particularly ideal for Guadalcanal Province as it fosters economic growth and will be an essential source of revenue for communities.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that another interesting aspect to aquaculture is its ‘predictability to harvest” as it allows for precise control over the environment, feed and breeding conditions, resulting in more predictable and consistent harvests compared to wild fisheries, which can be subject to natural fluctuations.
“This particular fishery will breed innovation and research, a trait that we want to instill within any of our development aspirations. The industry encourages research and innovation in areas like fish health, nutrition, and environmental sustainability, which can have broader applications in marine science and biology,” he said.
Aquaculture projects will foster rural development by providing employment opportunities and income diversification, thereby reducing migration to urban areas.
– GCU
