Stimulating the growth of a sustainable aquaculture industry is a top priority for Puerto Rico. This prioritization will help to take pressure off the fishery sector, augment livelihoods for fishers, advance aquaculture technology, offer training programs and workforce development, facilitate food and nutrition security, and provide economic resilience for coastal communities.
In 2019, the community-based Naguabo Aquaculture Center was launched in Puerto Rico in collaboration with Florida Atlantic University, Conservación ConCiencia and Commercial Fishing Association - Villa Pesquera de Naguabo. The Aquaculture Center was designed and built to grow queen conch, halophyte plants (sea vegetables), and other local species for restoration and culinary dishes.
The Center’s infrastructure includes: a saltwater system with two 2,000-gallon reservoir tanks on chillers, filtration and UV sterilization (200 ft2); a temperature-controlled hatchery and microalgae culture area (144 ft2); a recirculating nursery system for conch; and an aquaponic area for sea vegetables and other species (500 ft2). The project began culturing queen conch juveniles from egg stage in June 2021, and in October 2021, sea vegetable aquaponics were introduced to the Center. There have been many successes including local job creation, research internships, and additional sources of income for fishers engaging and participating in different aspects of the operation including conch egg collection, infrastructure development, and seawater pumping.
The Naguabo Aquaculture Center is supported through grants from Saltonstall-Kennedy NOAA Fisheries, USDA Agricultural Research Services, and Puerto Rico Sea Grant. This project serves as a model that can be transferred to more fishing communities in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean.