ACIAR REVIEW OF THE BARRIERS TO THE EXPANSION OF TILAPIA AQUACULTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN PNG, SOLOMON ISLANDS AND TIMOR LESTE

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has commissioned a desk-to review to identify barriers to the expansion of tilapia aquaculture, with a focus on feeds and fingerlings in PNG, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.  This review examines literature, connects with previous and current ACIAR projects, and ensures country leaders from PNG, Solomon Islands (SI) and Timor-Leste (TL) are fully involved.  The Pacific Island Aquaculture Session will assist this review by consulting with experts from the region.

Despite being identified as having considerable potential for the Pacific, and significant investment by Pacific Island countries and partners, growth of tilapia aquaculture in PNG, SI and TL has been modest with reported total production of less than 2kt/yr in 2019#.  Tilapia production globally contributes widely to nutrition and livelihoods, due to its well-established culture methods, low input costs and consumer acceptance. These characteristics have led to tilapia becoming the second-most farmed fish in the world (6.2 Mt in 2019)#, leading ACIAR to ask the question; what are the barriers to development in PNG, SI and TL and what more can be done to help?

Challenges and potential options for further investment will be discussed. 

Challenges:

1. Scale issues. Pacific Island countries have much smaller populations than neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia meaning much smaller domestic markets.
2. Remote terrain.  Tilapia farming in Pacific Islands often occurs in remote areas with poor infrastructure, difficulty accessing basic supplies, including feeds and fingerlings, and essential chemicals. Some areas even lack a functional economy.
3. Access to information & technology. Problems with scale & remoteness exacerbate problems with communication, training, & availability of qualified people.

Some initial options that might help:

1. Recognising that individual solutions are needed for different culture systems.
2. Subsidised importation of commercial feeds to rapidly evaluate production potential, for different culture systems.
3. Evaluating the potential of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and other vermiculture species as feed sources, especially for more extensive culture systems.
4. Expansion of satellite hatcheries & creation of a Pacific Island network for hatcheries.
5. Helping import difficulties with 17 methyl-testosterone, vitamin & mineral premixes, etc.
6. Increased focus on capacity building, training, and information exchange.
7. Addressing scarcity and expense of feed ingredients.
8. Support for local enterprises to establish small-scale fish feed manufacturing.

# FAO, 2021.  FAO Yearbook. Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics 2019. Rome.