Due to a lack of research on indigenous species, and the long time frames needed for domestication of new species, successful aquaculture in the Pacific Islands is dominated by a small number of species that are mainly introduced from outside the region. The aquaculture potential of tropical freshwater and marine species indigenous to the Pacific needs more research in order to increase production, increase resilience, and diversify the sector.
For this reason two aquaculture commodities, freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) and mangrove oysters (Crassostrea spp. and Saccostrea spp.) are currently being trialled by the Pacific Community in collaboration with The University of the South Pacific. Glass eels collected during the peak recruitment seasons in Fiji, from January to April 2023 are being cultured in an intensive, static system to measure and compare growth rates to commercially cultured species A. japonica and A. anguilla. Mangrove oyster spat collected in Laucala Bay near Suva, Fiji, are being grown out to harvest size and sold from a pilot community farm operated by Muanaira Women’s Group. The growth and survival of these oysters is encouraging for demonstration of their aquaculture potential.