Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Kiribati

FISH FROM THE FARM: AQUACULTURE

Aquaculture has faced many challenges in Kiribati over the years. Although successful fish farms do exist, Kiribati’s aquaculture is declining and the true costs and ben- efits need to be carefully assessed.

sambicus), which was introduced in 1963 as a food and bait source. However, this species reproduced prolifically and affect- ed milkfish aquaculture ponds. Attempts were made to eradicate the species, but these were unsuccessful. Currently, tilapia is utilized for alternative purposes such as livestock feed, fish meal and fertilizer (SPC Aquaculture Portal, 2018). In terms of other types of aquaculture, seaweed aquaculture was initially started on Kiritimati in the 1970s and after initial success, was expanded to the Gilbert group. Currently, seaweed aquaculture is overseen by the Atoll Sea- weed Company Limited, a national company responsible for development and trade of seaweed aquaculture products. The map shows the location of aquaculture activities in Kiribati, the majority of which are concentrated in the Gilbert group and on Kir-

itimati. Milkfish ponds are common in many areas for subsistence (see box on babai pits).

Half of the seafood eaten globally does not come from the sea. It is not wild caught fish from inshore or offshore fisheries (see also chapters “Small fish, big importance” and “Fishing in the dark”), but rather farmed. The farming of seafood, known as aquaculture, can be practised in either fresh water or salt water, the latter of which is also known as mariculture (see map). Aquaculture is a small but important industry in Kiribati for both subsistence consumption and as a potential commercial industry. One of the main species cultivated in aquaculture in Kiribati is milkfish (Chanos chanos). Milk- fish culture has been a traditional practice in the Gilbert group. Small fry are collected from the lagoon, reared in ponds and grown to a size suitable for subsistence consump- tion. There have also been several projects to culture milkfish for use as bait and food

in Tarawa, Temwaiku, Ambo fish farm and Kiritimati (SPC Aquaculture Portal, 2018). However, there has been little commercial success for milkfish as an export industry, mainly due to competition on the interna- tional market. Efforts are being made to develop a sus- tainable black pearl industry, with govern- ment-supported operations established on Abaiang Atoll. After 10 years of planning, research and development, the first pearl harvest was produced in September 2003 (SPC Aquaculture Portal, 2018). Similarly, efforts are being made to es- tablish aquaculture for giant clam for the aquarium trade, with at least one site in Tarawa Lagoon.

Babai pits Traditionally, I-Kiribati families keep one or two babai pits and turn them into small ponds to culture milkfish. Almost all islands have practised small-scale aquaculture for milk- fish for more than century. Milkfish reared in the pits are popular to eat and an alternative source of fish when the sea is rough and condi- tions are unconducive to fishing. Some of the larger islands such as Nukunau usually have a large lake where they practise communal milk- fish farming and seasonally harvest the milkfish to provide food for the entire village.

Aquaculture can have negative impacts on Kiribati’s marine ecosystem, including pressure on wild fish used for fish feed, interbreeding of farmed fish with wild fish, pollution and habitat loss. For example, mangroves are cut to develop shrimp farms resulting in loss of this key coastal habitat (see also chapter “Home, sweet home”). There is therefore a need for clear priorities when expanding aquaculture to minimize any adverse environmental impacts.

Historically, there were attempts to develop aquaculture for tilapia (Oreochromis mos-

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR KIRIBATI

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