Measuring Impact

Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

Freshwater prawn aquaculture in the Pacific: Improving culture stock quality and nutrition in Fiji

Project ID:
FIS/2005/108
Collaborating Countries:
Fiji
Project Locations
Commissioned Organisation:
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Project Leader
Dr Peter Mather
Phone: 07 3864 1737
Fax: 07 3864 2330
Email: p.mather@qut.edu.au
Collaborating Institutions:
  • Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Fiji
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia
  • University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Project Budget:
$385,680
Project Duration:
01/05/2007 - 30/04/2010
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Mr Barney Smith
Project Overview

Freshwater prawn aquaculture, though relatively new to the Pacific, has been identified as having great potential for countries in the region. Until recently, culture of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in the Pacific was confined to Fiji, but now other Pacific Island Nations (PINs) have indicated a strong interest in developing their own industries, particularly using Machrobranchium as stock. This project therefore seeks to compare the relative productivity of the prawn stock currently farmed in Fiji against selected high-performing stocks available in Asia and also to assist in development of low-cost, nutritionally adequate feeds, based on local ingredients formulated specifically for freshwater prawns.