Overview
This project aimed to provide a sustainable basis for development of a mariculture sector in Papua New Guinea and to build capacity within country partner organisations to support this development.
Papua New Guinea's vast coastline supports numerous communities that depend on marine resources for their livelihoods. Communities do not take advantage of the economic and livelihood opportunities the coastline provides. Fishery resources have been affected, and the sea cucumber fishery, which was the main village-based fishery generating significant export income, has collapsed. In response, the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) implemented a nationwide moratorium. Economic activities are needed as alternatives to the sea cucumber fishery to provide livelihood opportunities for coastal communities in Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea has no tradition of mariculture, so few people are aware of other possibilities. The recently completed NFA Nago Island marine hatchery and training facility at Kavieng can help to develop mariculture opportunities. Mariculture development in Papua New Guinea needs to build capacity and to identify local species that can support viable, sustainable mariculture industries for coastal communities.
This project partners with NFA and its National Fisheries College in Kavieng to address this, and to develop a strategy to strengthen Papua New Guinea's institutional mariculture training capacity long-term.
