FISHERIES BUDGET TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY
Millions of people around the world depend on fisheries for their livelihoods. Billions more depend on it for their source of protein and good health.
With increased over-fishing as a result of poor or non-existent management practices, fish stock in many parts of the world have reduced to below sustainable levels. This is now endangering ecosystems and affecting the balance of life in the oceans.
In the efforts to relieve the pressure on traditional fisheries, experts have been promoting fish-farming or aquaculture.
The Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries, has been encouraging our communities to venture into sustainable aquaculture involving tilapia or shrimp. These have proven to be alternative sources of protein, and livelihood.
In the post-COVID19 era, Government is strengthening its focus on food security by providing a budget of $3.3 million specifically for aquaculture.
This increase in budget for the new financial year should be a relief for interested farmers as their dream of starting their own aquaculture farm will soon become a reality.
Fish farming is the most common type of aquaculture. It involves the selective breeding of fish, either in fresh water or sea water, with the purpose of producing a food source for consumption.
Furthermore, fish farming is easier to do than other kinds of farming as fish are not care intensive, only requiring food and proper water conditions as well temperatures. The process is also less land intensive as the size of ponds required to grow some fish species such as tilapia is much smaller than the space required to grow the same amount of protein from beef cattle.
With an excellent water source, even communities in the highlands of Nadroga/Navosa and even Naitasiri, will be able to get their daily protein needs through aquaculture.
Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau, says the increase in funding for aquaculture is most welcome and should trigger a lot of interest from communities around Fiji.
“With the changes brought about by COVID 19, thousands of families are facing a lot of pressure. This in turn places significant pressure on resources like fisheries,” Mr Koroilavesau said. “Communities will begin to see the impacts of overfishing in and around their reef systems as various species will have decreased in numbers if not totally wiped out.
“But aquaculture can help reduce the reliance and impact on wild stock and give some sort of relief to the reef systems so that they are able to grow healthy and in turn heal the ecosystem,” he said.
“The new budget will increase the scope of assistance to both existing and new aquaculture farmers and especially those who wish to scale up their farms from subsistence to semi-commercial, “Mr. Koroilavesau said.
The ministry also has plans to double tilapia fry production to two million annually with the injection of new and innovative technology and resetting the new production plan in both the freshwater hatcheries situated in Ba and Naduruloulou.
Mr Koroilavesau emphasised that Government’s National Development Plan clearly articulates that aquaculture can drive food security, economic development and as a means of climate change adaptation.
“We hope that more families will be able to grow their own food and in this case, grow the aquaculture sector,” he said.
The Ministry of Fisheries is also investing in research to ensure that aquaculture farmers are supported in managing their farms in the most efficient and productive way possible. “Government is adamant on working towards a sustainable blue economy and aquaculture will play a critical role in achieving this vision,” Mr Koroilavesau said.