Development of aquaculture vital

By SHIRLEY MAULUDU
THE development of aquaculture in the country will contribute to the sustainability of the economy because people become more cash dependent these days, an official says.
National Fisheries Authority executive manager for aquaculture and inland fishery Jacob Wani was speaking during the opening of Nago Island Mariculture Research Facility in Kavieng, New Ireland last Friday.
“This is the first ever modern aquaculture facility in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“I say this is the dawn of a new era. The population has increased. I’m sure we all have experiences in areas where we used to go and fish. You go back today, there’s none there.
“Our old people complained that I used to catch fish here but nowadays you cannot find them.
“And as people become more dependent on cash economy, there is not enough avenue for fishing resources to sustain themselves and also for food. That is placing a big strain on our catch.
How do we meet that shortfall in seafood demand? Aquaculture is the only way to do it.” Aquaculture, also known as aqua-farming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusc and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions.