Facility backs sustainability of sea cucumber

THE research facility on Nago Island in Kavieng, New Ireland will support the sustainability of the sea cucumber stock in selected locations in the province.
National Fisheries Authority managing director John Kasu revealed this during the opening of the Nago Island Mariculture and Research Facility last Friday.
“With technical assistance from the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research, the Nago Island Mariculture and Research Facility is conducting research into sandfish, a high valued sea cucumber species, ornamental fish, pearl oysters, corals and clams,” Kasu said.
“This research has the opportunity to support one of the most valuable coastal fisheries resources, the sustainability of sea cucumber stock in selected locations in New Ireland province, which will in long term, support long term community livelihoods and provide economic opportunities for the people.
“It is our long-term objective that the success of scientific work here can be duplicated to other provinces of Papua New Guinea.
“In fact, this research facility is unique in Papua New Guinea in that it nicely blends marine research, conservation, and tourism into one operation.”
Kasu said a partnership between the Government and other partners including landowners in the area to establish the facility showed that the arrangement was to foster cooperation in sharing the costs of running it self-sustaining.
According to a report Papua New Guinea is one of the largest countries in the Western Central Pacific region and third largest producer of bêche-de-mer in the world, supplying around 10 per cent of the global market.