Deep Roots

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Community-based aquaculture to sustain food

security and livelihoods in the Pacific region

Moses Amos, Director, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Community

emand for fish by increasing populations in the

Pacific Islands is projected to outstrip the ability of

several island nations’ coastal fisheries to supply

them. The need to strengthen coastal fisheries manage-

ment systems to maintain fish supply is important, but

this may not be sufficient. Therefore, the ability to provide

additional production from aquaculture is essential

to meet anticipated fish supply shortfalls. In address-

ing this issue, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community

(SPC) recognizes the important contribution of commu-

nities through aquaculture by bringing into perspective

a community-based aquaculture approach to address a

shortfall in the supply of fish for food and sustain the

well-being of rural communities.

While aquaculture in general is not a tradition in some

Pacific Island nations, there have been records of integrated

aquaculture and agriculture practices in other Pacific Island

countries, such as integrated freshwater prawn farming of

the species

Macrobrachium lar

in some island communities

in Vanuatu. There is a good record of community-based

aquaculture farming all over the Pacific region today,

where it is a family affair and both women and children

are involved.

In addressing community-based aquaculture in the Pacific

region, the key constraints of capacity, feed and seed supply

are challenging, particularly in remote coastal and inland

communities. To date, it has been difficult to quantify the

number of people fully engaged in a community farm per

day, whether it is full-time or part-time employment, what

the roles of women and children are in a community farm

and how economies of scale can be enhanced to improve

aquaculture, hopefully bringing it to another level. The

key factor remains that community-type aquaculture has to

be formulated around the way of life of the village people

who most need that support. That way of life needs to be

recognized and understood in terms of various agricultural

practices such as subsistence farming and fishing.

Demand for fish in the Pacific Islands will soon outstrip the ability of coastal

fisheries to supply them

Additional fish production from aquaculture is essential to meet anticipated

shortfalls in fish supply

Image: FAME, SPC

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