New Zealand funds a National Tilapia Facility in the Solomon Islands.
I was a keen observer of developments at the ICLARM Costal Aquaculture Centre near to Honiara in the late 90s and very sad to see it close due to the civil conflict.
Thanks to the further aid and generosity of the New Zealand Government I have leaned of work having been done on a new National Tilapia Facility at Aruligo in North West Guadalcanal.
The building project has been funded by the New Zealand Government with an estimated cost of SBD$3.5 million.
The facility, when fully finished, will be provide training to all tilapia farmers around Solomon Islands, and at the same time distribute tilapia fingerling species to farmers in order to increase food security.
My understanding is the facility will focus on breeding a non-native fish, Mozambique tilapia that is presently being cultured on a low scale in some parts of the country and sold in local markets.
The facility will also serve as a centre for maintaining broodstock quality and for research.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
