The opportunity has been organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, which quotes UN figures valuing current worldwide annual aquaculture production of grouper at around $60 million dollars(US).
Fiji’s Acting Director of Fisheries, Aisake Batibasaga said his country sees huge potential both as a food resource and for live export, although cyclones could present difficulties:
“We have to design the technology that can withstand cyclones. We can have cages that can close up completely and sink to the bottom of the reef or the lagoon when there are strong tidal or high energy waves during a cyclone,” he said.
Mr Batibasaga said agreements need to be arranged for the use of coastal areas and financial partners need to be found. He hoped fish farms could be set up in the next three to five years.
Source: Radio New Zealand International