Aquaculture diversification in New-Caledonia: status and trends For 30 years: aquaculture almost only based on shrimp farming (L. stylirostris - monoculture) A great aquaculture potential, but still untapped and under utilized Booming non-shrimp aquaculture projects >> Overview of these activities and projects 1
Aquaculture projects sites scallops sea cucumber finfish lobsters finfish Spat or puerili collection / hatchery Grow out farm Project about to start Existing farm or hatchery freshater prawns lobsters lobsters scallops redclaw oysters sea cucumber oysters algae finfish Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) 1 farm (10 years): a few tons Targeting local market : culture lines Restricted local market No viability for export 2
Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) 1 farm (10 years): 60 to 80 tons Targeting local market (potential = 250 tons) Triploid spat imported from France Grow out in racks and bags High mortality Farm located in a highly inhabited area potential problem arising Spat supply Will to grow other bivalves species Rock Oyster (Saccostrea c. echinata) 1 farm (30 years): 2000 dozen a year Targeting local market Wild harvested spat Grow out on tubes 3
Scallops (Mymachlamys gloriosa, Bractechlamys vexillum) 1 farm (2 years): production goal = 21 tons Targeting local market (potential = 35 tons) Longlines spat collection (multi sites) and grow out (pyramid nets) Starting activity Spat collection and grow out are planned to be distinct activities Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) 5 farms (10 years): 5 to 15 tons Targeting local market Breeding and grow out in earthen ponds Fluctuating viability linked to farmers involvement 4
Algae - Mollusc Fish Crustacean Echinoderm Lobsters (Panulirus sp.) 1 pilot project lead by a commercial farm, public funded Targeting local market (potential = 30 tons) Puerili collection on longlines (multi sites) and grow out in sea cages Technical and financial viability to be studied Freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium lar) Interest of the Northern Province populations for part-time artisanal farming targeting nearby local market Collaboration with SPC (feasibility study) Wild juveniles harvested, grow out in earthen ponds Poor knowledge of recruitment Assess impact of collection on the resource Technical and financial viability to be studied Mud crab (Scylla sp.) A Southern Province will to develop mud crab aquaculture Collaboration sought with Vietnam (PhD) : Possibly conflicting activity with fishery 5
Sandfish (Holothuria scabra) Following to World Fish Center program 1 hatchery (starting end of 2010): production goal = 750.000 juveniles + farm Another hatchery project under study 2 pilot projects funded by Northern and Southern Provinces Targeting international market (adult sizes/technology) + local market (juveniles) Hatchery, grow out in earthen ponds, sea farming in pens, sea ranching, restocking Starting activity Possibly conflicting activity with fishery Rabbit fish (Siganus lineatus) 1 hatchery + farm: production goal =100 tons Targeting local market (adult size / potential = 150 tons) + international market (fingerlings / technology) : Hatchery and grow out in sea cages Starting activity Farmed rabbit fish will be tagged 6
> 1 pilot fish farming unit (hatchery + sea cages) > 1 diversification unit Main goals Developing reliable protocols prior to starting at commercial scale Production costs assessment Marketing research 5 potential target species (Cromileptes altivelis, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lutjanus sebae, Epinephelus cioides, Epinephelus malabaricus) Already raised in the world Present in NC Fingerlings available on international market Starting 2011 CCDTAM (New-Caledonia Center for Development and Training in Marine Aquaculture) 7
To sum up Motivated private companies achieving innovating projects with financial help of the Provinces Public services stimulating new developments by creating tools and networking for technical help Multi-sites projects over 2 Provinces Mainly individual projects Mainly «one of» projects targeting restricted local market at first Potential for development linked to the possibility of export 8
Issues and challenges Socio-economical importance by creating employment opportunities in rural areas Develop technical support and training capacity in NC Environmental aspects are taken into account In the long run: manage marine areas to avoid user conflicts Possible interaction between shrimp farming and new aquaculture to be studied Maruuru Thank you Merci! 9