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Potential for Eucheuma "cottonii" seaweed farming in the Kingdom of Tonga

Year of publication 1999

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages p.35

Author Luxton, D.

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The detailed results from earlier attempts to develop a cottonii farming industry in the Kingdom of Tonga strongly suggest that there is no potential for this activity in the northern island groups of Vava'u and Ha'apai. In Vava'u further trials by Fisheries Division using the hanging long-line method of farming are recommended. This method is untried in Tonga, and may solve the problem of the seasonal destruction of farm stocks by juvenile rabbit fish, which previously prohibited any signific ant commercial farming. Trial results should also be used to determine the economics of long-line farming in Vava'u. The west coasts of Ha'apai islands are generally considered too wave-exposed to justify any new long-line farming trials. Further trials with the off-bottom constant-depth method are possible in the Lifuka Group, but rabbit fish grazing is predicted to be a significant problem. A Fisheries Division farming trial using the off-bottom method is recommended for Niuatoputapu Islan d in the far north. The impact of herbivorous fish is unknown on this island, and it may be considerably less than that in Vava'u and Ha'apai. The long-term survival and growth of cottonii in the Tongatapu lagoon indicates that there may be potential for a small export industry based on production from the coastal villages in the Nukuleka to Navutoka region, at the entrance to the lagoon. Commercially viable farming on Tongatapu can only properly be assessed by starting some family-owned and o perated farms, and monitoring yields and financial returns for effort. The motivation of people to engage in farming is difficult to predict. However, a conservative farmer price of T$ 0.38 per kg. is recommended, based on estimated trading costs and current world market export prices.

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    Potential for Eucheuma "cottonii" seaweed farming in Samoa 1999
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    This report identifies coastal sites on Upolu and Savaii islands that have physical features which indicate suitability for cottonii mariculture using the off-bottom constant depth farming method. These sites are located on reef flats at Aleipata and Mulifanuaa on Upolu, and in the Asau Harbour on Savaii. Areas suitable for farming using the floating raft and floating long-line methods are also identified. However, because of the higher cost and higher labour requirement of these methods, comm ercial development using the off-bottom method is recommended. Culture on rafts is only recommended to initially increase ‘seed’ stock from the small quantity of recently re-imported plants from Fiji. Commercially viable farming in Samoa can only properly be assessed by starting some family-owned and operated farms, and monitoring yields and financial returns for effort. The impact of possible negative factors, such as lower salinity in the rainy season and seasonal grazing by juvenile rabbitf ish, are best assessed in commercial farming rather than in experimental trials. The motivation of people to engage in farming is difficult to predict. A farmer price for dry cottonii of SAT 0.75 per kg is recommended, based on estimated trading costs and current world market export prices. This price is above the current producer price for copra. Experience on other Pacific islands indicates cottonii production is an attractive alternative to income from copra, when both commodities are simil arly priced at the producer level. Data is also presented to show that cottonii farming at fertile sites can provide a household income equivalent to SAT 7,000 – 8,000 per annum, which is higher than many current household incomes in Savaii and rural Upolu.
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