The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, J Hunter Pearls, and the Pacific Community (SPC) under the support of the Canadian government, recently conducted a workshop at the Holiday Inn focused on a project named Aqua Pearl.
Veronica Lo, a senior policy adviser at IISD, highlighted that the project aims to diversify aquaculture by utilizing marine resources such as shellfish for both local consumption and export. This initiative comes in response to the declining fishing opportunities globally.
Lo explained that the project will involve establishing community-led farms in two villages on Vanua Levu. The goal is to engage around 150 households in each village to create a plan for their oyster harvesting business, thereby providing them with an alternative livelihood and enhancing community support.
She mentioned the importance of local partners like J Hunter Pearls, who have been pivotal in enriching the biodiversity of Vanua Levu by attracting diverse marine life and fostering a healthier marine ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Lo emphasized the workshop’s next steps, which include the implementation of similar projects across Fiji and the Pacific. The team aims to gather insights from these initiatives to perform a policy analysis, identifying opportunities to integrate nature-based practices into aquaculture. This integration is essential for ensuring food safety, biosecurity, and climate resilience, as well as replicating successful approaches already established in other regions of Fiji and beyond.
This effort not only seeks to improve local livelihoods but also promotes sustainability and biodiversity, showing a commitment to the health of marine ecosystems while economically empowering communities. As the workshop closes, there is a hopeful outlook for the future of aquaculture in the region, wherein local communities can thrive alongside a rejuvenated marine environment.
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