Accompanied by the Director of the Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR) Leon E. Remengesau, the ROP-ROC Aquaculture Project (AP) has successfully delivered 700 rabbitfish fries with 4~5 inches in size to Mr. Mathew Elbelau, a pilot aquaculture farmer from Ngchesar State, on September 9th.
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Mr. Mario Huang, AP Project Manager, and two experts from Taiwan working with BMR for the Project went together to Mr. Elbelau’s fish pond to handover the fries. Having done site visit and evaluation on the pond and its surrounding area before handover, AP team found the pond, located in mangrove area, suitable for raising rabbitfish. It is anticipated that after three to four months of good management, the fries will grow up to market size and be ready for sale.
Rabbitfish reproduction under the AP is conducted by Taiwanese aquaculture experts from National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) as one of the Taiwan – Palau bilateral cooperation projects. AP used to focus on grouper reproduction and is now broadening its scope to include rabbitfish propagation in order to synchronize with BMR’s policy on providing for food security in the future.
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) kindly remind all friends in Palau that US$5 million loan for agriculture and aquaculture business is now available from National Development Bank of Palau. Rabbitfish fries will be provided to interested farmers when the number of fries is deemed enough. The identification of farmers will be administered by BMR and the AP team will provide technical assistance.[/restrict]
Picture (left to right) ROC Expert Dino, Assistant Bengie,
Director Leon, Mr. Mathew and Mr. Mario Huang.