EXCHANGE OF MOI AND MILKFISH BETWEEN KIRIBATI AND RMI Sesion 6 – aquatic biosecurity

Moi farming in RMI The Rongelap Atoll Local Government, under Mayor Matayoshi’s tenure, has been farming black-lip pearl oysters for many years now. In late 2012, RALGOV engaged in the formation of the local private company Aquaculture Technologies Marshall Islands (ATMI) and started marine finfish farming pilot project of “moi”, Pacific Threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis), a fish of high commercial value and in high demand in Hawaii. Overall Goal: To improve economic resiliency by developing the aquaculture sector.

Moi farming in RMI More than 100,000 moi fingerling were produced at the hatchery in 2017. After 6 months of grow-out in cages, commercial size moi was exported to Hawaii with promising prices and very high demand.

Moi farming in RMI In 2017 the company exceeded $100,000 in sales as a start-up company. 12 floating cages were deployed for grow-out. Their goal is to product about 40,000 - 50,000 fish/month to supply markets in Hawaii, Marshall Islands, and maybe Micronesia and Asia in the near future. The product is having a great acceptance among Marshallese. To date, 74 people trained in moi farming.

Milkfish farming in Kiribati The milkfish (Chanos chanos) farm was established in Tarawa more than 10 years ago. Through the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Republic of Kiribati, in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development. The project aims to assist Kiribati through technical cooperation by applying expertise from the Taiwanese milkfish breeding industry to increase fish supply to the people of Kiribati.

Milkfish farming in Kiribati Results achieved in 2018: Cultivated 200 milkfish as broodstock. Delivered 895,000 milkfish juveniles to 10 outer islands. Produced 6,080 litres of rotifer medium. Produced 23.6 tons of milkfish feed. Training of more than 140 participants on fish culture. Transferred know-how of milkfish broodstock management, larviculture and live feed production to cooperate officers.

Why an exchange? Establishment of grow-out trials, using fingerling provided by the neighbouring country -> no need for a hatchery in initial stages/trials Both species are native to RMI and Kiribati. RMI and Kiribati are looking for “domesticated” stocks. The domestication process can take 5-10 years, depending on the species.

Memorandum of Understanding The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development of the Republic of Kiribati and the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority: Sharing a common interest regarding the exchange of moi fish (Polydactylus sexfilis) specimens, which will be transferred from RMI into Kiribati and milkfish (Chanos chanos) specimens which will be transferred from Kiribati into the RMI; and Mindful that aquaculture is as a key priority area for development within the South Pacific region, that should be promoted and developed in a sustainable and responsible way, with a long-term vision.

Memorandum of Understanding The Memorandum sets out the roles and responsibilities and expresses the commitment of the MFMRD, (Kiribati), and the MIMRA (RMI) in working together to implement in a successful and safe way for the exchange of moi specimens from RMI into Kiribati and milkfish specimen from Kiribati into the RMI.

Memorandum of Understanding The following documents are attached to the Memorandum of Agreement as annexes: ANNEX 1: Import Risk Analysis for the introduction of moi fish from RMI into Kiribati. ANNEX 2: Import Risk Analysis regarding the introduction of milkfish from Kiribati into the RMI. ANNEX 3: Environmental requirements stipulated by the respective Ministries of Environment regarding aquatic species’ introduction. ANNEX 4: The estimative costs of the specimens’ collection and maintenance in RMI and Kiribati, as well as the transportation costs from RMI to Kiribati and vice versa. ANNEX 5: Import requirements, including pre-border, transportation and post-border quarantine measures.

MANY THANKS!