Capacity Building and Training in Commercial Aquaculture for Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa

Project Overview

EW05-017
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2005: $90,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2009
Region: Western
State: Guam
Principal Investigator:
Dr. L. Robert (Bob) Barber, Jr.
Email
University of Guam Cooperative Extension Service

Annual Reports

Information Products

Commodities

  • Animals: fish, shellfish

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage, feed formulation, probiotics
  • Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer, mentoring, networking
  • Farm Business Management: cooperatives, marketing management, whole farm planning
  • Natural Resources/Environment: riverbank protection
  • Pest Management: biological control, chemical control, disease vectors, economic threshold, prevention, sanitation
  • Soil Management: soil quality/health
  • Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, urban agriculture, community services, employment opportunities, sustainability measures

    Abstract:

    The project included a tour of commercial aquaculture operations in Thailand, which has comparable environmental conditions and produces species important to the U.S. affiliated Pacific islands including; marine shrimp, freshwater prawns, tilapia and catfish. Information and video footage gathered on the tour were used to develop videos and workshop materials that are being used to conduct workshops for agricultural professionals and producers on Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. These video’s, workshop materials, photo gallery,and more are on the Guam Sustainable Agriculture Website www.guamsustainableag.org for downloading and use by a global audience.

    Project objectives:

    1) Conduct an inland aquaculture study tour with the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, with lectures and visits to commercial aquaculture farms, research and hatchery facilities in Thailand
    2) Provide training for extension, faculty, staff, and field personnel of Cooperative Extension, NRCS, FSA, and other USDA offices, farmers, and other agriculture/aquaculture professionals in Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) in commercial aquaculture grow-out and hatchery production techniques used in Asia suitable for our islands.
    3) Produce training materials on aquaculture production methods appropriate for our islands
    4) Produce videotapes and web based information on hatchery and small scale commercial aquaculture technologies utilizing materials gathered in Thailand.
    5) Conduct workshops in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and American Samoa to disseminate information to government agencies and other farmers.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.