2013 Annual Report for EW11-001
Training in Marine Ornamental Farming for Extension Professionals in Micronesia
Summary
This project is based on assumptions that the marine ornamental aquaculture industry in Micronesia could be improved by better skills, knowledge, and communication between practitioners. The Marine and Environmental Research Institute of Pohnpei (MERIP) is leading this project. In 2012, three activities occurred: a workshop in Pohnpei; a study tour of Majuro and Kosrae; and study tour to the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America annual meeting. All three activities were completed successfully. In 2013 work consisted solely of follow up surveys with practitioners who received training in 2012, in order to evaluate project success. In 2014, further surveys of practitioner activities will be conducted.
Objectives/Performance Targets
For 2013 the following performance target was set.
a. Begin to assess how practitioners who were involved in training and workshops in 2012 have improved production or changed practices.
Accomplishments/Milestones
a. The project PI Simon Ellis revisited Majuro and Kosrae to assess changes in the industry and to conduct surveys with training participants from 2012. During the site visits, existing facilities were visited and technical assistance and training was provided where needed. The project PI Simon Ellis also conducted survey interviews with participants from Pohnpei who were involved in workshops or training in 2012.
b. A meeting was held in Pohnpei with marine ornamental farmers to provide training and assess problems in the industry.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
Proposed outcomes were as follows: 1. Improved communications and coordination between practitioners and extension professionals, in the FSM and RMI.
During follow up interviews and consultations this outcome has certainly been met. In fact this seemed to be the most significant outcome of the trainings and interactions. Key examples, taken from interviews and conversations, of this are as follows:
- MMME owner and manager Martin Selch in Kosrae reported greatly improved communication with Kosrae Fisheries staff following the workshops in 2012.
- Kosrae Fisheries staff member Bruno Ned, who also attended the workshops in 2012, reported “an increased appreciation of the needs of the private sector” and a stronger partnership with MMME.
- Mr. Provan Crump, manager of the largest giant clam and marine ornamental farm in the RMI also felt that interactions and exchange of ideas were the most important aspect of the workshops and trainings. He keeps in touch with the two other wholesalers in Palau and Kosrae on a regular basis. He also stated that there was a better understanding between himself and his public sector partners.
- Mr. Crump also offered this testimonial “A big thank you to the grantee for bringing together people for one of the most productive and effective workshop in the promotion of the industry”
- From the standpoint of MERIP, the organizer of the workshops and also the grantee, these interactions were invaluable. Communications and relationships with private sector and public sector individuals involved in the marine ornamental aquaculture sector are vastly improved. Given that producers and exporters are generally separated by thousands of miles and often have poor communication infrastructure, the opportunity to get everyone together helped to make the industry more cohesive.
- Mr. Selch also stated that he not working so much in competition with the other exporters in the region but more in synergy so that everyone benefits.
2. Increased skill levels of extension professionals and practitioners in marine ornamental culture methods. Results of the exit survey from the Pohnpei workshop indicate that all participants strongly felt they had a better understanding of the marine ornamental industry. Further, all felt the workshop would help them with their work and 86% said they would use methods used in their training in the next 6 months. Evaluation of skills improvement in 2013 yielded the following key findings:
- Interestingly nearly all respondents felt that the increase and improvement in personal interactions and relationships were the most important aspects of the trainings.
- However, people working in giant clam production cited improvements in growth and survival, as a result of the trainings, in the following areas: predator control (Pyramedellid snails); algal feeding during larval phases; soft coral farming techniques; clam mantle color; timing of zooxanthelle addition; and tank aeration.
- Both private and public sector participants expressed greatly increased understanding of permitting and regulation aspects of export.
3. New and improved partnerships within and between existing producers and extension professionals. While number of producers in the Micronesia region is quite small, the workshops and site visits helped greatly to garner collaboration. Key changes in 2013 are as follows:
- MMME formed a new business relationship with Watson Mariculture in Palau. Mr. Selch visited Palau twice following the Pohnpei workshop in 2012 and has subsequently begun importing products from Palau to add to his own product line in Kosrae.
- All exporters/wholesalers, including MERIP, reported record sales in 2013. How much of this can be attributed to the outcomes of the training and how much to a recovering economy in the US and EU it is hard to say. Increased communications between farmers and buyers/wholesalers it likely to have contributed significantly to this increase.
- Predictably, private sector exporters were reluctant to give details of export figures. However, MERIP, as a quasi-private entity is willing to share this information. Coral exports in 2012 for MERIP were 14735 and in 2013 this grew to 21392 an increase of 45%.
- Through improved communication between MERIP and MIMF in 2013, MIMF’s parent company, Ocean Reefs and Aquariums in Fort Pierce, Florida entered into an agreement with Petco to purchase corals sold by MERIP. This has significantly improved exports for both companies.
4. Increased number of individuals entering into marine ornamental farming, either at the community or commercial level.
While export of corals has been seen to grow significantly there is almost no evidence of new farmers entering into the industry. In Pohnpei a group of 4 new farmers began growing corals in 2013 but that is the only entry into the industry. Instead it seems existing farmers are growing more corals per farmer.