Workshop Discusses Nmis Aquaculture Prospects

NORTHERN Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension and Education
Service conducted a workshop regarding the opportunities offered by the island’s
fledgling aquaculture industry.
Members of the community attend the two-day “Opportunities in Aquaculture”
workshop held at the Saipan World Resort yesterday. Photo by Mark Peñaranda“The
workshop discussed how to raise shrimp and marine reef fish,” said Michael Ogo,
aquaculture specialist of NMC-CREES.
The presentation showed the growth stages of shrimp .
“When the eggs hatch, they don’t resemble shrimp — they actually look like
little spiders,” said Dustin Moss, research associate of the shrimp program of
Hawaii’s Oceanic Institute, which sponsored the workshop.
The workshop also discussed the creation of an “artificial environment” when
raising shrimp.
Aquaculture, Ogo said, may help re-build the local economy.
“Right now, the economy is hurting the people and the community. Aquaculture can
make the economy stronger,” he added. “This isn’t just a mom and pop store —
this could become the new growth engine of our economy.”
The workshop likewise discussed where and how to grow shrimp and marine reef
fish artificially as well as in the ocean.
NMC-CREES received a $130,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for
the installation of an in-land concrete tank.
NMC-CREES will submit other grant proposals for aquaculture research.
“CREES helps residents write grant proposals, like Ines Guerrero who is now a
tilapia farmer on Saipan,” said Ogo. He also mentioned Anthony Pellegrino, a
local businessman who is now a successful shrimp farmer.
Also discussed yesterday were tips on how to raised coconut crabs, tilapia, and
about a polyculture farm that can accommodate two species in the same aquarium,
such as shrimp and rabbit fish.
Conducting the workshop with Dustin Moss were Dr. Shaun Moss, director of the
shrimp program of the Oceanic Institute; Dr. Hui Gong, aquaculture development
specialist from the University of Guam; Clyde Tamaru, aquaculture specialist
from the University of Hawaii’s sea grant college program; and Clete Otoshi,
shrimp program research associates at the Oceanic Institute.