AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGIES OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: The overall goal of "Fish & amp; Feeds: Creating a Sustainable Model of Agricultu

Description

The overall goal of "Fish & amp; Feeds: Creating a Sustainable Model of Agriculture in the Marshall Islands" is to develop locally sourced fish feeds through a network of small and mid-sized farms in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI). This process will improve sustainability and profitability of small and mid-sized farms, while supporting environmental stewardship by utilizing by-products/by-catch and agricultural waste. The by-products and waste from one sector of the farm will act as inputs/resources for another, which would allow for more efficient and sustainable production in a limited resource environment.The team will research local agricultural products and by-products, needed for the production of a complete locally sourced ration for fish production. The team will conduct a survey of local ingredients and nutrient analysis, formulate and screen-test fish feeds, and establish the cost baseline for commercial scale feed and fish production. Several feed rations will be formulated and tested in a fish screening trial in order to establish the most optimal ration for Pacific Threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis), a highly sought after fish in the Pacific.Local availability of fish feeds will increase fish production and demand for other agricultural inputs. It will ultimately boost aqua and agricultural farms by developing a local production system, not so closely tied to shipment cost fluctuation, availability of resources from other countries, and natural and man-made disasters. Connecting farmers and boosting local production is one way for the RMI to achieve self-sufficiency and enhance food security.