Tilapia farmer Ropate Ratu Tuiwainunu from Nadua Village in Wainunu, Bua is celebrating his first successful prawn harvest, which has earned about $1,920 at the current market price of $40 per kilogram.
The Ministry of Fisheries Aquaculture Team North says with help from their officers, Tuiwainunu put 1,500 prawns in his pond on 1st February this year.
The prawns first weighed a total of 48kg, and about 80 percent survived, showing good pond management and the promise of prawn farming in the area.
The Ministry says encouraged by this early success, Tuiwainunu is now getting ready for a second round of prawn farming.
To prepare the pond, hydrated lime was used, it was filled with water, and left for a week to grow algae for natural feeding.
The pond will be restocked with 2,000 prawn post-larvae on 27th June.
The Fisheries Ministry says this work shows their promise to support safe aquaculture, help people in rural areas, and increase seafood production in the North.
