Tilapia Aquaculture Action Plan 2010 – 2015.

The Tilapia Aquaculture Action Plan is a national policy with a sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Action Plan is 5 years between 2010 and 2015. The overall purpose of the Tilapia Aquaculture Action Plan is to ensure a responsible and sustainable tilapia aquaculture industry for food security and income generation. The objectives of this Action Plan are: (I) development of sustainable tilapia aquaculture in Solomon Islands; (II) monitoring, assessment and reporting the progress of the tilapia sector; (III) empowerment of stakeholders in the tilapia sector; (IV) strengthened partnerships in helping to meet tilapia aquaculture development needs in Solomon Islands; (V) public awareness on tilapia aquaculture, its benefits, and constraints; (VI) establishment of regular market opportunities for tilapia products.
Food security will be ensured through increased tilapia production and sustainability in the tilapia aquaculture industry.
Extension services and training will be provided to tilapia farmers in subsistence and livelihood farming methods. Furthermore, assistance will be provided to farmers to encourage them entering into the industry. A database of tilapia information will be established and access to information will be provided for all. Networking and information sharing will be promoted between tilapia sector stakeholders. Moreover, Fish Farmer Associations will be established to optimize information exchange, procurement of farm inputs, and marketing. Awareness will be raised on tilapia farming practices, their benefits and constraints.
Tilapia production will be increased in a sustainable manner through effective import and farming, policies supported by relevant monitoring and compliance mechanisms. Tilapia varieties suitable for aquaculture will be imported in compliance with national regulations for quarantine and biodiversity conservation, and with international obligations toward the environment. Tilapia development will be supported by making available good-quality juvenile fish and feed. The options for introducing a better variety of tilapia for aquaculture will be developed, and an important risk analysis will be carried out for each option. Cost-effective local feed sources will be developed to reduce the use of imported feeds. Regular market opportunities will be developed for tilapia products through assessment for tilapia demand in domestic and export markets. A national freshwater fish quarantine facility and national fish broodstock maintenance facility will be established. The genetic quality of tilapia broodstock will be maintained through the implementation of a broodstock management plan. Aquatic biodiversity will be conserved through surveys of freshwater fish biodiversity, awareness raising about catchment areas, and identification of indigenous species of freshwater fish for aquaculture in tilapia-free catchments. Tilapia farms will be monitored to maximize their contribution to overall fish supply. Technical and financial assistance from development partners will be provided to ensure tilapia development.