Near Gizo is an interesting marine research station on the airport island of Nusatupe. It is the base of the formerly called ICLAMp roject (now renamed Worldfish, present worldwide).
The research station, not unlike one of our Australian reef research stations, like Heron, etc is manned by 15 well trained Solomon islanders and an expat manager.
The mooring in front of the station is a private one so approaching management and volunteering services is recommended. However, opposite is the sandbis resort, which also provides sheltered anchorage (+ bar facilities). The station also has tours for visitors (ask in gizo).
Worldfish’s objective is to promote local livelihood projects, and help local communities manage their resources in a more sustainable way. The tsunami in April 2007 showed livelihoods are under a fine balance. The tsunami, which lifted some islands up to 7 meters above sealevel, destroyed a lot of the mangroves. Worldfish has been managing a number of mangrove replantation projects on Ranongga and supported the production and distribution of new canoes to the people who also lost theirs when the wave hit. 600 canoes were paid for, which is a sudden pressure on the canoe trees…
To help local people to be self sufficient, one of the main Worldfish project consists of spawning and growing giant clams to distribute to local farmers spread around the western province. They are also experimenting with growing corals. Both are exported to the aquarium market, so they need to be the most colourful gena but also reproduce and grow easily.
Large clams are brought from the field into a tank and spawning can be induced.
The baby clams are then grown in tanks.
Various experiments on predation, light and current levels are also undertaken in tanks.
When old enough, the clams are sold to the farmers, who take them home and grow them in their own cages. They then have to bring them back to a depot which is in charge of exporting them. The fuel crisis has affected transport, as some of the farms can be more than two hours away by motorcanoe. Some farmers are resilient and paddle all the way. Some other take this as an excuse: if the clams become too big, the can not be flown overseas: they are now good to be eaten!!! To reduce slackness, farmers must now buy the clams, and after the recent business workshop they can even be purchased on credit!!!!
