FAO SMARTFISH PROJECT IN MAURITIUS

Small- Scale Cage Culture of Rabbit Fish in Mauritius

With the decrease of fish in the Mauritian lagoon caused by an over exploitation of the marine resources, catches in the inshore fisheries have been decreasing as stated by the fishermen communities in Mauritius. As many fishermen are finding it difficult to earn their living and are facing several other inconveniences at sea, the Fishermen Investment Trust (FIT) is on the move. With the technical and financial support of the FAO SmartFish Project - a project funded by the European Union (EU), managed by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and co-implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), a pilot project has been set up as an alternative source of income for the fishermen through the promotion of cage culture.

Overview of the project

Two sites were identified for the setting up of aquaculture cages for Rabbit Fish production at Poste de Flacq and Quatre Soeurs. The main objective of this project is to encourage the fishermen to become fish farmers and benefit from the various opportunities that the fish cage culture can offer. An international marine fish cage culture expert from the FAO is in Mauritius to provide technical guidance on the design and construction of the aquaculture cages at those 2 regions.

Fish juveniles were provided free of charge by the Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC) for the first cycle to all the new fish farmers. The aquaculture cages have since then been closely monitored by the AFRC in collaboration with the FIT. Once harvested, the Cordonnier fish shall be filleted and marinated to be sold on the local market and even holds a good potential for export to the European market.

Why Rabbit Fish production?

Rabbit Fish also known as 'Cordonnier' is a herbivorous fish species. Generally, the cost of feed in aquaculture production accounts for about 60% of the total cost of production. Thus, Rabbit Fish production requires a minimal cost for artificial pelleted feeds as the major part of their feed consists of algae collected from the lagoon.

Rabbit Fish (Common name: Cordonnier)

Practical training on cage culture:

• Construction of the aquaculture cages - Practical trainings were provided by the FAO Expert at the 2 selected regions in July 2013. The training was attended by fishermen of the localities and by some aquaculture students from the University of Mauritius. Under the close guidance of the FAO Expert, everyone gave a helping hand to construct the cages and set it up in the sea. 

Cage under construction

Cage being transported to the sea

Loading materials from land to sea

• Setting up of the aquaculture cages at sea - With the assistance of some divers from the Albion Fisheries Research Centre and with the technical support of the FAO Expert, the fishermen and the students 4 poly pipe cages were set up at Quatre Soeurs and 2 at Poste de Flacq. 

Aquaculture cage set at sea

• Management of the aquaculture cages - Petty repair of the ropes on the cages must regularly be done to avoid major inconveniences in the future. The amount and frequency of feed given to the fish must daily be recorded in a logbook. After a few months, depending on the state of its state, the net in the aquaculture cages must be changed because over time, algae or other wastes from the sea may block the passage of oxygen into the cage. The fish inside the cage must be monitored and fish with any defects should be identified. Any problems that may arise must be solved on the spot.

Cordonnier Production - Way forward

Aquaculture production in the world has increased from 3 million to 62.7 million tonnes from 1970 to 2012 (FAO, 2014). Billion of people are employed in this sector both directly and indirectly. Likewise in Mauritius, the aquaculture sector can hold an important role to the economic development by creating jobs, providing more fish and other aquaculture products on the local market to ensure food security and by being an alternative source of income to the fishermen.

The ongoing pilot project set up by the Fishermen Investment Trust (FIT) in collaboration with the IOC/ FAO SmartFish is producing good results at Quatre Soeurs and indeed the production of Cordonnier has a low cost of production. However, the issue that may arise is whether the Cordonnier Fish is a type of fish that is appreciated by Mauritian consumers. The findings of a recent study undertaken by the FIT showed that 44.8% of the consumers interviewed (n=1000) do not like the Rabbit Fish and these are mainly associated with negative perceptions such as nightmares, hallucinations and hypertension. It is to be noted that hallucinogenic fish poisoning, is caused by eating the heads or body parts of certain species of herbivorous fish and has previously only been recorded from the Indo Pacific region (Clarke, 2006). There are however no records for ciguatera poisoning due to consumption of the ‘Cordonnier’ in Mauritius though consumption of the fish is perceived to be the cause of nightmares. 

In 2007, an Aquaculture Master Plan was set up whereby 21 potential sites for aquaculture were identified. and until now few have been exploited due to lack of investments. To further boost up the aquaculture sector in Mauritius, the authority should however provide more facilities and services to those who want to set up their own aquaculture business.