The Ministry of Agriculture has come alongside prawn farmers in the country with a donation of prawns (seedlings) to boost the industry. The seedlings were grown in Dominica at the Belfast Hatchery.
Aquaculture farmer, Marvin Daniel, said that the donation is significant as presently he is able to hatch his prawns or larvae in Dominica and no longer has to travel to St.Lucia to obtain them.
According to him, because of this donation from the Ministry he is able to save on travel expenses and lodging I’m St.Lucia. In addition some of the larvae were lost on the way whereas now he can boast of a 78% survival rate as a result of getting the larvae right on island.
He says, “I’m excited and very pleased to see what is happening. I want to congratulate the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries who did an excellent job”.
Daniel received about 30 thousand seedlings which is able to stock two of his seven ponds. He intends to repeat the hatching and continue the process in order to stock the rest ponds. The prawns will be market ready in about 4 months.
Kurt Hilton of the Fisheries Division says that the Belfast Hatchery project has been on stream since 2003 and experienced significant challenges as a result of tropical disturbances. However, he is elated that they are able to make this presentation to three farmers on island.
