31 August 2026

A delegation from the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) participated in a country-to-country learning exchange with the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority (NFA), as part of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) learning exchange program, facilitated by the MSG Secretariat.

The exchange, conducted across several days of field visits and technical briefings, was designed to strengthen aquaculture capacity among MSG member countries through the practical sharing of knowledge, technologies, and operational experience.

During the visit, the Vanuatu delegation observed PNG’s local farmers aquaculture systems first hand. These included indoor hatcheries equipped with breeding troughs and water reticulation systems, lined nursery ponds fitted with floating hapa cages, earthen tilapia ponds, and flow-through cold-water raceways for rainbow trouts set among PNG’s highlands landscapes. Delegates also received briefings on hatchery management, cage culture operations, feed preparation technologies, and cold-water aquaculture methods suited to Pacific Island conditions.

The program highlights the MSG’s commitment to regional cooperation, enabling member countries to share field-tested solutions and build national capacity in sustainable aquaculture development. The exchange further reinforces the importance of collaboration among Pacific Island nations in advancing fisheries management and food security across the region.

The Vanuatu Fisheries Department extends its appreciation to the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea for hosting the delegation and facilitating this valuable exchange of expertise.