Nusatupe – The WorldFish Nusatupe Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources, Western Provincial Fisheries, and WorldFish, hosted a successful one-day seaweed farming training on 10th September.
This marks the second training event following the first, which was held in October last year and received positive feedback.
The training was facilitated by fisheries officers from the Western Province alongside Mr. Lamu, a seasoned seaweed farmer from Rarumana.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Chillion Panasasa, Chief Fisheries Officer for Western Province, expressed gratitude to WorldFish for hosting the event at the Nusatupe Innovation Hub, highlighting its ideal location for practical activities.
He also noted that conducting such training is a key part of the Western Province Fisheries work plan to support local fisheries development.
Participants traveled from diverse locations including North Vella, Vonunu, Marovo, Gizo, and Kolobangara to attend and deepen their seaweed farming knowledge.
The event was also attended by three WorldFish interns, including Hudson Tana from Isabel.
Hudson Tana said, “I feel very lucky to have participated in this training. The Hub is an ideal place for hands-on learning, and everything felt so real and practical. I now feel confident to take this knowledge back to my community and help train others. The training has given me a solid understanding of seaweed farming techniques and their importance.”
The training combined education on the ecological and economic benefits of seaweed farming with hands-on skill development and practical application, including the use of tools and techniques for seaweed preparation, planting, and farm management.
This approach enabled participants to gain both theoretical knowledge and real-world experience.
Among the participants were staff from NGOs including ADRA and Positive Change for Marine Life.
It was encouraging to see a good mix of stakeholders attending the training, which enhances collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and support for future seaweed initiatives across communities.
Mr. Naeme Ilopitu from Dovele shared his appreciation for the training, stating that it equipped him with valuable technical skills to expand his seaweed farm.
Having previously relied on knowledge from fellow villagers, Mr. Ilopitu thanked the organizers for bringing interested farmers together and sees this as a great opportunity to support others in his community.
The training was proudly supported by the Western Provincial Government and funded through the WorldFish program focused on nourishing island food system futures.
