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Volume 5, Issue 2 (Suppl) J Fisheries Livest Prod
ISSN: 2332-2608 JFLP, an open access journal Aquaculture Summit 2017
May 25-26, 2017
May 25-26, 2017 Osaka, Japan
6th Global Summit on
Aquaculture and Fisheries 2017
Economic assessment and policy recommendations of fisheries development strategies in Vanuatu
Rowena Valmonte-Santos and Mark W Rosegrant
Environment and Production Technology Division – IFPRI, USA
Statement of the Problem: Small-scale fishers are negatively affected by climate change in Vanuatu. Livelihoods and health of coastal
communities that heavily rely on farming and fishing for subsistence and incomes face serious risks. Aquaculture, marine protected
areas through natural resource management (NRM), and low-cost inshore fish aggregating device (FAD) can improve the economic
conditions of coastal communities in Vanuatu. The purpose of this study is to assess the fisheries development strategies in Vanuatu,
determine any economic benefits, and provide some policy recommendations for consideration by the national government.
Methodology: A fish market supply–demand model was applied that assesses the impact of climate change supply shocks and policy
responses on fish supply and demand and economic welfare. Data was collected through literature and focus group discussions.
Results were presented and validated by different national agencies.
Findings: Baseline results indicate that aggregate fish consumption is expected to increase considerably in 2035 and 2050. Oceanic
fish production is projected to increase, hence Vanuatu will remain a net exporter by 2050 but coastal production will decline in 2010-
2050. Coastal fish will most likely be imported to augment rising demand from population and income growth. Combined low-cost
FAD and NRM are projected to increase net exports and consumption of coastal fish. Coastal finfish and tuna contribute about 77%
of current consumption, thus combined low-cost FAD and NRMwill have positive impacts on poorer households. Estimated national
level annual economic gains ranged from US$4.5 million for aquaculture to US$35 million for NRM+FAD (in 2009 US$ constant
price) in 2050 in Vanuatu.
Conclusion & Significance: The present government initiatives and level of investments are not sufficient to achieve significant
impacts to minimize, if not reverse, the deteriorating fish productivity in Vanuatu. Expansions of aquaculture, NRM, and FAD can
cost-effectively improve sectoral performance, promoting food security.
Biography
Rowena Valmonte-Santos has over 30 years of experience in natural resource management research with emphasis on food security in developing countries,
participatory approaches to community based fisheries management, and threats and opportunities of climate change in agriculture and fisheries sectors in Asia
and Pacific. She conducted trainings on common tools used for surveys in social science research and water quality assessment in Asia and Pacific. She received
over 10 awards including Distinguished Alumna Award for International Research and Development on Environmental and Natural Resource Management awarded
by the School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños; Best Published Paper in Marine Fisheries Category (co-author)
awarded by Dr. Elvira O Tan Memorial Awards, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Convention; and Outstanding Published Paper (co-author)
awarded by NAST. She has authored or co-authored over 20 referred journal articles, a book, five book chapters, and over 40 technical reports.
Rowena Valmonte-Santos et al., J Fisheries Livest Prod 2017, 5:2 (Suppl)