(from right) Counselor Jason Huang, Minister Umiich Sengebau, Mr. Jay Okada, and Mr. Dino Hsieh release part of the 1,800 rabbitfish fries to an aquaculture site in Malakal, Koror.
With the help of Minister F. Umiich Sengebau of MNRET and Counselor Jason Huang of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassy, the Aquaculture Project (AP) has successfully delivered 1,800 rabbitfish fries of 2 to 3 inches in size to the aquaculture site owned by Mr. Temmy T. Shmull Jr., Mr. Godwin Ito, and Mr. Jay Okada in Malakal, Koror, on August 28.
Two AP experts from Taiwan, Mr. Dino Hsieh and Mr. Bing-Je Wu went to the aquaculture site to handover the fries. It is anticipated that after six to eight months of good management, the fries will grow to the size ready for market. The rabbitfish raised from AP fries are popular among local consumers.
Rabbitfish reproduction under AP is conducted by Taiwanese aquaculture experts as one of the Taiwan-Palau bilateral cooperation projects to help improve Palau’s food security and self-sustainability. In addition to AP, Taiwanese experts also operate Animal Production Project (APP), which focuses on livestock farming, and Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM), which provides technical assistance in agricultural production.
Taiwan Embassy kindly reminds all friends in Palau that around US$4 million loan for agriculture and aquaculture businesses is still available at the National Development Bank of Palau (NDBP). Interested farmers are encouraged to apply and take advantage of its preferred interest rate.
