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Page 17AQUAFEEDgress to secure locations for 60 ft diameter surfacecages.The next step for feed will be the purchase of a feedmanufacturing system to utilize local ingredient resourcesto produce higher volumes for the currentproduction of at kadu and other species in the pipeline, as well as feeds to help the local swine andpoultry farmers.“This is just the beginning”, Mayor Matayoshi toldAquafeed.com. “The dream is becoming reality andthe dream is very big”.The team sees the Marshall Islands as a major centerof fish and aquafeed production for the entire Pacific.Explaining the concept, Dr. Dominy said:” Visualizean atoll. It is in effect a gigantic natural seacage. And in the Marshall Islands they have hundredsof them and they come in all sizes”.“What we plan to do is use this wonderful naturalresource to create huge fish farms. It is really just ascaled-up version of the concept that Hawaiians andother Pacific people were using two thousand yearsago with their fish ponds”, Dominy explained.“Right now, fishing vessels chase tuna and otherhigh value fish all over the ocean, depleting wildstock, burning energy and catching other fish alongwith them”, he said. “It is simply not sustainable;we know that can’t go on the way it is”. Aquacultureneeds to step up development and production volumeto meet the growing demand”.As the project scales up, it will require capital investment.“We are actively seeking grants and privateinvestment to move this forward”, Dr. Dominysaid. “There is so much potential but we need tofind the right partners: we have to do this right.This is not just about innovative aquaculture andaquafeed development, exciting and promising asthat is, but for the very deserving people of theseislands”.For more information about this project, pleasecontact: The Hon. James Matayoshi, RALGOV