Aquaculture in PNG.

Freshwater fish farming in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is emerging as a promising avenue for boosting food security, rural incomes and nutrition. Aquaculture is the practice of cultivating fish in controlled freshwater environments like ponds and reservoirs. Aquaculture is being actively supported by community groups, government agencies and international partners to help tackle protein deficiency and create livelihood opportunities across inland regions. Recent projects in provinces such as Enga’s Lake Ivae demonstrate how community-built ponds stocked with tilapia and carp can yield healthy fish in under eight months, contributing directly to local diets and household incomes. 

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has made aquaculture a key part of its strategy, offering training, technical assistance and workshops to aspiring farmers and collaborating with stakeholders to build a sustainable industry that provides both subsistence and commercial benefits. The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)-supported programmes are also helping boost access to high-quality tilapia fingerlings and are empowering rural households with practical skills in pond construction and fish husbandry in certain areas in the country. In 2023, the EU and FAO supplied over 12 thousand tilapia fingerlings to over 100 households in the Vanimo-Green District. They also provided training to the villagers on how to manage their ponds and produce feed using local ingredients, which will help improve food security and income for their households.  

Technical research supported by organisations such as the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and the University of New South Wales is expanding inland aquaculture by introducing improved production methods, market research and low-cost technologies tailored to PNG’s unique context. Such initiatives aim to scale up tilapia production in peri-urban areas and reservoirs, aligning with the country’s long-term development plans to reduce malnutrition and enhance economic resilience. 

One of ACIAR’s research reports on developments of inland fish farming and aquaculture expansion, the report highlighted that PNG’s aquaculture grew from around 11 thousand fish farms in 2009 to more than 70 thousand in 2023, thus highlighting how rapidly the industry has scaled up.  

Despite these gains, challenges remain. Limited availability of quality fingerlings, high feed costs and gaps in aquaculture training continue to temper growth, especially in remote communities. However, with coordinated support and growing interest among farmers, freshwater fish farming could become a cornerstone of PNG’s rural development and food systems, offering a sustainable source of protein, income and well-being for generations to come. 

With such rapid growth and proven potential, can inland fish farming and aquaculture become the backbone of sustainable rural development and food security in Papua New Guinea?