Anyone know anything about Solomon Islands Coral Farming?

[morepunkthanewe]

I am a marine biology student studying abroad at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia (on the GBR) this semester, and I'm also an experienced reef keeper. I remember reading in SeaScope a few years back about a guy who started some village based coral farming in the Solomon Islands. Does anyone remember what I'm talking about? Do you know this guy's contact information? I am going to be in the Solomons from July 1-15, and I hope to visit these sites. I would also appreciate any information regarding regular collection stations in the Solomons. Furthermore if there is anything that anyone wants to know about from the Solomons, let me know now so that when I go I can maybe keep my eyes open for you. Thanks in advance, Colin...

 

[dizzy]

Dave Palmer was doing coral farming in the Solomons, but left due to political unrest a few years ago. I think he is somewhere in LA now.

 

[Mike King]

There was some talk about getting the coral farms going in the Solomons again, but the area where the farms are located are still quite dangerous to visit. There are some farms in the Florida Islands Provadince of the Solomons that should be safe to visit. I may have the tel number for the warehouse in the Solomons E-mail me at [email protected]. If your looking for resource material I have some video on the 1st coral farming workshops in the Solomons.

Mike King

 

[aquariumengineer]

If anyone is still interested in this thread, I've worked with Dave Palmer for the last year. I'm heading to the Solomons in early may 09' and I'll be there for a few months. We have been importing farmed corals from the Solomons for the last few years. There are no plans on the table for me to be directly involved with the farming operations, though I will be working with local collectors.
-Tim

 

[aquariumengineer]

World Fish Center, formerly ICLARM has been heading up the coral farming operation in the area. They are based near Gizo, but have an office in Honiara. I was asked today to arrange a visit to their farms in the coming weeks. They are also involved in the aquaculture of ornamental tridacnid clams, at the moment working only with derasas.