Million dollar potential in Rota fish hatchery

Rota Lands and Natural Resources Resident Director Eusebio Hocog is upbeat on the potentials of the first hatchery facility in the Northern Marianas which was dedicated last week in the island.

“The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Semanan Sumentereru or the Farmers and Homemakers Week’, said Mr. Hocog. “The Semanan Sumentereru runs from March 5 to March 11. We want everyone to visit Rota and observe this week with us.”

The newly completed aquaculture hatchery, located in Tatachog, features a nine-tank facility where hybrid tilapia brood stock and fingerlings were released.

“Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona is a strong aquaculture advocate and it is through his vision that we erected this exciting project,” said Mr. Hocog.

“This new facility means the people of Rota can look to aquaponics as a potential endeavor to generate income for our farmers in what might be a million dollar industry,” according to Mayor Manglona.

Mr. Manglona said the facility has the potential to be a revenue-generating project in the future if fully explored and developed.

“In the future, more varied species may be hatched. And the hatchery could help promote our tourism effort. Visitors will view the hatchery as a way in which Rota blends technology with its natural resources,” he added.

The mayor said Rota’s marine resources will be enhanced by this project and “we may be able to provide fingerlings to Saipan and Tinian and even restock our own reef.”

“We would hope the NMC Board of Regents would now take further steps to move the Land Grant Program as promised. We are ready to be your partner in making Rota’s Land Grant program successful, I challenge the acting president and the College Board of Regents to begin the transitional movement of this facility now,” he said.

“I agree with the Mayor that the College should step up efforts to transfer the Land Grant Program to Rota,”‘ said Felix Mendiola, resident College administrator in Rota. “The educational potential with this hatchery is tremendous.”

DLNR Rota and the Land Grant Program at the Northern Marianas College are collaborating on technical support for the facility.

Aquaculture farmers in the CNMI can have a steady and reliable source of fish to stock their fish ponds, said aquaculture specialist Tony Benavente.

With depletion of natural resources, aquaculture will have a larger role in the preservation of indigenous fish and the reduction of food imports. Funding for the facility came largely from the Office of the Mayor and grants from the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture.