The prawns produced in New Caledonia are of the "high quality" STYLIROSTRIS type, also known as the "blue prawn", this being a very flavoursome variety. Production is small (-1% of world production). The prawn network
Aquafarming has found suitable sites (evaluated at 3000 ha in the regions of Dumbéa, Paita, La Foa, Moindou, Koné and Voh) and nearby outlets in Australia and Japan.
Prawn farming began in 1983 in the Baie de Saint Vincent aquafarm (Boulouparis) with the support of IFREMER.
1984 : The first farm opens
1990 : 4 farms produce 500 tons / year in total
2000 : 10 farms produce 1750 tons / year in total
2005 : An estimated 20 farms with a doubling in production
Today, New Caledonia would like to export more prawns as demand is exceeding supply, however investors need to be found to bring capital to this buoyant sector of the New Caledonian economy.
Aquafarms
The 10 aquafarms, which spread over 477 ha, produce 1 750 tons of prawns per year.
Prawn production provides a source of extra seasonal income for rural inhabitants during the fishing season.
To preserve the environment, the farms are set up on "tannes" between the mangrove area and the start of the cultivable land. This ensures that the mangrove is conserved and the development sustainable.
| FARM NAME | PLACE | AREA | PRODUCTION (in ton / year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bassins de Dumbéa | Dumbéa | 30 hectares | 30 tons |
| Aquamon | Tontouta | 40 hectares | 160 tons |
| Ferme de la Ouenghi | Boulouparis | 17 hectares | 60 tons |
| Seafarm | Boulouparis | 40 hectares | 100 tons |
| Péneîde de Ouano | La Foa | 40 hectares | 160 tons |
| Sodacal | Moindou | 130 hectares | 500 tons |
| Aquamon | Moindou | 40 hectares | 170 tons |
| M. TOURNIER | 10 hectares | 40 tons | |
| Blue Lagoon Farm | Koné | 85 hectares | 400 tons |
| Voh Webuihoone | Voh | 45 hectares | 200 tons |
Freshwater prawn farming
The water in the ponds is changed every day in small quantities and is aerated in the same way as an aquarium is. The prawns are fed then harvested.
It takes 218 days for a prawn to change from larvae to the time when it is caught. There is only one breeding season per year. In the cool season, the ponds are emptied from August to November due to the high mortality rate at this time.
Prawn fishing
A gate is opened to allow 4 tons of prawns to escape into a pond where they will subsequently be fished.
Preparation for export
Once harvested the prawns are then taken to Noumea in a refridgerated truck to SOPAC (société des Producteurs Aquacoles de Calédonie) responsible for freezing the prawns ready for sale and export.
In 2000, SOPAC achieved a turnover of 2 billion FCFP.
Quality control
The "schedule of conditions" for aquafarming is very strict and controlled to ensure that the prawns are always of good quality :
- No antibiotics
- No animal flours
- A minimum breeding season to ensure that the prawns are not overfed
- No more than 24 prawns per sq m when they are put into the ponds.
Export and local consumption
Each year almost 1 250 tons of prawns are exported :
- 570 tons to metropolitan France
- 310 tons to Japan
- 264 tons to Australia
- 100 tons to other markets