“Faratea Bio-Marine Area” Strong potential for developing sustainable aquaculture in French Polynesia

The blue economy of French Polynesia, excluding tourism, generates an estimated turnover of nearly XPF 48 billion (EUR 400 million), i.e. about 8% of the GDP of French Polynesia (XPF 580 billion, or nearly EUR 4.85 billion). It accounts for 4,850 direct jobs, i.e. 7% of Polynesian jobs.

In the vein of what has been done to develop the deep-sea fishing sector, the Government has put in place a ten-year master plan to guide the strategic choices for the coming years to best support this sector in the making.

Two areas have been identified:

• small-scale aquaculture adapted to the context of islands and partly socially-oriented; and
• more business-oriented aquaculture, involving potentially larger investments and more complex routes.

It is within this framework that the Government of Mr. Fritch initiated the Faratea “Bio-Marine Centre” project. This Centre consists in making available pre-equipped lots spread over nearly 35 hectares to private investors.

In addition to the provision of a large areas of land, which is rare in French Polynesia, the objective is to promote synergies through economies of scale and the pooling of facilities, and to encourage the complementarity of projects, for example by promoting the development of by-products. A special effort will also be made to ensure that projects incorporate the latest innovations, particularly in terms of energy saving and adaptation to climate change.

This large-scale programme, led by the Vice-Presidency of French Polynesia responsible for the blue economy, will host several aquaculture development projects.

Cage shrimp farming on the Tahiti Iti side has fired hopes for development in all the archipelagos.

The sector of marine biotechnologies and of the development of natural active substances also offers very interesting avenues (seaweed farming and development of active ingredients in sponges, for example, currently under study).

Finally, marine renewable energies have a potential for innovation and technological development, with the hosting of the best research and development teams in our islands.

The entire project will ultimately create around 100 direct jobs, to which should be added 2 to 3 times more indirect jobs.

Out of the 7 lots defined for the whole area, a new notice for a call for projects for lot No. 6 has just been launched by the Marine Resources Department, as site manager.

Offers can be submitted until 30 June at noon (local time).

For further information, please click on the following link: Notice for a call for projects No. 1311 VP of 15 May 2020 “Faratea Bio-Marine Area” (Lot No.°6)