Dehai

The included attachment is from award winning Eritrean Scientist Habte Michael Habtetzion who recently graduated with a Ph.D in aquaculture from the Nanjing Agriculture University, one of the top universities in aquaculture in the world. This paper was written for the Eritrean Studies conference presently taking place in Asmara, Eritrea and is a brief overview of aquaculture potential in Eritrea. Aquaculture in the field of sea cucumber alone can produce up to 5,000 tons of such a year if farmed scientifically. Sea Cucumber can fetch prices of up to $60 a kilo which means it could bring in some $300 million a year. On top of this is naturally occuring lobster harvesting, which if done sustainably can produce up to $200 million a year. A number of other species can be farmed including honeycomb oysters and black scallops, both three year crops which could bring in some $20 million a year each. Pearl Oysters could form the basis for a cultured pearl industry such as in Japan that could be worth up to $20 million a year. There is also a live fish demand from China and other Asian countries which could bring in up to $100 million a year. Raising fish such as mullet and milkfish for domestic consumption can provide a sustainable high quality protein of many tens of thousands of tons a year. Simply put, aquaculture and fishing can and should be the backbone of the Eritrean economy surpassing even mining in generating foreign currency in a sustainable manner. Thomas C. Mountain