Introduction Aquaculture is a relatively new development in the South Pacific. Many aquacultural techniques are still at an experimental stage. Though Pacific Island countries have sheltered areas of reefs, lagoons and mangrove swamps for aquaculture development, they lack money and technical knowledge. How- ever, with foreign aid, aquacultural techniques for tilapia, milkfish, grass carp, pearl oysters, fresh wa- ter prawns and seaweeds have progressed well. Seaweeds have been used for centuries as a supple- ment to human food, feed for livestock, fertiliser and recently as a source of chemicals known as phycocolliods, which include agar, alginate and car- rageenan. They also provide habitats for the spawn- ing of many marine organisms (e.g. fish, molluscs, crustaceans). Over 200 seaweed species occur naturally in Fijian waters (Chapman 1977). Three seaweed species were particularly important in traditional subsist- ence fisheries; these were recorded by Ohno and Critchley (1993) as Caulerpa spp. (Nama), Gracilaria spp. (Lumi cevata) and Codium spp. (Sagati). How- ever, most of these species are not cultivated in Fiji. This report presents an overview and assesses the historical developmental of seaweed farming in Fiji since 1976. Particular reference is given to Ka- ppaphycus alvarezii (still referred to in the industry as Eucheuma cottonii species), as it has dominated the Fiji seaweed industry. Statistics were limited in some areas, especially after 1988; nevertheless, through interviews, surveys and literature review, information on the seaweed industry in Fiji was gathered and assessed. Seaweed farming was ini- tially introduced to Fiji in 1976 from the Philippines, and was re-introduced in 1984. The first commercial production began in 1986. In this report, we provide historical details on areas of where farming took place, numbers of farms, marketing, farming meth- ods, production, exports, prices and assistance pro- vided. We also provide an overview of the current status of Fiji’s Kappaphycus industry and the relative roles of men and women in rural seaweed farming. History of seaweed farming and marketing The Fiji government sees seaweed farming as a po- tential source of income and employment in the ru- ral areas (Ram 1991). It requires a low level of tech- nology and investment and can be undertaken as a family activity. It has little environmental impact and is normally compatible with traditional fishing and other subsistence uses of the inshore marine en- vironment (South 1993). Seaweed cultivation was introduced in Fiji in 1976 (Ram 1991), when Kappaphycus seed stocks were im- ported from the Philippines (Solly and Booth 1977). The trials were carried out and maintained for more than two years at Telau Island, near Suva (Prakash 1990). These farms failed due to destruction by a cy- clone in 1980 (Ram 1991). Kappaphycus was re-introduced in 1984 by the Fiji Fisheries Division with the cooperation of Coast Bi- ologicals (NZ) Ltd., with funding support from the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC). The seed stock of Kappaphycus alvarezii was imported from Tonga and the trials were conducted at Tavua, Rakiraki and Verata in Tailevu (Ram 1991; South 1993). The trials were successful, which encouraged Coast Biologicals to assist in the development of the sea- weed farming industry in Fiji in collaboration with the Fisheries Division and the Fiji Development Bank, by providing loans to interested farmers. The first commercial production began in 1986 at Tavua, Rakiraki, Kaba, Kiuva and Rewa. Consider- able expansion took place in 1987, with farms es- tablished in new areas like Moturiki, Ovalau, Bua, Batiki, Vanuabalavu, Fulaga and Ogea (Ram 1991; South 1993). Coast Biologicals had planned to es- tablish a semi-refined carrageenan (SRC) process- ing plant in Fiji once the target production of 600 11 SPC Women in Fisheries Information Bulletin #21 – December 2010 The historical development of seaweed farming, including roles of men and women, and prospects for its future development in Fiji Anir Lal 1 and Veikila Vuki 2 1 University of the South Pacific, PO Box 1168, Suva, Fiji. 2 Oceania Environment Consultants, PO Box 5214, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96913. Email: vuki61@yahoo.co.uk