From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

The farming of fresh water fish in the interior of Tongatapu, sounds unusual considering that Tonga has more sea area than land, but the $50,000 project now being trialed, means more  to the University of the Nations than a local supply of fresh water fish.

Bernie Tsao, a missionary from Hawai‘i who established the farm, said that the project, called Applied Aquatech Systems International is an educational project, and it will also be the source of water for an irrigation system for the University’s farm.

“It took eight years of hard work,” explained Bernie, as he took guests through rows of water tanks at the opening of the farm at the end of September. “This is a pilot prototype training project.”

Bernie said that they are rearing the Red Bellied Paku, a native of the Amazon River, Brazil, but the 750 fish were brought over from Florida. The fish will be ready for harvesting within 18 months. “Our priority is food for the Campus, and any extra will be sold to the public.”

The plant draws water from two 33-metre wells, each pumping 45 litres of water per minute.  In a growing tank the fish will reach their full weight of 1.5 to 2 kg, after being fed with nuts, cassava, banana, papaya, taro leaves and other fruit and vegetables which are grown on the Campus.