Torres Islands coconut crab featured at Agri-Tourism Fair

Topara Resource Management Conservation Program, a Torres Group association, formed last year to control harvesting of resources on the islands of the northern Vanuatu group of Torba Province

and based in Port Vila has received 200kg of coconut crabs which it is selling at the Agri-Tourism fair at Tagabe.

Association representative Friwayne Willie says the 200kg of coconut crabs was received by plane. He says they heard about the festival and decided to make use of the opportunity to earn some income for resource owners in the Torres.

Willie adds that some of the coconut crabs are being sold at restaurants in Port Vila with an additional 200kg expected by plane tomorrow, Saturday.

“Before resource owners in Torres were selling the coconut crabs for Vt500/kg, but with the formation of the association we have decided to increase the price to Vt1,500/kg as a way to control harvesting of the resource,” Willie said.

With the establishment of Topara (meaning Torres and Ureparapara) Management Conservation Program assisted by then MP for Torres Christopher Emelee it complies with the Fisheries laws and regulations and allows only licensed persons or associations to deal in coconut crabs and other resources including crayfish, green snail and timber.