Supply chain and marketing of sea grapes, Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskål) J. Agardh (Chlorophyta: Caulerpaceae) in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga

Abstract

This report describes for the first time the supply chain of Caulerpa racemosa in three Pacific Island countries. The harvesting and marketing of C. racemosa are important subsistence activities for villagers in Fiji and Samoa, less so in Tonga. At least 150 harvesters are involved in Fiji, some 100 in Samoa and only a handful in Tonga. The annual combined crop is of some 123 t valued at around US$266,492. In Fiji, it is projected that supply does not meet local demand and there is a potential export market that is currently operating at a pilot project level. In Samoa, the supply is considered adequate for the current market. In Tonga, harvesting is carried out by a few families and supplies a niche market in that country. The possibilities of field cultivation of Caulerpa have been explored but, at present, with only limited success in Samoa. The supply chain is simple in all three countries, and only in Fiji are middlemen involved in the distribution process. The limitations for marketing include the fact that only a few sites supply most of the crop in all the three countries, that all sites need to be conserved through sustainable harvesting methods, the short shelf life of the crop and a lack of information on the carrying capacity of harvest sites. Caulerpa remains a crop that fulfils a niche market but has the potential to be scaled up for additional livelihood development in the future.

Keywords: Fiji; Harvesting; Marketing; Samoa; Supply chain; Tonga.

Fig. 1

Supply chain maps for a Fiji, b Samoa and c Tonga, with the numbers representing the harvesting sites/villages (with exception to Tonga, where the harvesting sites are represented by the letter X and villages represented using numbers) and alphabets representing the marketing sites. Marketing sites are hyphenated with numbers indicating the source of seagrapes at respective outlets. Fig. 1a shows the Fiji harvesting sites/villages: 1 Gunu, 2 Namuimada, 3 Navolau, 4 Vatutavui, 5 Lomowai, 6 Vatulele, 7 Vusama, 8 Sasake, 9 Lakeba, 10 Dromoniku; and marketing sites: a Lautoka, b Nadi, c Suva, d Nausori, e Rakiraki, f Mana Island, g Tavua, h Ba, i Sigatoka, j Labasa, k Savusavu. Fig. 1b shows Samoa harvesting sites/villages: 1 Asaga, 2 Lano, 3 Faga, 4 Vailoa, 6 Satumalufilufi, 7 Mulifanua, 8 Lalovi, 9 Satapuala, 10 Leauva’a; and marketing sites: a Fugalei, b Apia fish market, c Salelologa, x roadside sales. Fig 1c shows Tonga harvesting villages: 1 Patangata, 2 Holeva, 3 Kaloa; and marketing sites: a Nuku’alofa, b Vava’u

Fig. 2

Industrial supply chain map for Caulerpa—Fiji

Fig. 3

Industrial supply chain map for Caulerpa—Samoa

Fig. 4

Industrial supply chain map for Caulerpa—Tonga