The Rotary Club of Tumon Bay donated funds to procure the solar panels, inverters, and battery pack that powers the new aquaculture system. Meanwhile, Pacific Solar & Photovoltaics completed the installation of the system, which was unveiled onsite on Saturday, Jan. 30.  

According to Michelle Crisostomo, GSC president and co-founder, the new off-grid aquaculture setup ties in with GSC’s current partnership with the service program AmeriCorps. Under the Healthy Futures Challenge, GSC AmeriCorps holds gardening and food preparation workshops to promote food security and healthy lifestyles on island.  

“We have our AmeriCorps members focusing on environmental stewardship. They are going to learn how to run the system. Then they are going to teach that to the community, So, we are going to open this place for workshops and trainings where the community can come in for free and learn how to operate the system and possibly implement one in their own home,” Crisostomo said.  

Before launching the community workshop series, the GSC AmeriCorps staff would have to go through several train the trainers’ sessions with the UOG Sea Grant program. 

Sea Grant aquaculture extension specialist David Crisostomo will conduct the training sessions on building and operating the aquaculture system.  

According to Crisostomo, through UOG Sea Grant's funding and technical support, five recirculating aquaculture systems or RAS have been distributed in the community through nonprofit partners and mayors’ offices. Sea Grant installed its first community-based recirculating aquaculture system at the Kurason Ysengsong Community Garden at the IGP compound in Dededo in December. 

As part of the partnership, UOG Sea Grant provides basic infrastructure support, workforce development, and capacity-building to participants selected by the partner village or nonprofit. While starting small with just a few multi-sectoral partners, Sea Grant plans to extend the program to other groups in the future.   

Crisostomo said the end goal of the program is to revitalize the aquaculture industry on Guam. 

The promotion of aquaculture moves the Guam Green Growth Action Framework forward in addressing Goal 14 (Life Below Water) of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and marine resources for development. In addition, sustainable and long-term growth in the aquaculture industry could also contribute to achieving Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) of the UN SDGs.