The construction of Tuvalu s first purpose-built aquaculture pond, for milkfish, was completed on the island of Vaitupu in 1996. It is intended that operation of the Vaitupu pond will provide a model for subsistence aquaculture activity elsewhere in Tuvalu. Aquaculture research projects involving giant clams and introduced Eucheuma seaweed have been carried out, the former as a possible means of re-stocking wild populations, and the latter for commercial production. Neither has so far led to any kind of commercial development. Utilization of the catch Fish is the most common protein source in Tuvalu.
Fresh fish is preferred, but salted, dried fish is also consumed.
Dried fish is most often the product of excess subsistence catches taken in the outer islands. Attempts to provide access to wider markets for outer islands fishers have been constrained through inadequate shipping services, and lack of cold storage and other processing facilities at the landing sites. Trials have been made in the production and export sale of dried fish and of tuna jerky produced by solar-drying at outer island centres but so far these have not led to commercial development. Artisanal fishermen on Funafuti sometimes sell their catch directly from handcarts. This may be an underestimate as an unknown amount of canned fish is imported into Tuvalu and this is not accounted for in the above estimate.