The mission time allocation did not permit a survey of Niuatopatu Island, 240 km to the north of Vava'u. Fisheries Officer Mr. Ofa Moala, who has been stationed in the Niuas in the past, reported that he could not recall local fishermen being aware of a distinct rabbit fish season as is the case in Vava'u and Ha'apai.
As cottonii has never been tried on this island it is recommended that Fisheries Division initiate an off-bottom farming trial in the passage between the main island and Hunganga (Fig. 10), where there are extensive shallow water areas at low tide. A trial plot established before December may establish the presence or absence of destructive juvenile Siganids in the January/February period.
