beef, and kava. Other crops include peanuts (grown in the interior hills) and kava. Fishing is important as well. The government has recently been promoting training in fishing to improve its efficiency and safety. Tourism has become more important, especially in the Lamen Bay area and Valesdir. There is accommodation available in a few other places including Sara and Nikaura. Since 2007 with the introduction of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme in New Zealand, in which New Zealand horticultural businesses can source seasonal labour from several Pacific Islands including Vanuatu, a small number of New Zealand businesses have sourced their RSE labour from Epi, primarily from the Lamen Bay area. Each year between 50 and 80 workers are recruited. These workers spend up to seven months of the year in New Zealand working as seasonal labourers in the horticultural industry; returning at the end of the period with their savings. A worker on the scheme could be anticipated to save approximately 450 000 Vatu over the seven-month work period. This has provided a substantial cash injection to the local economy and improved the living conditions of many of the residents and their families. Transport There are two airports on the island, one in the northwest, Lamen Bay Airport, and one in the southwest at Valesdir. Both are serviced a five times a week by Belair and Air Vanuatu. The island can also be reached by ship. The island has basic unsealed roads but few vehicles. Notes External links Languages of Epi, including bibliography Custom stories from Epi UN Earthwatch site The dugong of Lamen Bay on Epi Tourist site, including island map and pictures .htm For all accommodation information and what to see on Epi Islands of Vanuatu Shefa Province