Aquaculture in Africa / August update

People interested in joining a network on aquaculture in sub-saharan Africa, please consult http://www.sarnissa.org/

Disclaimer: This is not an extensive review of aquaculture in each country, this is a digest of the news about aquaculture in Africa released on Internet this month.

Algeria
Freshwater fish production in Sétif region will reach 900 tons in 2009 (700 tons in 2008, 70 tons in 2007). Most of the production comes from an aquaculture farm in Ain Lahdjar. Fish species are carp, langui (?) and tilapia. Catfish will soon be introduced. One hatchery is planned in Zaïri dam, Ouricia (15 km from Sétif). It will produce 15 millions fry, instead of importing them from Hungary as today. Another pilot farm is planned at Salah Bey, as well as a processing plant near Ain Zada dam [20].
One thousand fry have been dispersed in Maghnia farms. The final objective is to produce 100 tons of fish [37].

Angola
The Angolan Fisheries Ministry is to invest at least US$40 million between 2010 and 2012 in the construction of a National Aquaculture College in the town of Kalandula, in Malanje province. The college will train basic and medium level technicians. The three-storey building will be built over an area of 300 square metres and will include nine classrooms, workshops, amphitheatres, sports fields and two laboratories. As part of the project, it is expected that the first fish will start being farmed at the end of 2010. The college will supply future students for the Fisheries Academy to be built in Namibe province, with a capacity for 900 students, 600 of whom will be resident and 300 non-resident [15].

Burkina Faso
[28] report the visit of the prime minister to Nacombogo (Ipelcé) where the Beog Yinga Centre polyvalent de formation (CPF) helps children who abandoned school early by teaching them several activities, among which fish farming.

Cameroon
A study by WorldFish Center showed that ornamental aquaculture systems that make minimal modifications to streams and depend on natural nutrient cycles provide incentives for forest dwellers to conserve rivers and streams [11].
Recently, the price of fish have dropped in most markets across the country. Fish that was initially scarce is now readily available to most families. An authority at the Congelcam fish shop that preferred anonymity said “the reasons for the sudden drop cannot be identified so easily because they rely on suppliers from Douala”. However, officials say it is part of President Paul Biya's moves through the Ministry of Trade to improve on the living conditions of the people [12].
The Director for Aquaculture of the Ministry for Fish Farming donated equipment valued at 1 million CFA to the GIC "Rural womens for Agricultural Development". It consists in a dozen of wheelbarrows, forks, shovels, boots, pickaxes and pairs of gloves. The community benefits from the support of the French NGO APDRAF-France, through its project « village fish farming - Western Cameroon », (PVOC). As of today, it manages six 2000 m2 ponds [36].

Congo
[27] reports that the Senate has just approved a new regulation aimed at restructuring the fishery and aquaculture sector. It aims at fighting poverty. Aquaculture in Congo is practised by small-scale farms using semi-modern or natural ponds. The new law will be filling a juridical gap, by improving presentation of inland fishery and aquaculture activities, promote sustainable development and conservation of resources through public policies, as well as attending the needs of this new fast growing sector. According to Guy Parfait Kolelas, the minister for Marine and Inland Fishery, in charge of Aquaculture, this project is not just an achievement of the government, but the achievement of all stakeholders, including fishermen, farmers and Chambers of Commerce.

Congo (DRC)
For the Bulaya orphanage, building a fish farm would permit to avoid being forced to go to Lubumbashi (40 km) for buying dried fish [7].

Gambia
[31] reports the launching of a two years and 408000 USD program for restoring sustainable aquaculture systems. The project is operated by the FAO in partnership with the Gambian ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The project aims to develop a viable, sustainable aquaculture as a programme for diversification of livelihoods in rural areas as well as to improve the nutritional status, increase income-generating capacity of the people and to provide additional off-season activities through enhanced land and water resources utilisation. The project will also bring to light an effective management of our aquatic resources - particularly fish [33].

Ghana
In August 2009, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) is inviting animal nutrition and fish feed companies to establish a fish mill factory to serve the industry. The country has potential to become the west African hub for fish mill operations. The biggest fish farm in West Africa, Tropo farm in Akosombo, is located in Ghana. There are also other numerous farms that are in need of reliable supplies of fish meal. There are five multinational companies in large-scale aquaculture production on the Volta Lake using cage fishing, while over 100 medium-scale farmers in the Ashanti and Eastern regions farm using fish ponds. The estimated total marine fish production in 2007 was 400,000 tonnes, while aquaculture brought in 10,000 tonnes. According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the national fish requirement has grown from 676 000 tonnes in 1995 to 840 000 tonnes in 2007. The deficit between fish requirement and production is therefore a prime motivation in the development of aquaculture and related industries [8].

Guinea
[26] reports an exchange between Guinea and Corea, on fisheries and aquaculture. It took place from July to August at the Pukyong National University (PKNU). More than a dozen African countries took part in it, including representatives from Cameroon, Congo and Gabon.

Ivory Coast
About 400 ex-militiamen and young at risk of High Sassandra province have benefited from the 1000 micro-project program of the UN operation in Ivory Coast (ONUCI). The program was launched in August 2008 and the funds served to develop fish farming, rice farming, pig farming and chicken farming. At the end of the war, most of the militia people found themselves without resources and turned into tramps. Now, they are respected [29]. The special representative of the United Nations in Ivory Coast, Y. J. Choi, went to Daloa to visit the fish farming project, funded by ONUCI and UNDP, and operated by Anader, in Baléa, 35 km from Daloa [30]. Ten young at risk are the beneficiaries. The project started in march 2009 with a funding of 4200000 CFA. (1 EUR= 655957 CFA) It permitted farming 3054 fish. The president of the young beneficiaries, Bahouan Koré Grégoire, hopes that the harvest will provide them with 1215000 CFA at the end of September. During the three month, the young are supposed to receive a monthly support of 25000 CFA from the mission. The project is cyclic and fry are already in other ponds, so that they might be sold within 9 months. According to [30], Daloa is town where fish is rare, and that's was one of the motivation for the young people to go with this fish farming project.

Kenya
St. Luke’s Ministry in Nyanza, the westernmost province of Kenya provides food and other agricultural projects for the community, including fish farming [24]. See also [32] for a video of a 1010 project's partner practicing fish farming and explaining it.
Kenya and Indonesia are set to enter into a partnership in the development of fish farming in the country. During the visit of Indonesia Assistant minister for fisheries Dr Mabel Nurdjana, Fisheries Minister Paul Otuoma added that the two counties would also collaborate in terms of improving the capacity of the human resource in the fisheries sector. The co-operation will see the introduction of new fish seedlings, improved feeds for fish and distribution systems will be enhanced. A super YY fish species from Indonesia will be introduced in order to improve fish productivity. Dr Otuoma said that utilisation of Sh1.1billion under fish framing enterprise productivity programme was set to kick off early next month. He said that the first group to be trained would be district fisheries officers so that they can train identified fish farmers who will benefit from the programme. The minister said that the programme will see the construction of 200 fish ponds in 140 constituencies that have been identified and will see introduction of new farming technology that will support rural economic development [38].

Madagascar
Former president Ravalomanana decided to re-stimulate the trout farming in the country. The Manjakatompo fish farm in Tsiafajavona (Ambatolampy, Ankaratra) is currently being renovated by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP). Created in 1920, this farm has been managed by a fish farmer association called « Sodifafana ». Since 1990, a private company took over, but due to the lack of feed, the station did not operate. MAEP requested trout eggs to Polish government, who offered 10 000 eggs that were introduced last June 16, 2008. 1246 fingerlings were produced out of them. Transfer to farmers will occur in 2009. Trout price on local market is 12 000 MGA (1 EUR=2 600 MGA) per kg [3] [4].
Impoverished fishermen along the coast of tropical African countries like Mozambique and Madagascar may have only a few more years to eke out a profit from one of their nations' biggest agricultural exports. Within a few decades, they may no longer have a livelihood at all. That's because swampy mangrove forests – essential breeding grounds for fish and shellfish in these countries – are being destroyed by worsening pollution, encroaching real estate development, and deforestation necessary to sustain large-scale commercial shrimp farming [39].

Mali
The Malian minister of Agriculture, Agatam Ag Alhassane visited the operation conducted by the Rural Development Office in Sélingué (ODRS), including the on-building fish ponds that can be seen from the top of Selingué dam [18].

Mayotte
Mayotte has a huge potential for aquaculture and should take the lead among all french tropical territories. Aquamay, Copemay and Mayotte Aquaculture are the major local stakeholders. After eight years working with alpine freshwater aquaculture, Timothée Gadenne just arrived as the new appointed director of Aquamay, the Association for the Development of Aquaculture in Mayotte Island. Aquamay controls all steps of the farming of Corb Umbrina cirrosa [17]. In 2007, it produced 53000 fry of corb and 2000 fry of cobia. It currently diversifies its production, with sea bream and snapper [19].
Copemay is a processing unit based in the capital Mamoudzou. Mayotte Aquaculture is the local pionneer and most of the 200 tons exported in 2007 come from their production. The local provincial government, Conseil Général, subsidizes fish exports (currently 1 and soon 2 EUR/exported kg), as well as feeds (0,62 EUR/kg). The local government should also support the establishment of an hatchery in Koungou, as well as the creation of an aquaculture companies cluster in Handrema. The objective is the establishment of one new fish farmer every year. Some experiment are being conducted, such as shrimp production in cages [19].

Morocco
In the little village of Moulay Abdellah, the harvest by poor people of red seaweeds, used by European food industry, is not sustainable due to over-exploration. Marocco produces 14000 tons of red seaweeds, out of which 40% are exported. Aquaculture is proposed as a sustainable alternative [6].

Mozambique
See Madagascar for [39].

Niger
Despite unfavorable weather and hydrological conditions in Bilma province, two water bodies exist. The first one is natural at Argui, and the other one artificial, as a result from the permanent drain of Bilma's water sink. In the latter, Nile tilapia can be encountered. A fish farming feasibility study was conducted for this lake (160 meters x 63,6 meters, 1,15 meters depth). Physico-chemistry of water is acceptable for fish (temperature between 0°C ? and 40°C). Once equipped, the pond production could increase from 947 kg to 4947 kg. Such a project would help improve livelihoods of the population by providing accessible proteins [25].

Nigeria
The East Local Government Authority in Enugu State, has promised to reduce the unemployment rate of youths in the local government area by about 50 percent before the end of December 2009, through its current investment in fish farming in partnership with Unipaco farms. [14]

Reunion
Aquaculture in Reunion island started in 1991, under ARDA's impulse (Association for Aquaculture Development in Reunion island). The director is Pierre Bosc. Today, about 15 fish farmers produce 120 tons, all sold on local market. Some freshwater fish, such as tilapia, red tilapia and trout are also used for hangling. Some aquarium fish are also being grown in Reunion, by two young marine ornamental fish farms and a couple of freshwater ornamental fish farms [22].
There is only one marine farm. Created in 2003, the company needed new capital in January 2007 and became the Société Aquacole des Mascareignes (102 000 EUR capital). In 2007, corb production reached 30 tons, part of which is sold in restaurants (45 tons in 2008). Since 2001, ARDA & SAM are working in partnership on a sea farm for corb production. The farm is implanted in Saint Paul's bay. Main difficulty is resistance to typhoons. System uses counterweights, that lessen waves impact, whereas cages are immerged at 15 m to be less submitted to rift. An antishark net surrounds all cages. A project with ARDA, Ifremer and Ensieta aims at improving yet more the resistance [22].
The synthesis document for Reunion of the wide consultation in the French tropical territories proposes to put human development at the heart the strategic project for Reunion Island. Among priorities, development of aquaculture has elected and should be conducted on a regional base [38].

Rwanda
A training course on freshwater aquaculture was conducted in the Philippines by SEAFDEC-AQD's Binangonan Freshwater Station (BFS) for ten staff members of the Rwanda Workforce Development Authority (RWDA) from May 7 to June 19, 2009. The training course was commissioned by the Singapore-based Acrux Stella Education Group Pte. Ltd. (ASEG) which handles projects in Rwanda. While the training covered four commercially important tropical species, emphasis during field/farm visits was given to tilapia and catfish which are common to both Asia and Africa [34].

Senegal
Aquaculture should be relaunched in southern province of Casamance, with the establishment of a regional office of the National Agency for Aquaculture and the rehabilitation of the Emile Badiane bridge hatchery aimed at producing 1 500 000 saline tilapia fry before December 2009. These will distributed to public farms in Ziguinchor, Bignona and Oussouye. In Ziguinchor, there will be an industrial farm aimed at producing 500 tons /year that will create 200 jobs [1] [2].
The director of ANA (National Agency for Aquaculture) announced the agency would invest 25 millions for developing fish farming in water stocking pond. The objective is to valorize 3000 dams by 2010, for producing 3 to 4 million fry and harvest 350000 tons of fish. The project might also benefit shellfish farmers, since Joal's oyster farmers have also been contacted. The project has already built 140 water stocking dams all over the country. The structure are managed democratically by local communities, and they aim at supporting gender equity by empowering women too [35].

South Africa
In the former diamonds mining town of Kleinzee, South African mining group is trying stimulate aquaculture as an alternative economic activity to declining diamond exploration [5].
Rhodes University showed between 2000 to 3000 tons of abalone was illegally shipped out of South Africa every year to Hong Kong – via neighbouring countries such as Lesotho and Swaziland. Rhodes University is a world leader in nutrition and aquaculture of abalone and has helped develop some of the most advanced and modernised farming techniques. Since the harvesting of abalone in the wild was banned 18 months ago, South Africa has become a world leader in land- based commercial farming of the resource [13].
A project to breed and grow kob at the East London Industrial Development Zone (EL IDZ) is now just weeks from breaking ground. The 22 million ZAR marine-aquaculture project (1 ZAR=0,0878 EUR), run by Espadon Marine and funded by the IDZ, has been operating out of leased facilities in the zone for the past year and a half. The brood-stock, which were caught in the Brede River some six years ago and originally based at Espadon’s “mariculture” project in Hermanus, are fed chokka and pilchards. The project will grow in the region of 300 to 400 tons of fish a year for market, and sell the excess on to fish grow-out facilities elsewhere in the country [16].

Tunisia
The project for cleaning and use of Bizerte lake is going on. The objective is to use its 12000 ha for aquaculture, particularly for oyster and mussel farming since the lake could produce about 2000 tons shelfish yearly [23].

Uganda
Fish farming production in Uganda has grown from 285 tonnes in 1999 to over 50,000 tonnes by the end of 2007. The fish farming sector supports 21,000 farmers and an estimated 200,000 livelihoods. Fish is currently number two to coffee in export earnings with Nile Perch and Silver fish (mukene) forming the highest percentage of fisheries products. Market for native catfish is huge, as it is a highly appreciated bait for Nile perch. Farmers practicing small-scale commercial fish farming from Ntungamo, Bushenyi, Rukingiri and Busoga will receive fingerlings of catfish bait at farm-gate price in the second half of 2009. They will be produced by Sunfish farms, with the objective to propose an alternative to unsustainable fishing in wetlands of Lake Victoria. Studies showed a bait deficit of 98,4% for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Farmers will buy each fingerling at farm gate price of 30 UGX (1 UGX = 0.0003 EUR) parting with a total of 300,000 UGX. They will sell each at 200 or 250 UGX. Final harvest will be betwen 5,000 (50% fingerlings) and 8,000 (80%). At 200 UGX for each fingerling, the farmer will earn 1,000,000 UGX for 5,000 fingerlings. From that gross income, deduct 300,000 UGX for fingerlings and 200,000 UGX for feeds as total expenses. The farmer will remain with a net income of 500,000 UGX [9]. The Vice President of Uganda is also a fish farmer. His farm is located about 2 kms from Kakiri and has more than 7,000 mud-fish and 10,000 tilapia, raised in cages. At the moment, prices of fish in the country have gone up. The average price of a 1kg tilapia is 5,000 UGX [10].
In Uganda's capital, Kampala, Chinese contractors are building an aquaculture demonstration centre. Fish is a staple protein in Uganda, with many people subsisting on the fast-diminishing stocks in Lake Victoria [21].

REFERENCES

[1] http://www.lesoleil.sn/article.php3?id_article=48680 (consulted on August 19, 2009)
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(consulted on August 20, 2009)
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