Aquaculture in Africa / September 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. Also please check previous updates: August 2009


Africa

• An Africa-US workshop dealing with aquaculture

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) has announced that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would sponsor the Seventh Biennial U.S-Africa Business Summit Realising the Investment Power of Africa, to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington, September 29 - October 1, this year. The track would comprise several key agricultural workshops, such as aquaculture industry in Africa, positioned to attract investment [18].


Angola

• A minister visit to government’s aquaculture programme

The Angolan minister of Fisheries, Salomão Xirimbimbi, visited central Huambo province’s Sacaala experimental station, where he learned about the functioning of some freshwater fish farming project, under Government’s aquaculture programme. Seven development centers will be created in the country to provide technical support to cooperatives and businesses involved in the production of fish. The Sacaala aquaculture experimental station project possess 22 reproduction ponds and five growing tanks [2].


Benin

• Pollution constraining aquaculture development in Benin

Discussing aquaculture potential in Benin with a local NGO, Mike Markovina reports that pollution seems to be a major restricting factor to attracting aquaculture development [6]. Regular oil spills and water contamination occurs, furthermore the coastal environmental are polluted with plastic bags, and waste from the local harbour and industries.

• Songhaï Center

Songhaï center is given another description mentioning its tilapia fish farm, located by the restaurant at the Porto Novo center [10].

• Low performance of Benin fish producing sector

The fish production in Benin is 11 kg per capita against 20 kg in countries like Senegal, according to last year's survey of agriculture results. The country increasingly depends on external resources to satisfy it internal consumption of fishery products. Apart from frozen fish coming from Europe (about 45,000 tonnes), Ghana is one of the largest suppliers of fish resources in Benin in particular smoked sardine. The authorities consider that the reason for this tendency is the overfishing, as inland fisheries is providing almost all fish consumed in Benin, more than 80% of national production. Among bad practices is the use of prohibited fishing gear on the water bodies, dams with nets, the akadja, and Gbodoègo that are often installed in the migration corridors of fish and induce siltation [12].

Burkina Faso

• Prime minister visit to aquaculture farm

With the purpose of monitoring the 2009-2010 campaign that started on August 18 in the Center-South region, Prime minister Tertius Zongo was in Koubri on August 20 (Bazèga province). He visited the UPAK farm owned by François Compaoré, aimed at producing quails, milk as well as fish for consumption and hangling [8].


Cape Verde

• Cooperation in aquaculture between China and Cape Verde

At the National Institute of Fisheries Development in Sao Vicente, a team of three Chinese specialists works on developing a strategic plan to implement aquaculture and fish farming in Cape Verde [34].


Egypt

• Nile river delta endangered

Nile river delta is one of the most endangered regions of the world by climate change. Like other deltas, its dynamic shows a subsidence phenomena, so that it will not be able to compensate the rise of sea water level that will accompany global warming. However, the threat is mostly the result of human activities that reduce siltation (dams) and manage water in a non sustainable way [27].


Ghana

• Ghana and Israel sign aquaculture agreement

Mr Avigdor Liberman, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Ghana's Foreign Minister signed a cooperation agreement in the area of aquaculture [30].


Guinea (Countries of the Gulf of Guinea)

• Climate change threatening lagoonal aquaculture

In the Gulf of Guinea, sea level rise resulting from climate change may breach and destroy low-barrier beaches that limit coastal lagoons, while precipitation changes could affect discharges of the rivers feeding them, affecting lagoonal fisheries and aquaculture [16] and [17].


Ivory Coast

• Aquaculture Peace Building project

A joint United Nations mission, including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the Department of Political Affairs, the Peacebuilding fund (PBSO) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) visited Bouake, Seguela, Issia and Daloa from September 1 to 3. They went to the Fish Culture Project Balea 2 in Daloa [13].


Kenya

• Government's strategic plan to boost aquaculture research and development

The government is working on a strategic plan that will help regulate and boost aquaculture research and development in the country. The Coordinator of the Aquaculture Research Programme, Marine and Coastal Division of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) Dr Betty Nyonje said a policy was in its final stages and was expected to be ready by the end of the year. "Seaweed farming has been identified as a good prospect for social and economic development of coastal areas for poor fishing communities whose livelihoods have been affected by diminishing fisheries. Once fully developed, Dr Nyonje said, 300 farmers in the pilot areas could earn between 30 million KES (2,730,000 EUR) and 40 million KES (3,640,000 EUR) annually from the sale of dried seaweed whose extracts are used as thickeners and homogenizers in pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetic industries [3].

• Coast farmers to benefit from seaweed project

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) is developing commercial seaweed farming to boost the incomes of residents. 300 farmers could be placed under the initial seaweed-farming project. The first model farm has been developed at Kibuyuni, a seaside village with 1,500 people. A model farm has 15,000 seedlings and each crop produces one metric ton of dry seaweeds every six weeks. A metric ton of produce at current market rates costs 12,000 KES (110 EUR) [33].

• Fisheries Minister Paul Otuoma support fish farming

Kenya has about 1.4 billion hectares of potential fish farming areas, Fisheries Minister Paul Otuoma says. He added that the country has the capability of realizing 11 million metric tonnes of fish annually. This translates to 750 billion KES (6,8 billion EUR) per year besides creating job opportunities to thousands of citizens. It would also create employment for other actors such as fish feed manufacturers, fish processors and traders. Otuoma was speaking at the Sagana Aquaculture Farm in Kirinyaga. He said the country produces 4,220 metric tonnes of fish, while only 772 hectares are currently under aquaculture since 1920. The minister said the Government has set aside 1.12 billion KES (10 million EUR) towards the program and challenged fisheries officers to support it [31].

• Kenya-Indonesia cooperation in aquaculture

Indonesia and Kenya has agreed to set cooperative network in the field of fish farming. The cooperation will be about the introduction of Super YY fish species from Indonesia. There will be effort to make 200 fish ponds in 140 constituencies with new farming technology to underpin the development of rural economics [24] [25].


Malawi

• Bunda College's students volunteer for SARNISSA Project

Over 40 graduates from Bunda College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi are working as volunteers with various government departments, nongovernmental organizations and private firms across the country. Bunda Students Volunteer Scheme was officially launched in May, 2009 and the overall objective of this Scheme is to achieve a sustainable improvement in livelihoods of poor communities through the involvement of university graduate volunteers. Since then, volunteers have been recruited by various projects and NGOs, including the SARNISSA project aimed at establishing and supporting Sustainable Aquaculture Research Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa [7].


Mayotte

• Concern about impact of aquaculture on Mayotte's lagoon and coral reefs
  

The possibility that intensive aquaculture destroys the lagoon is a major concern of the mayor of Bandrélé Moussa Madi, but the risk was denied by Dominique Marot (Aquamay) who speaks of "reasonable aquaculture" and notes that "during the trade wind period, 90% of fish placed on the market come from aquaculture" [11].

• Value of coral services

One hectare of coral reef is generating between 80,000 and 1 million dollars per year according to an extensive study conducted for the United Nations Development by Indian economist Pavan Sukhdev. This value includes many "services" that coral reefs provide, including shore protection against strong waves, or tsunamis, supply for all species of marine life, aquaculture, renewable resource in terms of aquarium species and of course the tourism and fishing. In Mayotte, Ifremer will bring experts and consultants who will clarify all this and find ways for Mayotte to sustainably exploit the huge potential [19].


Mali

• Aquaculture to replace gold

According to [9], fish farming is one of the options considered as an alternative livelihoods after closing of Morila gold mine (Sikasso province) in 2013.

• A recent review of aquaculture projects in Mali

A recent overview of aquaculture in Mali, with cases described, is provided by [15]. The first experiments in Mali started in 1979 with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). A hatchery was built at San, within the irrigated areas of the Malian Company for Textile Development (CMDT). In 1986, emergency assistance of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was used to promote rural pond fish farming in the area of Office du Niger (ON). In 1987, the French Association of Volunteers for Progress (AFVP) has initiated a fish farming project extension in Niono. However, the largest development project remains the one funded between 1987 and 1992 by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Fund for Agriculture (FAO). One of the first fish farmers around Bamako is Bakary Londy, from Baguinéda, about thirty km from Bamako. Mr Londy is also president of the Malian Association of fishermen and fish farmers (APPM). APPM supported the creation in 2007 of the Malian Association of fish- and aqua- farmers (APAM) chaired by Richard Toe. Fish farmers around Bamako are mainly in the circles of Koulikoro, Kati, and Kangaba Dioïla. Mr. Toe's farm is located 30 km south-west of Bamako. This former government employee has three 20 m x 20 m and one 20 m x 10 m ponds. He raises mainly tilapia. Since 2008, the Association of Bamako Women Fish Farmers operates a farm at Satinèbougou Banankoroni, about 15 km east of Bamako on the road to Bougouni. Rice-fish farming is also being tested in collaboration with the Office of Irrigation in Baguinéda (OPIB) and USAID to strengthen the existing mechanism. In 2008, Mali produced 132,000 tonnes of fish [15].

• Luxembourg cooperation supports aquaculture in Mali

The Luxembourgian Cooperation Lux-dev has contributed to the development of San's plain (near the Burkina Faso) for rice and fish production by rationalizing the irrigation system [23].


Namibia

• Policies developed prior to development of aquaculture

Mike Markovina chatting to a senior aquaculture researcher in Namibia, reports a triangular conflict of interests that became apparent. First, do African countries develop aquaculture to provide vital protein for local consumption, or secondly, should aquaculture focus on developing complex large-scale systems for the production of high value species destined for international markets, and finally at what environmental cost, given the tarnished reputation of aquaculture globally [6]? Given this dilemma, Markovina considers fundamental that governments develop sound policies, based on science and research prior to developing the industry. Interestingly South Africa has a booming aquaculture industry, but no policy, yet Namibia has a developing industry but has implemented legislation and policy frameworks, which guide the installment and management of aquaculture facilities [6].

• Conference of the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa (AASA)

For the first time in its history the AASA conference has been held outside South Africa, in Namibia, where Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr Abraham Iyambo was awarded a prestigious award as best achiever in the SADC region. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources also gave recognition to Jurgen Klein as the best and most hard working person in the aquaculture industry in the country. Klein is a self-made scientist and succeeded in opening a hatchery at Mile 4 for oyster Ostrea edulis. He also farms oyster Crassostrea gigas [29].


Nigeria

• Aquaculture and religion

Prayers Farm is a religious project aimed at developing Prayers Farm Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State. It will provide a free training center to equip local people to raise high protein, all-natural fish and vegetables while taking advantage of extra-curricular time for religious activities. In 2006, Todd and Dominic completed extensive training in aquaculture and then developed a demonstration 40 acre tilapia fish farm and hydroponic gardening facility in South Florida. Now they are on track to impart this same skillset in the rural area where Dominic was born in southern Nigeria. Project will benefit from the 30+ acre training center and provide detailed design of a dormitory for 20 students, a simple classroom and dining pavilion for 30 students, a production facility for the tilapia farming and hydroponic gardening, a water wheel pump to circulate water from the river to the ponds, bio-gas system, and other related infrastructure. In the masterplan, space will also need to be planned for a future demonstration village of eight homes where some graduates will manage fish ponds, gardens, and animals [4].

• Aquaculture and youth empowerment program

Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki laid the foundation of a 54 million NGN (240,000 EUR) fish farming estate as part of a youth empowerment program. The farming estate comprises four hatcheries, 100 units ground tanks, a feed mill capable of producing five tons of fish feed per day, administrative complex, fish processing unit and 100 capacity hall [14].


Reunion Island

• Media : "Eat locally farmed fish"

Rather than eating top predators, [5] encourages local consumers to eat localy farmed fish: Saint Paul's corb, L'Etang-Salé's tilapia, Hell-Bourg's trout


Senegal

• A federation of aquaculture will be created in the new agriculture union

A union will be created in the agriculture sector, with several federations including one for aquaculture. This union will permit to the government's Department of Agriculture to avail from a database on all rural activities. As of today, this sector involve 3 millions persons about which very few information is available [21].

• Validation Workshop of the National Investment Plan for aquaculture SMEs

A validation workshop of the National Investment Plan for Small and Medium aquaculture Enterprises (SMEs) will open on September, 24 in Dakar. It will be chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Fatou Gaye Sarr. Funded by FAO, the national plan for aquaculture SMEs aquaculture is executed by the National Aquaculture Agency (ANA) [35].

• FAO has injected 182 million to support aquaculture in Senegal

The UN Food and Agriculture has injected about 182 million FCFA (400,000 USD, 270,000 EUR) in the development of aquaculture in Senegal, according to its resident representative, Amadou Ouattara. This funding has enabled the rehabilitation of Richard-Toll hatchery (Saint Louis) and permitted to assist the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (UCAD) on the production of about 80 000 fingerlings. The following year, that number should rise to 400,000 fry with a final objective of 3 million fry annually from 2010. FAO has also permitted to produce a technical guide for the fish farmers, as well as a tax and customs code on aquaculture or the national investment plan for aquaculture [37].

South Africa

• Threat to sink abalone farm

A family feud is threatening to sink a multi-million rand East London abalone farm, with only weeks left to go before seawater to the project may be cut off, killing all the precious stock. At the centre of the controversy are allegations that two brothers had cheated their sibling and his partner. The dispute took another dramatic turn when notice was served that the seawater supply to the project in the East London Industrial Development Zone (Elidz) would be discontinued in 30 days’ time, as a result of the feud. If the water is cut off, about seven tons of abalone stock at Seatek would be destroyed. Also at risk if water is cut off, is the 22 million ZAR (2 million EUR) Kob marine-aquaculture project being run by Espadon Marine [32].


Swaziland

• Swaziland running out of land for farming

Population growth, adherence to land distribution customs, and a small country are combining to make Swaziland a crowded place, rapidly running out of room to achieve food security. The population has doubled to more than one million since independence from Britain in 1968, but according to custom each Swazi son is given a portion of land on the family farm, located on communal Swazi Nation Land administered by traditional chiefs, to build a home, cultivate maize and graze cattle. The effects of relentless subdivision are beginning to be felt in a country where about 80 percent of the population reside in rural areas. The growing scarcity of land is moving the goal of achieving food security further out of reach, and a drought in 2007 made nearly half the population dependent on donor feeding schemes. Solution seems to be now with the pooling of fields, in order to benefit from economy of scale and make farming more efficient [26].


Togo

• Pond building project in Mission-Tove

The project Rehabilitation of agricultural land in Mission-Tove area (PARTAM), will permit to rehabilitate 360 ha of irrigated land and expand irrigation on another 300 ha in Zio valley. It will also include the construction of one dam and 80 fish ponds. The total cost of the project between 2009-2015 is estimated to 900 billions CFA (1.8 million USD, 1.2 million EUR) [1].


Tunisia

• Hatchery for mullet and eel

A hatchery for mullet and eel is under construction in Tabarka, with an annual production capacity of about 400 000 fry. This unit is part of a Tunisian-Italian project for the exploration and development of fisheries in the North-West (Jendouba, Beja, Le Kef and Siliana). The cost of the project is 2.6 million TND (1.4 million EUR), and it is supported by the Italian NGO Cooperation for Development of Emerging Countries "COSPE" [20].

• Coastal floating cages

In Mahdia, a project consists of setting up of the technique known as the ‘floating cages’ technique in the coastal seaside resort as well as plan to rehabilitate the city’s ice factories [22].


Uganda

• Oakville based non-profit organization helps build fish farms in Uganda

The Oakville based non-profit organization H20 4ALL will teach two needy Ugandan villages how to build and operate fish farms. The project, which began on June 22, will see 170,000-litre tilapia ponds established within the villages of Suubi and Kiballe. Special systems are being established to control the ponds’ circulation and temperature. The ponds will also be equipped with waterfalls to oxygenate the water. When completed in October, the fish farms in Suubi and Kiballe are expected to feed more than 2,000 people [29].

• Research reveals that there is still very little awareness about fish farming
  

However, compared to other investment ventures, fish farming is far cheaper. For Amina who ventured into fish farming three months ago, fish farming not only requires little capital but less time as well compared to the benefits accrued to it. “I spent 1.3 million UGX (457 EUR) to start rearing fish in my home which is cheaper unlike in other businesses and I can go to job as well,” she said. The fingerlings are not costly either. Amina says that they are affordable at a Jinja-based tilapia producing organisation where she bought hers. “Each costs 77 UGX (0.03 EUR) and I bought 2,500 of them for one fish pond,” she says. Such investment would in future bring greater returns as the cost of fish in the market today ranges from 2000 UGX (0.70 EUR) to 20,000 UGX (7 EUR) depending on the size [36].


Zimbabwe

• Foreign investors eye local fish farming sector

Aquaculture Zimbabwe Project Coordinator, Mr. Garikaimose Tongoona said that the improved operating environment including the adoption of multi-currency has provided incentives to attract foreign investment in fish farming. Mr. Tongoona also highlighted that there are plans to establish an Aquaculture and Fisheries Information Centre, which will assist local farmers with expert information on the fish farming industry [28].

REFERENCES

[1] http://www.togogateway.org/Togo-Des-terres-de-riziculture (consulted on August 29, 2009)
[2] http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/economia/2009/7/35/Huambo-good-for-aquaculture-minister,d0fc17b1-cdda-4422-9142-04cbc22754ac.html (consulted on August 30, 2009)
[3] http://allafrica.com/stories/200908241241.html (consulted on August 30, 2009)
[4] http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115187514603&ref=mf (consulted on August 30, 2009)
[5] http://www.zinfos974.com/Le-thon-c-est-bon_a9873.html (consulted on August 31, 2009)
[6] http://www.marine-expedition.co.za/?p=383#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=african-aquaculture-at-a-glance (consulted on September 2, 2009)
[7] http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/bunda-students-volunteer-scheme-picks-up.html (consulted on September 2, 2009)
[8] http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KHII-7VJ86N?OpenDocument (consulted on September 3, 2009)
[9] http://www.reussirbusiness.com/spip.php?article5230 (consulted on September 4, 2009)
[10] http://www.iconico.net/africa/archives/1272 (consulted on September 4, 2009)
[11] http://www.malango-actualite.com/article/un_succes_en_demi_teinte_pour_le_parc_naturel_marin-5882.htm (consulted on September 4, 2009)
[12] http://www.ebeninois.com/Le-Benin-accroit-sa-dependance-en-poisson_a812.html (consulted on September 10, 2009)
[13] http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/VDUX-7VKRW3?OpenDocument (consulted on September 10, 2009)
[14] http://allafrica.com/stories/200909100302.html (consulted on September 10, 2009)
[15] http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=23433 (consulted on September 17, 2009)
[16] http://www.irinnews.org/fr/ReportFrench.aspx?ReportId=86097 (consulted on September 17, 2009)
[17] http://www.un.org/esa/policy/wess/wess2009files/wess09/wess2009.pdf (consulted on September 17, 2009)
[18] http://allafrica.com/stories/200909110281.html (consulted on September 17, 2009)
[19] http://www.mayottehebdo.com/content/view/1531/1/ (consulted on September 17, 2009)
[20] http://www.tunizien.com/127855-tunisie--une-frayere-pour-la-reproduction-du-mulet-tabarka.html (consulted on September 18, 2009)
[21] http://www.aps.sn/aps.php?page=articles&id_article=59860 (consulted on September 18, 2009)
[22] http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/2009/09/tunisia-new-project-to-boost-aquaculture-and-fish-breeding/ (consulted on September 19, 2009)
[23] http://climate21.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/le-mali-apprivoise-leau-pour-stopper-le-desert/ (consulted on September 20, 2009)
[24] http://news-fact.blogspot.com/2009/08/indonesia-kenya-agree-to-cooperate-in.html (consulted on September 20, 2009)
[25] http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/646246/-/um8dsh/-/ (consulted on September 20, 2009)
[26] http://africanagriculture.blogspot.com/2009/09/swaziland-running-out-of-land-for.html (consulted on September 22, 2009)
[27] http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/sciences/terre/20090921.OBS2020/_les_risques_dinondations_aggravees_par_laffaissement_d.html?idfx=RSS_sciences&xtor=RSS-29 (consulted on September 22, 2009)
[28] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=13993 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[29] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=13949 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[30] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=13931 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[31] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=13924 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[32] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=13901 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[33] http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?contentid=13860 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[34] http://www.afriquejet.com/actualites/economie/economie:-renforcement-de-la-cooperation-chine-cap-vert-2009092335338.html (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[35] http://www.aps.sn/aps.php?page=articles&id_article=60024 (consulted on September 23, 2009)
[36] http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/smartmoney/Fishing_money_from_the_pond_91806.shtml (consulted on September 24, 2009)
[37] http://www.aps.sn/aps.php?page=articles&id_article=60057 (consulted on September 25, 2009)