3. Recommendations

3.1 Strategy for aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries development

Within the broad context of Namibia's social and economic objectives, the immediate aim of any strategy for aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries development should be to increase the availability of freshwater fish for consumption or sale. In the short-medium term, a cautious approach is needed. Namibia should determine the nature of demand and the need for fish where technically and economically feasible, and implement focussed interventions to develop aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries potential which can meet this demand. Elements of the strategy should balance development of aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries resources against the potential contribution of Namibia's large marine resource, as follows:

Compare the costs and benefits (in economic and social terms) of two strategies for increasing fish availability inland: marketing of marine fish vs local production of freshwater fish.
- Determine northern inland fish supply and demand, including fish marketing channels.
- Identify priority areas where marine and inland fisheries cannot increase fish availability.
Encourage fish production (aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries) in priority areas where demand and resources exist, mainly in the north.
- Whether for subsistence or sale will depend on the area, but not intended as a big income earning opportunity.
- Develop local capacity to raise fish as a buffer to absorb future fish demand and relieve pressure on inland fisheries.
- Areas within which opportunities are likely: Okavongo (pond culture), Owambo oshanas (stocking/fishing), Owambo canals (cage culture and fingerling production)
Utilize existing (agriculture, rural development) extension services to encourage fish production in priority areas by training agriculture extension workers and NGO field staff in aquaculture.
- Role of MFMR as specialist adviser only, not directly involved in extension.
- Assign one MFMR professional with fisheries and rural development background to this role.
Find and implement economic ways to exploit state dams.
- Give subsistence fishers access to state dams.
- Allocate commercial fishing permits on an economic basis in relation to expected catch and demand for fish.
Monitor the development of small-holder irrigated agriculture schemes in the south for possible aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries activities in the future.

3.2 Special issues

Freshwater fisheries conservation, including utilization and conservation of biodiversity.
Environmental impact on fragile freshwater resources.
Land redistribution/resettlement: if a programme is developed, impact on use of farm dams should be considered.
Evolving policies/development in the marine sector, especially those encouraging or subsidizing local consumption of marine fish.
Three-way institutional responsibility for state dam management.

3.3 Project ideas

These projects would contribute to strategy implementation. They are presented in order of priority.

3.3.1 Economic study of fish supply and demand inland, and socio-economic benefits of inland aquaculture

Objective:	Socio-economic basis for strategy to increase fish availabiliity inland, especially in the north.
Outputs:		Report on feasibility of aquaculture
Activities:	Surveys and interviews with suppliers and consumers.
Inputs:	Socio-economist, aquaculturist, enumerators, transport.
Time frame:	2 months field work, monitoring of supply/demand over one year.

Parts of this project could be covered by the FAO/UNDP TSS-1 proposal on strategies for increasing the contribution of fish to food security and nutrition.

3.3.2 Technical assistance to Oxfam CANAMCO aquaculture activities, Okavango

Objective:	Fish farming established as part of vegetable gardening system in Okavango.
Outputs:		Aquaculture and finglering production packages, trained community mobilizers, active fish farmers, fish.
Activities:	-	Advise on aquaculture system and fingerling production
		- Train community promotors
Inputs:	Aquaculturist, local training
Timeframe:	3 man-months over one year.

A good example of aquaculture integrated with agriculture and NGO activities. A field visit would be necessary to formulate the project in detail. If possible, TCP funding should be sought.

3.3.3 Integration of aquaculture into agriculture and rural development extension services, Owambo

Objective:	Existing extension services promoting aquaculture.
Outputs:		Aquaculture packages, trained specialist and extension workers, active fish farmers, fish.
Activities:	-	Prepare technical aquaculture packages relevant to Owambo
		-	Train extension workers
		-	Technical backstopping, on-the-job training, study tour for MFMR specialist
Inputs:	MFMR Aquaculturist, outside Aquaculturist adviser (part-time), training costs
Timeframe:	Part-time over several years.

The project has two preconditions:

Aquaculture in oshanas or canals is economically and socially feasible (output of 3.1 above).
Existing extension services are willing and capable of including aquaculture in their activities, since field work would be done by agriculture extensionists; MFMR would only provide specialist advice.

There are several technical issues to consider in the oshanas, which could form the basis for separate investigations or projects:

fingerling production/stocking/harvesting methods
cage culture in canals
environmental impact of excavating oshanas.

3.3.4 Promotion of fishing in selected state dams

Objective:	Fishing in state dams.
Outputs:		Subsistence and commercial fishing, fish.
Activities:	-	Allow access by subsistence fishers
		-	Publicize subsistence fishing opportunities
		-	Evaluate backlog of small reservoir sampling data
		-	Establish economic and sustainable yield basis for issuing commercial licences
		-	Monitor results from licenced commercial fishing
Inputs:	MFMR Fisheries Biologist
Timeframe:	Continuous

3.3.5 Other project ideas

Evaluate NGO proposal for aquaculture development in Caprivi.
Namibia participate in ALCOM's regional small reservoir inventory and assessment sub-project INV/REG, currently being formulated.
Evaluate impact of pollution on use of fish from Goreangob dam.