Inland aquaculture production in Africa is approximately 0,5% of the world total(FAO 1992). The production in Sub-Saharan Africa 1990 was estimated by FAO to be 14700 tons, only 4% of the inland fish production. In Southern Africa only Zambia is reported among the major producers (more than 1000 t/yr).
Even with strict criteria (see below) the physical potential in the SADC region is estimated to be more than 250000 t/yr. The present production in the region is less than 5000 t/yr.
Fish farming (mainly of tilapia in earthen ponds) is concentrated in Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi, with recent developments also in Zimbabwe.
In Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe there are some 25000 ponds used for fish production. The magnitude in the other countries in the region is negligible. This fish farming is small-scale, subsistence oriented and integrated with small-scale rural agriculture. Management is at a low level and the productivity has been estimated at 0,5 t/ha/yr. In Mozambique and Angola, both with good potential, fish farming has virtually ceased due to political unrest. Swaziland reported 160 small ponds in production in 1989 and Lesotho reports declining fish culture production, from 18 t/yr in the 1970' to 8 t/yr at the end of the 1980'. No rural small-scale fish farming is reported from Namibia and Botswana.
Besides small-scale rural fish farming there is a small large-scale sub-sector in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Namibia has one commercial cage culture operation.
Country profiles summarizing available information are given in Appendix 1.
FAO is at present undertaking a study to identify areas with the best potential for warm water fish farming in a continental perspective and is carrying out a special study of the SADC region. The results are expected early 1994. Because of the spatial resolution used, this is a strategic assessment rather than a tactical study. The results, however, provide a useful perspective on where the best development opportunities lie.
In the study, fish farming potential is assessed using seven criteria:
Also considered are acceptability of fish in the diet, present level of fish farming development and purchasing power for farmed fish. By including a market criterion and assessing fish supply, the results are oriented towards identifying commercial possibilities for fish farming development. A geographical information system (GIS) was created for the analysis, that was used to evaluate the criteria on 10' (18 km × 18 km) grids and by country boundaries.
Preliminary results for Africa as a whole (Kapetsky 1993) show only 7,8% of the continental surface as suitable or optimum for warm water fish culture. Twenty-nine countries possess some of this area, including 5 SADC countries, with 8% of the suitable area. By placing a modest 0,5% of suitable national land area in aquaculture production and with annual yields of 3 t/ha/yr, the potential increase in fish production has been calculated, as shown below:
| Country | Suitable area km2 | 0.5% of suitable area, km2 | Potential fish prod. by aq. |
| Tanzania | 70,760 | 353 | 106,140 t (30% incr) |
| Mozambique | 62,692 | 313 | 94,038 t (270%incr) |
| Angola | 48,554 | 242 | 72,831 t (70% incr) |
| Malawi | 1,984 | 9 | 2,976 t ( 4% incr) |
| Zambia | 677 | 3 | 1,017 t ( 2% incr) |
| Total SADC | 187,667 | 923 | 277,002 t |
So far GIS has used ranges for the 7 criteria which are fairly strict as regards warm water culture. The GIS is now being used to prepare suitability maps for each of the SADC countries using modified criteria for the conditions found in Southern Africa. Ranges for temperature, water availability and agriculture by-products, which are the most limiting factors in Southern Africa, are being relaxed or modified. This study will identify additional areas for aquaculture in the region, mostly in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In the countries south of Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola, the main potential for increased production is related to the numerous small water bodies (man-made reservoirs). In these countries, of which Zimbabwe has the best potential with more than 10000 reservoirs, aquaculture development potential is linked to the reservoirs.
Recent trends in inland fish farming development are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Trends in inland aquaculture development
| COUNTRY | NO. OF UNITS | NO OF PONDS | AREA (HA) | PRODUCTION (T/YR) | TREND | POTENTIAL |
| ANGOLA | N/A | N/A | N/A | + - | GOOD | |
| BOTSWANA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | + - | LOW |
| LESOTHO | 29 | 130 | N/A | 20 | - | MEDIUM |
| MALAWI | 1934 | 2907 | 125 | 156 | + | MEDIUM |
| MOZAMBIQUE | N/A | N/A | N/A | 18 | + - | GOOD |
| NAMIBIA | 1 | (CAGES) | N/A | N/A | + - | LOW |
| SWAZILAND | N/A | 161 | N/A | 19 | - | LOW |
| TANZANIA | N/A | 7 300 | N/A | N/A | + - | GOOD |
| ZAMBIA | 4 200 | 10 400 | 1 500 | 1 000 | + | MEDIUM |
| ZIMBABWE | 1 800 | 2 300 | N/A | N/A | + | MEDIUM |
In the discussion that follows, of trends in inland aquaculture development, three broad culture systems are considered, besides fisheries on small water bodies.
extensive, subsistence-oriented, small-scale farming, mainly of tilapias in earthern ponds
extensive to semi-intensive small-scale commercial pond culture, mainly of tilapia in earthen ponds
semi-intensive to intensive large scale commercial fish culture, mainly of tilapias but also of trout, carp and catfish in ponds, cages and raceways
fisheries and aquaculture in small water bodies
The trends in the first culture system are evident. In areas with a physical potential (see GIS-analysis), extensive subsistence-oriented fish culture expands when
Recent developments in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe show the importance of these conditions. The socio-economic conditions and characteristics of the farming systems adopted have been studied and documented (Wijkstrom 1991, Wijkstrom and Aase 1989, Wijkstrom and Larsson 1993, Wijkstrom and Wahlstrom 1992, Wijkstrom 1992, ICLARM/GTZ 1991, Govereh, et al 1992, and Seki and Mahly 1993). Farming households minimize their risks when starting fish farming. Resources are not reallocated from other farming activities. Instead, fish ponds are added to their overall production by using idle resources. The ponds are constructed mainly using household labour (sometimes hired labour) during slack periods in agriculture. Management is at a low level and production just above the natural production from the water.
The next logical development would be that some of these farmers (and new entrants) adopt a more intensive culture system and specialize in fish farming, by using resources with higher opportunity costs. Such development could be expected when there is a general trend towards diversification and intensification of rural production. It is notable that fish pond development in Eastern Province, Zambia, has occurred during a period when small-scale farmers have diversified into new cash crops, following more liberal economic policies. However, there is as yet only scanty evidence that this trend is leading to intensification and specialization in fish farming.
Large-scale commercial fish farming is a small but well established sub-sector in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Such farming is carried out by large companies or large-scale agriculture farms. The profitability has not been studied. These farms benefit from well-established resources (machinery, labour and capital) that the company already has. There is no evident production trend in the sub-sector, which seems to be rather stable, but with little expansion. The sub-sector may be adversely affected in the short-term by changes in macro economic policies by some countries in the region (discussed below).
Recently, Governments in the region have shown an increased interest in utilizing their numerous reservoirs. There is fishing on most of the reservoirs, with the bigger sustaining small-scale commercial fishing operations. Cage culture is being tried and carried out on a commercial scale in a few reservoirs in Namibia and Zimbabwe. There is no other systematic effort to enhance production, besides occasional stocking (for example in Zimbabwe following the drought 1991/92). Most fishing is for subsistence purposes, often carried out by women and youth using hook and line and traps (in Zimbabwe it is estimated that 50% of the fishing is done by women). The increased interest in small water bodies follows assessment of the potential, experimental activities for enhancing production, and management issues. These are likely to result in active interventions for a more intensive use of small water bodies within the next five years. Management issues such as ownership, access and control over the scattered resource will be important considerations.
This section draws on the findings by a mission organized by the SADC Sector Coordinating Unit for Marine Fisheries and Resources, and supported by ALCOM, in 1993. The mission visited Namibia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It will be complemented by a mission to Angola. (The mission report will be published when Angola has been covered).
Tanzania and Mozambique have the best mariculture potential in the SADC area, due to their protected coastlines. However, Angola and Namibia also have suitable areas with potential for development.
Seaweed farming has developed rapidly in Zanzibar over the last five years with a production of 5000 t/yr wet weight in 1992. Approximately 15000 people, the vast majority being women, are involved in the industry. Shrimp culture is carried out on a pilot scale in Mozambique. Namibia is producing modest amounts of oysters, seaweed and mussels. There is no known mariculture in Angola.
Country profiles summarizing available information on mariculture are given in Appendix 2.
The remarkable expansion of seaweed culture in Zanzibar is the most striking aquaculture development (marine and inland) in all of Southern Africa. It is worthwhile to consider also how it was implemented; it was based on academic research, and commercial companies took up the idea. The companies have established an efficient extension service, there is a market for the product, and the production is highly commercial, although carried out by small-scale operators (women), who have improved their families' standard of living (for 8 days' work per month their income is higher than that of middle-level civil servants). Seaweed farming could spread to other parts of Tanzania and northern Mozambique, where conditions are similar, provided extension and marketing can be established.
In Namibia, culture of high-value products such as oysters and mussels has expanded. So has seaweed farming. However, in Namibia the physical potential is limited because of its unprotected shoreline. Further expansion will depend on the physical potential and access to markets for the produce.
Attempts to start shrimp culture are ongoing in at least two of the countries. The results so far do not allow an analysis of trends.
Marine fish culture has also been tried out on a limited scale, with no discernible trend.
A visible trend is the increasing interest in mariculture, both from Governments (research and planning) and the private sector.
