The Working Group has identified the following priority areas for support to aquaculture development for the next ten years. Within the proposed areas there is need for intervention at various levels; basic research, applied research, extension, training and planning/investigations.
Support to the development of small-scale semi-intensive inland fish farming, with the objective of increasing the producers' income.
Demonstration of the feasibility of interventions for enhancement and management of small water bodies
Mariculture development through inclusion of the sub-sector in coastal zones management plans and research
Strengthening of aquaculture institutions (Governmental and those of the private sector)
The levels of interventions in the priority areas vary depending on the level of development and the immediate outlook. While mariculture needs relate to identification of sites, planning, research, legislation and information (including market information) to the private sector, small-scale inland fish farming needs relate to testing and demonstration of viable methods and extension. The potential of small water bodies is still little understood. It is being documented during ALCOM's current phase and there is need to develop enhancement and management methods, before it is feasible to explore SWBs pm a larger scale.
The needs can be addressed at national and regional levels. In Section 10 needs which would benefit from a regional approach are identified for a continued regional programme.
In this section needs are defined in more detail under each priority area. Links between areas are indicated.
Small-scale aquaculture will develop through intensification of production in existing rural fish farms, producing for a domestic market, or new entrants, recruited from other economic levels, provided the culture systems are economically viable and a market exists for the products.
Five main tasks need to be carried out.
Economics of culture systems. Methods to assess the production and economic viability are not developed. Work is required on measurable indicators and application of the methods to proposed culture systems. Market research and studies in which possible products from the sub-sector are tested against other fish and agriculture products on the markets is needed. The economic viability will be site specific and needs to be assessed under different social, economic, and physical conditions.
Testing and demonstration of semi-intensive aquaculture through on-farm trials in areas with good physical potential, ascertained markets, and where the economic conditions are conducive to increased productivity (depending on development trends in other agriculture production systems, diversification of agriculture production etc). Such trials need to be carried out in areas suitable for warm water and temperate water species.
Broodstock management and fingerling production. This is defined as a crucial area for both existing fish farming and future developments. Work is required on species and strains and genetic selection to improve existing strains. While the ultimate aim is that the private seed producers should take over work to improve the genetics of species and strains and production of fingerlings, it is foreseen that in the immediate future governmental research stations will undertake broodstock management. However, fingerling production of most tilapias could be undertaken in small-scale production units by fish farmers. Existing trends to this effect need to be supported through training and extension.
Feed and fertilizers. Existing rural small-scale fish farming relies on feed and fertilizers available on the farm. While such use of resources and integration into the farming systems need to be encouraged, there is also need for research on formulae for feed and preparation of feed on the farm using on-and off farm and external materials. Substitution for manure as fertilizers in areas with little livestock is required.
Extension. Methods should be tested and demonstrated out in close collaboration with existing extension systems and with farmers. Experimental work should in each case conclude with preparation of extension materials and training of extension workers in their use.
The fish production potential of small water bodies, in terms of the extent of physical and biological resources in Southern Africa, is being documented during ALCOM's current phase. There is need to develop fishery enhancement and management methods to harness this potential for the benefit of local communities.
For fishery enhancement, methods to increase production should be tried and demonstrated in the following areas:
Habitat improvement by communities for fish breeding, feeding and refuge areas;
Fishing gear/technique improvement and/or introduction by determining the efficiency of local and improved gear evaluating the cost/benefit of local and improved gear, assessing the impact of improved gear on income and fish distribution, describing the market for fish caught with improved gear, and suggesting legislation or draft regulations as appropriate;
Nutrient input (fertiliser and feeding) by determining actual productivity and flushing rates using inputs, assessing the socio-cultural acceptability of available inputs, determining the actual and opportunity costs of inputs and uses of water, and describing the market for increased production of fish;
Cage and pen culture through technical, economic, financial analysis of various techniques, consultation with existing users of SWB's with potential for aquaculture, determining the market for cultured fish, and incorporating cage and pen culture technologies into extension activities; and,
Stocking by determining vacant ecological niches in SWBs and potential species which could exploit them, production increases by culture-based fisheries, identifying predatory fish which can exploit small fish species and determining the impact of these species on the local fish fauna, and determining the acceptability of any introduced fish species to local communities (for consumption and sale) and fishery authorities.
SWB Fishery management methods should take into account that most SWB's in Southern Africa are man-made reservoirs built for purposes other than fisheries, they are scattered throughout the countries and are usually located in rural areas with difficult access, total fish yield and revenue per SWB are low, and government efforts are concentrated on the major marine or inland fisheries. Approaches to SWB management measures range from encouraging the utilization of under-exploited reservoirs to regulation of access and effort where fishing intensity is high.
There are several options for SWB management objectives:
When choosing objectives for SWB fisheries management, factors to be considered include:
SWB management methods need to be developed within the framework of fishery management, regulation and extension:
training standards for community members in fishery management methods;
Extension approaches for SWBs are influenced by low potential yield; wide geographical distribution and distance from major fishing areas; and, beneficiaries who are usually farmers. The first two characteristics make it difficult to justify specialized extension services. The fact that the users are mostly farmers makes integration with agricultural extension services logical.
The Working Group has identified the following tentative needs for mariculture development. A more thorough needs analysis will be carried out after the mission carried out by SADC Sector Coordinating Unit for Marine Fisheries and Resources has covered also Angola.
The needs are:
Planning. The mariculture sub-sector should be included in all coastal zones planning. Mariculture expertise should participate in such planning.
Applied research is required on species and technologies suitable for mariculture on the east coast (Mozambique and Tanzania) and for the cooler, temperate waters of the west coast. The following could be considered: mollusc culture, mud crab fattening, holothurian farming or ranching, pearl farming, and seaweed. Further there is need for socio-economic research on changes in and benefits to rural coastal communities because of mariculture developments.
Development. Product development is required on seaweed and mollusc species and establishment of processing plants. Improved marketing information is needed, also better access to technical information by the private sector.
In this section institutions are used as a wide concept encompassing governmental institutions ( government authorities, research institutions and universities, and parastatals) and those of the private sector (encompassing farmers' associations, marketing systems, private companies etc) and non-governmental organizations. There is an overall need to strengthen all these sectors. The impact of governmental institutions will be enhanced by recognizing the role of the private sector and stimulating of private sector initiatives.
The Working Group has identified the need for strengthening of institutions with the following assumptions:
The main needs are:
technical support for the elaboration of sectoral development plans
Project formulation and management. The implementation of the plans will partly be in the form of programmes and projects, with or without external support. Project identification, preparation, management, and evaluation are important aspects which need improvement. Strengthening of these functions require
Support (technical advice) for establishing consultancy groups, identification and training of individuals with required skills (for example training of economists in sector specific issues)
Documentation and information. Access to documentation and information is essential for all functions of both governmental institutions and the private sector. Systems for storing, accessing and dissemination of information are becoming more and more sophisticated, requiring skills and equipment, that are often not available for the aquaculture sector. Strengthening of these functions require
National and regional fora (newsletters, research publications) for dissemination/exchange of information
Research and training. Action to strengthen research has been proposed by SIFR in the form of 9 Research Programmes, and is not elaborated here. Training needs have been identified by SADC and projects formulated in its Regional Fisheries Training Programme, and are not further elaborated here.
Extension for aquaculture development. Methods and approaches for extension have been widely tested and are well documented. Thus the needs are to improve the delivery of extension methods and institutional arrangements. Aquaculture extension is carried out by governmental institutions, the private sector and NGO's. With the limited resources available to the aquaculture units in the region, all means to expand extension impact should be explored. Needs to strengthen extension relate to
Extension officers need skills in development support communication besides technical competence. An approach which focuses on dialogue with the target group rather than on instruction is needed. Training of extension workers and extension supervisors is required
Formalized collaboration between different governmental authorities with extension systems, in first hand agriculture extension, which will extend extension coverage and impact
Stimulation of the functions of farmers' associations and equivalent both for large-scale and small-scale aquaculture.
Technical support to NGOs who engage in aquaculture extension, usually as part of rural development efforts on a small-scale.
Marketing and market information. All producers need improved access to information on domestic, regional, and international markets. While export market information is gathered and regularly published (Globefish, Infofish), this information does not reach the private sector. There is also a need for better information on domestic markets for local producers.
