This document reports on the discussion and decisions resulting from a Technical Consultation on Species for Small Reservoir Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southern Africa. It was organised by ALCOM which is financed by Sweden, Belgium, and member countries of SADC (Southern African Development Community).
The consultation was held 7–11 November 1994 in Livingstone, Zambia, and was attended by 52 regional and international experts.
The objective of the consultation was to contribute to improved utilization and conservation of indigenous aquatic species and responsible use of exotic species for small reservoir fisheries and aquaculture development in Southern Africa.
The document summarizes the proceedings of the consultation's three sessions. It contains the findings and recommendations of the three working groups, and the extended abstracts of the papers presented during the consultation.
ALCOM is a regional community-based aquatic resource management programme of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). It is based in Harare, Zimbabwe, and covers all the SADC countries. The aim of ALCOM is to assist member countries improve the living standards of rural populations and enhance management of water resources. Towards this end, pilot activities are conducted in member countries to demonstrate new ideas, techniques and methodologies. Successes achieved, ideas derived and lessons learned are applied on a wider scale by member governments.
ALCOM Address:
| Mail: | P O Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Phone: | +263-4-734797/724985 |
| Fax: | +263-4-736847 |
| Telex: | 26040 FAO ZW |
| E-mail: | [email protected] |
| Homepage: | http://www.zamnet.com/zamnet/alcom/alcom.htm |
| FAO Homepage: | http://www.fao.org |
The presentation of material in this publication is that of the Programme and does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Technical Consultation on Species for Small Reservoir Fishieries and Aquaculture in Southern Africa organised by ALCOM, was held from 7 to 11 November 1994 in Livingstone, Zambia. It was attended by 52 participants from within and outside the region.
The presentations and group discussions illustrated the situation in Southern Africa where fish species have been frequently introduced. The consultation concluded that the effects of any introduction are extremely difficult to predict due to limited knowledge of the dynamics of the various ecosystems.
The consultation showed that due to the diversity of culture systems and resource ownership, the changes in economies and wide variety of purposes of culturing fish, it is impossible to predict what species are most likely to be introduced in the future.
It is therefore necessary for all countries to have a logical and systematic system in place to regulate the movements of aquatic organisms. All countries share riversystems and the introduction of a species in one country is of direct concern to the other countries. The consultation made several recommendations on how the region could develop a system that would improve the evaluation of any proposed introduction and ensure the collaboration between countries in the region.
