CIFA TECHNICAL PAPER 28

CIFA TECHNICAL PAPER     28

Practical aspects of stocking small water bodies

An example from Zimbabwe

by
H.W. van der Mheen
ALCOM
Harare, Zimbabwe

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

COMMITTEE FOR INLAND FISHERIES OF AFRICA (CIFA)

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.


M-43
ISBN 92-5-103639-X


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PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This paper presents information gathered during the first phase of a restocking programme in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the paper is to synthesize the experience in such a way that it can be used elsewhere to assist planners and administrators to assess the feasibility of stocking and restocking.

© FAO 1994

Mheen. H.W. van der.
Practical aspects of stocking small water bodies: An example from Zimbabwe.
CIFA Technical Paper No. 28. Rome, FAO. 1994. 40p.
SUMMARY
Stocking of reservoirs is one of the management interventions that can be used to increase fish production. Zimbabwe has around 12 000 man-made reservoirs and many of these have been stocked with fish in the past. Species were selected in order to increase production or because they were preferred by consumers or as sports fish.
In 1991/1992, Zimbabwe experienced its worst drought on record and many reservoirs dried up, with loss of their fish stocks. These fish stocks would not easily recover naturally because it is difficult for most species to re-enter the reservoirs from downstream. Fish from the reservoirs, especially in the communal areas, are an important source of protein for the local communities. A special programme was launched to restock the dried-up dams in the country.
The most appropriate method to restock the reservoirs in Zimbabwe was to catch fish in reservoirs that had not dried up, and release them into the dams that had lost their fish stocks. Special transport equipment was produced. During the first six months of the restocking exercise, 383 reservoirs were restocked. With three teams fully operational, up to 100 reservoirs could be restocked each month. Restocking was effective for 64% of the reservoirs. Stocking rates varied between 0.3 and 36 kg/ha, and monitoring of the restocked reservoirs one year after stocking showed that these level were sufficient to re-establish a population of mixed tilapia species.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Abbreviations

1.     INTRODUCTION

1.1     General introduction to stocking and restocking: objectives
1.2     Background to restocking in Zimbabwe
1.3     Abundance and size of water bodies
1.4     Use of water bodies
1.5     Importance of reservoir fisheries
1.6     Drought

2.     THE ZIMBABWE RESTOCKING PROGRAMME

2.1     Objectives
2.2     Geographical scope
2.3     Planning

2.3.1     The workshop
2.3.2     Identification of drought-affected dams
2.3.3     Identification of sources of fish
2.3.4     Practical arrangements

2.4     Organizations involved

3.     RESTOCKING OPERATIONS

3.1     Personnel
3.2     Equipment

3.2.1     Camping equipment
3.2.2     Fishing equipment
3.2.3     Fish transporting equipment
3.2.4     Fish transport tank
3.2.5     Fish transport trailer
3.2.6     Vehicles

3.3     Transport considerations
3.4     Stocking material
3.5     Description of the overall field programme
3.6     Operational costs
3.6     Account of reservoirs stocked
3.7     Verification of results and appraisal of the success of the programme

3.7.1     Verification of assumptions
3.7.2     Effectiveness of the restocking
3.7.3     Influence of stocking rate

3.8     Lessons learned and general guidelines for a stocking programme

3.8.1     Limitations of stocking operations
3.8.2     What could have been done differently?

4.     LITERATURE CITED

Appendix 1     THE FISH TRANSPORT TANK

Appendix 2     THE FISH TRANSPORT TRAILER

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED

AgritexDepartment of Agriculture, Technical and Extension Services
MALWDMinistry of Lands, Agriculture and Water Development
DNPWMDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Management
DRSSDepartment of Research and Special Services
ALCOMAquaculture for Local Community Development
AEWAgricultural Extension Worker
DSAdaily subsistence allowance
FSLfull supply level

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