Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector under threat
http://www.businesslive.co.za/
19 July, 2011 07:58
Wallace Mawire
Zimbabwe’s potentially lucrative freshwater aquaculture sector, which could
add a lot to the country’s GDP, is facing a threat from problems of
poaching, illegal fishing and corruption, according to Garikaimose
Tongowona, programme officer for Aquaculture Zimbabwe.
Tongowona says that fisheries activities have risen sharply over the years
and still provide the bulk of local fish supplies, though the sector is not
among the top GDP contributors.
“The capture fisheries resources are almost stretched to the limit in
present-day Zimbabwe, as shown by the massive presence of fishing
cooperatives on the major lakes,” Tongowona notes.
He says that there are more than 160 co-operatives at Lake Chivero, also
more than 160 at Darwendale Dam and more than 1,000 fisheries permits at
Lake Kariba.
The situation is made worse by the fact that there are no breeding
programmes in place to replenish fast-dwindling aquatic resources, according
to Tongowona.
“There are challenges of too many fishers, illegal fishing, corruption and
no political willingness to develop the sector,” he adds.
His organisation reports that the Zimbabwean freshwater aquaculture sector
is slowly responding and awakening to a world of opportunities.
They say that this is in line with global trends, resulting in demand for
white meat products, viability of the crocodile skin business, diminishing
wild fisheries resources and rising food costs.
There are also downstream opportunities like fish oil processing, filleting,
canning, fish soup manufacturing (frames), fish meal/feed manufacturing,
just to mention a few.
According to Aquaculture Zimbabwe, the country has more than 3,910 square
kilometres of fresh water.
Tongowona adds, however, that there are no local investment incentives and
support schemes for development and technical research to develop the
fisheries sector.
Also, it is reported that there is no financial support from the banking
sector. Other challenges affecting the aquaculture sector in general include
the lack of a clear legal framework targeting the economic growth of the
sector and the need to develop flexible regulatory frameworks with
co-ordination across government agencies and government.
Tongowona also notes that there is a need to adhere to international
protocols like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade
protocol/code of conduct for responsible fisheries.
He adds that to develop Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector, including the
fisheries industries, there is a need for an overall legislative framework
structure definition to provide the basic context in which aquaculture can
operate, an economic policy to outline the national economic strength,
income distribution, market conditions, investment opportunities and trading
conditions.
The fiscal structures have to outline the positive and negative aspects for
aquaculture, which is defined as a socially effective activity.
Tongowona adds that there is a need to come up with an environmental policy
outlining the environmental impact of aquaculture.
Other issues will include consumer protection, public health, resource
development and management, including employment regulation.
Tongowona says that various issues affect aquaculture development, including
the cost of production, security and market issues, just to mention a few.
He adds that there is a need for policy and planning to develop
strategically. It is also noted that the industry is facing increased
competition from imports/substitutes, reducing local identity for
production.
On disease management, Tongowona says that there is no identification,
control and transmission management, resulting in substantial loss potential
in most species. “There is a need to implement monitoring and early-warning
systems,” he says.
On environmental quality, he says that there is no framework of suitable
environmental standards for the sector and an aquaculture strategy.
He adds that organisations like the Environmental Management Agency should
come up with programmes to safeguard the country’s aquaculture sector.
He says that issues needing to be addressed include market prices, feed
supply and technical capacity.