Fish farming given a boost

AT least another N$20 million over the next three years, will be needed to expand the country’s aquaculture to the desired level.

Aquaculture is the farming of fish and shellfish in both fresh and marine waters. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has drawn up a strategic plan for the sector, which maps out Government’s development objectives for the industry over the next five years.It is estimated that with the additional financial support the sector could grow in value from the current N$20 million to about N$25 million by 2009.The document, which will be tabled in the National Assembly for discussion soon, also makes recommendations in areas that currently impinge on aquaculture development in Namibia.The national plan for this sector sets a target of quadrupling the current number of employees on farms by 2009 to more than 1 600.Associated industries such as harvesting, processing and transportation could provide for an additional 1 000 jobs.At a meeting on May 11, Cabinet resolved to provide adequate financial, human and material resources to allow aquaculture to develop.Most of the resources required are for training, research, infrastructure and institutional arrangements.Cabinet has given directives that the Fisheries Ministry lobby for international support for the implementation of the plan.With the growing consumption of seafood products, aquaculture production has expanded in many regions of the world.The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has drawn up a strategic plan for the sector, which maps out Government’s development objectives for the industry over the next five years.It is estimated that with the additional financial support the sector could grow in value from the current N$20 million to about N$25 million by 2009.The document, which will be tabled in the National Assembly for discussion soon, also makes recommendations in areas that currently impinge on aquaculture development in Namibia.The national plan for this sector sets a target of quadrupling the current number of employees on farms by 2009 to more than 1 600.Associated industries such as harvesting, processing and transportation could provide for an additional 1 000 jobs.At a meeting on May 11, Cabinet resolved to provide adequate financial, human and material resources to allow aquaculture to develop.Most of the resources required are for training, research, infrastructure and institutional arrangements.Cabinet has given directives that the Fisheries Ministry lobby for international support for the implementation of the plan.With the growing consumption of seafood products, aquaculture production has expanded in many regions of the world.