Fonteintjie fish farm struggles to stay afloat

THE Fonteintjie community fish farm at Keetmanshoop has been struggling to stay afloat after it started operations in 2006, says Fisheries Ministry technician Peter Simasiku.

According to Simasiku, the ministry keeps the fish farm going by supplying it with fish feed and maintaining the ponds.
‘The project cannot sustain itself despite being in operation for almost five years,’ said Simasiku.
Apart from the Fisheries Ministry, the Karas Regional Council is also rendering financial assistance to the fish farm, said Simasiku.
He said the ministry was hard at work to turn around things at the fish farm.
As part of the strategy, the stock had been increased from 400 to 1 000 fish in a pond, while harvesting will take place twice a year to boost the farm’s sustainability, said Simasiku.
A feasibility study to assess an expansion of the ponds was conducted recently, while a vegetable garden has been set up next to the ponds to supplement the project’s income.
Simasiku cited a lack of community involvement and vandalism as the major problems.
‘Because of vandalism, 2 500 fish died in December when the pond’s water outlet pipe was opened,’ said Simasiku.
Recently community members who were involved in the initial stages of the project complained to The Namibian that they had been sidelined by regional councillor Hilma Nikanor – a claim she denied.
Simasiku said he had been told that people lost interest in the project because they wanted compensation.
He added that he planned to find out what had gone wrong.
‘I really want to know why people who started the project have left. The project’s success depends on more community involvement,’ he said.
Currently only three people, who received monthly allowances of N$1 000, were involved in the project, said Simasiku.
According to Simasiku, the proceeds from fish sales were only enough to cover these monthly allowances.