Planned fish farm in South set to be biggest in country

PLANS to set up a N$2,5-million aquaculture fish farm at the Naute Dam in the Karas Region have reached an advanced stage.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has granted a licence for aquaculture fish farming, on a 10-year lease, to local investors who will trade as Naute Aquafarms. In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has donated 70 hectares of land for the farm.According Naute Aquafarms spokesman, Benedictus Stephanus, the Development Bank of Namibia has indicated it is interested in buying a 20 per cent stake and is willing to pump in 50 per cent of the required capital.Stephanus told The Namibian that they envisaged exporting 50 tons of fish to European markets.The aquaculture farm is expected to be completed within three months and will create 24 jobs.The workforce will be expanded once the farm is fully operational.Stephanus said the fish farm would breed ordinary barbers.Some 80 per cent of the fillet from the fish and 20 per cent of smoked fish would be transported from Naute Aquafarms to Lüderitz for packaging.The construction of the farm would be done by BKS Construction and Engineering based in South Africa, Stephanus said.Last week, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr Abraham Iyambo, visited the site and met with the investors to acquaint himself with their plans.”This will be the biggest aquaculture fish farm in the country compared to the already established fish farms in other regions,” Iyambo said.The Naute Dam also supplies Keetmanshoop with water.In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has donated 70 hectares of land for the farm.According Naute Aquafarms spokesman, Benedictus Stephanus, the Development Bank of Namibia has indicated it is interested in buying a 20 per cent stake and is willing to pump in 50 per cent of the required capital.Stephanus told The Namibian that they envisaged exporting 50 tons of fish to European markets.The aquaculture farm is expected to be completed within three months and will create 24 jobs.The workforce will be expanded once the farm is fully operational.Stephanus said the fish farm would breed ordinary barbers.Some 80 per cent of the fillet from the fish and 20 per cent of smoked fish would be transported from Naute Aquafarms to Lüderitz for packaging.The construction of the farm would be done by BKS Construction and Engineering based in South Africa, Stephanus said.Last week, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr Abraham Iyambo, visited the site and met with the investors to acquaint himself with their plans.”This will be the biggest aquaculture fish farm in the country compared to the already established fish farms in other regions,” Iyambo said.The Naute Dam also supplies Keetmanshoop with water.