Namibia Invests in Aquaculture

According to a report in New Era, the minister, Bernhard Esau, wants to spend N$153,070,000 on capital projects.

Surveying and stock assessment, which looks at the status of Namibia’s fish stocks and marine environment will be allocated N$120,290,000 according to the report.

A total of N$117 860 000 will go to monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities within the Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and inland water areas.

The minister said that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has dropped to an “absolute minimum”, although this remains a constant threat in the region.

The marine and inland aquaculture programme will receive N$81 667 000.

Last year, the forecast for oyster production was about 800 metric tonnes (or 13 million oysters); for abalone, the forecast was seven tonnes per year. The oyster production yielded N$26,228,084, and abalone N$1,252,800.

Esau said Agribank will make N$8 million available for the aquaculture sector to help mari-culture farmers with start up financing and for the expansion of existing businesses.

Three new aquaculture centres have already been built, with an expected yield of 351 tonnes of fish valued at about N$3.5 million.

A fish feed plant was completed in the Omusati region, and has produced 38 tonnes valued at N$158 550 since March last year.

The Chinese Government has given a grant of N$15 million to aquaculture development here. The grant will be used to upgrade the Hardap Inland Aquaculture Centre.