Namibia seeks to expand fledgling aqua sector

Namibia’s fisheries minister Bernhard Esau has pledged N$38 million (£2.1 million) towards developing the country’s aquaculture sector in the next financial year.

Tilapia are among the fish currently produced in Namibia. PHoto © Hugues de Verdal

"The purpose of this is to ensure the responsible development of aquaculture and the sustainable use of inland fisheries resources, increase income, enhance food security, reduce poverty through employment-creation, as well as improve rural livelihoods and increase investments," said Esau, according to AllAfrica.

The announcement follows on from the government’s decision to finance aquaculture research, fish production and training in the current financial year.

"In the process, a total of 33,563 metric tonnes of freshwater and marine aquaculture products worth about N$145 million (£7.8 million) were produced in the country, while 800,000 fingerlings were stocked at small-scale fish farms in the Omusati, Oshana, Kavango West, Hardap and Omaheke regions," he noted.