Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including the farming of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants in freshwater bodies and in the sea.
At a global level, aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production systems and it can also produce a wide range of valuable non-food products.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that the global aquaculture production volumes have been growing at nearly ten per cent annually over the last 15 years, and in 1995 aquaculture production of 27,8 million tonnes contributed nearly 20 percent of fish produced globally.
Aquaculture has a very early history in Namibia, starting in the 1800’s with the introduction of carp and subsequently a number of other exotic species primarily for stocking of cattle dams and state water dams. Up to the mid 1980’s aquaculture production was very small, but from 1985 the private sector became more involved in commercial farming, especially in marine species. By mid 1996, the range of aquaculture activities included the culture of oysters, mussels and seaweed in Ludertiz harbour and in the salt ponds around Walvis Bay and Swakopmund; the culture of freshwater species, dominantly tilapia and clarias for stocking of around 100 farms and state water dams, and the operation of one crocodile farm.
Namibia has some major advantages for aquaculture including:
- A growing domestic market for fish
- The potential availability of low cost fish feed from the fishing industry
- A well developed infrastructure
- Good transport services to many of he world's major seafood markets
International Framework
Namibia has endorsed the Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries and has committed itself to manage its fisheries I accordance with the guidelines laid down in the Code of Conduct.
The Code has specific provisions for the aquaculture and the implementation of the Namibian Aquaculture policy will therefore be guided by the relevant provisions of the code.
Criteria for Aquaculture Rights
The criteria for granting the aquaculture rights will include an assessment of the competition for resources both within the sector and with other sectors and with the potential environmental impact, the technical ability of the applicant to (preserve the image of the industry and to avoid damage to the environment and future investment opportunities) and the opportunities which the activity affords the employment of Namibian labour and capital.