Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S growing aquaculture sector must strengthen environmental management and biosecurity measures to protect investments, sustain fish production and support the development of a resilient blue economy, a senior official has said.
Speaking at the launch of the Development of the Environmental and Biosecurity Guidelines for Small-Scale Fish Farmers in Zimbabwe on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organisation representative in Zimbabwe Patrice Talla, Mr Paul Mwera(Fisheries Director) said the guidelines marked an important milestone in ensuring that the sector’s expansion was economically viable, environmentally responsible and resilient to emerging threats.
“Today marks an important milestone for the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Zimbabwe.
” Our collective commitment to ensuring that sector growth is not only economically viable, but also environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and resilient to emerging threats,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s aquaculture industry has undergone significant transformation over the past decade, evolving from a sector traditionally reliant on catcher fisheries into an increasingly important contributor to food production, employment, income generation and economic growth.
Commercial aquaculture enterprises, smallholder farmers, feed manufacturers, processors, traders and researchers are increasingly contributing to the country’s expanding blue economy.
FAO has supported the transformation alongside Government and other partners, with investments directed at improving competitiveness, sustainability and inclusiveness across the fisheries value chain.
These initiatives have supported improved fish production systems, local feed solutions, producer capacity-building, private sector investment, value addition and market access.
However, he warned that growing production also brings environmental and biosecurity risks that could undermine the gains made by the sector.
“As production systems intensify, the risks associated with aquatic animal diseases, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, invasive species, and climate-related shocks become more significant,” he said.
The guidelines provide practical measures for responsible aquaculture development, disease prevention and management, protection of aquatic ecosystems, improved environmental management and enhanced resilience across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
He said the guidelines were aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to food security and responsible production and consumption.
They also support FAO’s country programming framework and Zimbabwe’s national development agenda through the aspirations of better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life.
He said the success of the guidelines would depend on their implementation across farms, extension services and research institutions.
He called on Government institutions to strengthen awareness, oversight and enforcement, while urging farmers, producers and private sector players to incorporate the guidelines into their daily operations and business models.
He also called for continued engagement by research institutions and investors to strengthen sustainable aquaculture development.
