Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
NYANGA’S breathtaking weather and majestic geography have transformed the area into a haven for rare and unique flora and fauna, cementing its status as one of the country’s premier tourist destinations.
One of the area’s most remarkable inhabitants is the trout fish, which thrives in the district’s cool temperatures and flowing perennial rivers. The imported, premium breed has flourished despite the challenges posed by climate change.
Due to its complex breeding and rearing process, trout is a luxury commodity, priced at around US$15 per kilogramme – making it significantly higher than the popular bream fish.
However, trout offers more than just a source of protein – it has become a tourist attraction in its own right.
Visitors to Nyanga National Park pay to fish for trout at one of the four dams controlled by the Zimbabwe Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
This unique experience has contributed to Nyanga’s allure as a tourist destination.
According to Mr Ishmael Nyanhenda, a breeder at the Nyanga Trout Research Centre, which is run by ZimParks, the centre specialises in breeding rainbow trout, a species imported from Scotland and Canada in 1954.
The fish are kept in four dams within the park.
“There are three types of trout fish – rainbow, brown, and brook. We only have the rainbow breed here, which thrives well in cold weather conditions of below 22 degrees Celsius, and requires flowing waters with high oxygen content,” he said.
The breeding process takes place during the winter season – from May to August.
Nyanhenda described the process: “We select fish weighing between 600 grams and 800 grams, take them to the hatchery, and separate them. Males are placed upstream, and females downstream, to prevent the males from biting the females.”
Nyanhenda highlighted the distinguishing features between male and female fish – male fish has a hooked mouth, while the female’s mouth is rounded.
He added that a single female fish can produce between 1 000 and 1 500 eggs.
The fertilisation process involves taking the eggs, placing them in a plastic plate, and then squeezing the male fish to produce a white liquid used for fertilisation. The eggs and liquid are mixed for three minutes to facilitate fertilisation.
“We then wash the eggs in cold water to harden them. After that, we place the eggs in floating trays in the hatchery, where the room temperature should be around 14 degrees Celsius. We then wait for 21 days, during which time the eggs develop two black dots, which are the eyes.
“Next, we move the eggs into a four-cornered plastic dish and agitate the water in a process called ‘choking’. This helps every egg that has developed an embryo to hatch properly, and any unfertilised eggs are removed.
“We then return the eggs to the water for two weeks, during which time the fish slowly emerge and start feeding, eventually growing into adult fish. Trout has a lifespan of between five and six years, and can weigh up to 4kgs. We sell the fish here for US$15 per kilogramme.
“Tourists flock to this area because trout fish is only found here in Nyanga. Most people are only familiar with tilapia and bream. Visitors can participate in pond fishing, and we have four dams stocked with trout fish. The Mare and Rhodes Dams are particularly popular, and we charge US$10 per day, with a bag limit of four fish.
“We also have the Gulliver and Purdon Dams, which we classify as quality waters, home to our larger fish weighing around 500 to 800g. We charge US$15 per day, with a bag limit of three fish. Our trout population exceeds 17 000, excluding those below fingerling size,” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, who toured the project last Friday, expressed pride in the province being the sole location in the country where trout survives. He noted that Government has invested significantly in revamping the research centre to increase trout breeding.
Minister Mugadza added that the trout farms in Nyanga will be a major attraction during the upcoming Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Travel Expo, scheduled to take place in the province next month.
“This is a flagship project, one of many revamped by the Second Republic. Nyanga’s temperatures are ideal for trout fish rearing, making it a perfect location.
Trout breeding requires specific temperatures and conditions, making this area uniquely suited,” he said.
Minister Mugadza commended ZimParks for their outstanding work in breeding trout fish, highlighting the 10 large tanks with a holding capacity of 10 000 each.
“We have also revamped other tourist resorts in the area, which complement this project. We anticipate a surge in tourist arrivals during the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi
World Tourism Expo and are eager to showcase the beauty of Manicaland and Zimbabwe. We invite both locals and foreigners to come and experience the delights of this sumptuous fish,” said Minister Mugadza.
