On 22nd July 2024, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in partnership with WorldFish under the Programme for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors in the SADC region (PROFISHBLUE Project) handed over fish hatchery equipment to the Government of the Republic of Malawi at the National Aquaculture Centre (NAC) in Domasi, Malawi. The NAC serves as the breeding nucleus for the Genetic Improvement Programmes (GIP) aimed at enhancing the quality for Shire tilapia, a significant fish species for Malawi and neighbouring countries.
The PROFISHBLUE Project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is being implemented in seven SADC Member States namely; the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Within the subcomponent titled‘Promote genetic improvement and aquaculture programs and regional hatchery support and training’, WorldFish as an implementing partner for PROFISHBLUE project, facilitated the procurement of hatchery equipment. This equipment includes an industrial pressure washer, water and fish tanks, water heaters and submersible drainage pumps.
Dr Motseki Hlatshwayo, the Technical Advisor on Fisheries at the SADC Secretariat and the PROFISHBLUE Project Manager, applauded WorldFish's excellent work and support in developing aquaculture and genetic programmes in the SADC region. He emphasised the benefits of the equipment and its accessories, stating that this would boost fish production, especially for Shire tilapia, which is one of the priority species identified under the SADC Regional Fish genetic Improvement Programme by SADC Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture in 2017.
Dr Hlatshwayo also highlighted that while the equipment was handed over to the Government of Malawi, it would benefit other SADC Member States as the centre is a regional initiative which they can leverage for research and training.
In receiving the equipment, Mr. Joseph Magwira, the Director of Administration in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change for the Republic of Malawi, expressed his gratitude to SADC and the WorldFish for their consistent support to SADC Member States, particularly Malawi, throughout the years in the pursuit of enhancing fish and aquaculture production. Mr. Magwira emphasised that this initiative aligns with the realisation of the goals of the Malawi Development Agenda 2063, which prioritises product diversification, value addition in export products, and overall competitiveness.
Dr Victor Siamudaala, the Country Director for Southern Africa at WorldFish, emphasised that the equipment is aimed at assisting the SADC region and Malawi in the efforts to enhance the productivity of aquaculture sector.
He further stated that this initiative was intended to stimulate the Genetic Improvement Programme (GIP) of indigenous tilapia fish species in SADC and create employment as well as business opportunities throughout the entire aquaculture value chain for the region.
The handover ceremony was attended by representatives from eleven SADC Member States, namely Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, delegates from the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), academia, and the aquaculture private sector also graced the occasion.
Furthermore, in February 2024, SADC through the PROFISHBLUE Project also delivered equipment to the SADC Senga Bay Fisheries Research Station located in Salima, on the shores of Lake Malawi. This was to enhance fisheries management and monitoring of fishing operations, as well as strengthening the operationalisation of fisheries production and promotion of the development of the blue economy.
