WIO Mariculture Forum

WIOMSA in partnership with the Institute of Marine Sciences of the University of Dar es Salaam is currently implementing milkfish farming project in Tanga and Mtwara in Tanzania mainland as well as in Pemba, Zanzibar. The project namely “SUSTAINABLE MILKFISH FARMING: COST-EFFECTIVE METHODS TO INCREASE FOOD SUPPLY, INCOMES AND EMPLOYMENT IN MTWARA/LINDI, TANGA AND PEMBA” is funded by European Union ReCoMaP Programme.

The project is a result of a “Comprehensive Mariculture Survey” conducted in 2007 that was funded by the USAID through the SUCCESS project. The survey was conducted in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania. Tanga, Mtwara and Pemba are among many sites identified as suitable for milkfish farming. The partners in the SUCCESS project participated in developing the new proposal and the same local partners are implementing it. One year later, the construction of abandoned ponds for farming milkfish is underway at Kangagani, Pemba, Mbuo, Mtwara and Machui in Tanga.

Photos; Clockwise, Nearly completed one hectare pond at Mbuo, Mtwara and a private early adopter standing at his farm

By using designed selection criteria including; water supply, good soil conditions, accessibility to transport and management, fingerlings availability, farm security, tidal characteristics and ground elevation, flood hazards, climatic conditions, enough area for future expansion, spots for putting ponds were chosen democratically by the interdisciplinary team of trained local participants during a site selection training workshop held in December in each region.

The sites currently designated for milkfish farming were established in early 1990s and 2000s as salt production sites, which is still doing well in all the sites. In some cases however, salt ponds have been abandoned. The idea of fish farming is not new to the villagers in the sites as they are fish farmers; albeit unknowingly. In their usual daily salt production routine, when the reservoirs are filled with water for salt production; the water comes with fingerlings of milkfish and other species. The villagers have been keeping these and allowing them to grow in reservoirs until they are big enough for harvest.

In keeping with the same concept, we introduced the idea of integrating milkfish farming and salt processing on the same sites. Since salt processing is carried out during the dry months and stops during the rainy season; milkfish farming could be done during the rainy season thus serving as an alternative activity that would ensure that the farms are operational throughout the year.

One advantage of incorporating these two activities is that their intensities alternate with seasons where during the dry season salt processing is very intense while fish farming management including pond preparations, fingerling collection and stocking are done in the rainy seasons. The salt producers will have the advantage of continuing to produce salt while at the same time growing milkfish increasing food security and income from two enterprises at different seasons. Other advantages are to reduce pressure of already depleted marine resources and utilizing the abandoned saltpans.

Since mid February, salt processing stopped at Mbuo and Kangagani due to rainy season. Construction of one hectare earthen ponds divided into six smaller ponds and main canal supplying water to each pond is underway. Mbuo site ponds in Mtwara are at the final stages (fig.1). For fingerlings are mainly more abundant during rain seasons. Accordingly, we have developed a special “fingerlings collection” programme which started in March in the sites using four different collection gears. The approach is to ensure we have enough fingerlings collected prior to stocking, which is planned to be done in late April or early May.

Photos: stationary milkfish collection gears, at Kangagani site, Pemba

The main objective of the project is to demonstrate modern technology and practices of farming milkfish. According to the project plan, the first four adopters of the technology and practices of the demonstration milkfish ponds during the life span of the project will be supported for the construction of the main gate which is one of the main limitations in the construction works. For the last three months since we started implementing the project, two sites, one in Kangagani and Mbuo have adopted the project plan and are at very advanced stages of finishing the dike construction.

Photo: Clockwise, Mr Chimila, shareholder of Mbuo farm, Bi Khadija Malibiche, extension officer at Mbuo sites. she works with Mtwara Umbrella organization (KIMWAM)

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