Malawi’s fisheries industry can only grow if concerned stakeholders focus on having more standard fish ponds and aquaculture centers, an expert has said.
The sentiments have been made by Tamani Nkhono Mvula who believes that the country is not doing quite as much to increase fish production.
Nkhono Mvula argues that this feat can only be realized with the inception of production ponds and initiatives that aim at raising the industry.
‘’Should we do all these, then as a country we will be to fit to meet the demands placed on the international market,’’ says Nkhono Mvula.
Among other things, the expert suggests that there is a need for authorities to restrict people from fishing during breeding season as well as from the use of unapproved fishing nets.
According to a report by Seafood source, Fish production earns about 36,600 USD an equivalent of 50.9 percent of the annual revenue target of USD 71,850 set by the treasury in Malawi.
In 2002, aquaculture production increased from an estimated 200 tonnes in 1995 to 800 tonnes, according to the Department of Fisheries of Malawi.
The aquaculture industry contributes to food security in terms of increased access to food, increased food production, improved household capacity to acquire food and improved utilization of farmland for food production in Malawi.