The project concept is to conserve biodiversity of fish in the Okavango delta panhandle through establishment of a terrestrial fish farm using earth ponds and cultivating the commercial species of importance tilapia (three spot tilapia species).
A total of four (4) earth ponds measuring 10m (width) x 30m (length) x 1m (depth) giving a total of 300m2 each will be constructed and stocked at a stocking density of 5 fish/m2. Each pond will be stocked with a total of 1500 fish that would be raised until they reach a target weight of 200-300g within a production period of 12 months.
The project will use an indigenous fish species (Oreochromis andersonii commonly called 3 spot tilapia) that is already found in the Okavango Delta therefore there will be no ecological threat to the species in the delta. The species can reproduce and grow well under captivity and male fish are preferred for farming since they grow fast compared to females. The fish will be stocked as baby fish at an age of 4-6 weeks weighing less than 5grams and raised to a target weight of 200-300 grams within 12 months.
The ponds will be stocked by staggering them for continuous supply of fish. Every three months one pond will be stocked with fish. That way a farm will be having 4 ponds all differing with fish age groups. Daily management will involve feeding fish and monitoring water quality and levels. On monthly basis fish will be sub sampled to measure growth through weight and length gain.
As fish continue to live in water they will produce waste that get dissolved in water and some feeds that are uneaten will also settle at the bottom and decay after some time producing another waste. This waste is collectively ammonia waste which is harmful to fish so water need to be exchange occasionally. This rich ammonia waste water will be channelled to a vegetable garden where this harmful ammonia will be converted to nitrates and used as a source of nitrogen.

Horticulture

The horticulture garden will act as a form of waste management for waste water from ponds. Horticulture garden is another project on its own which will need its own budget and logistics. For this project the garden referred to is a mini garden to make use of waste water. In the future the trust will work with crops department to design a horticultural garden with annual cropping plan so that it can create employment and for the project economic diversification looking at the available area.

Processing and value addition

Post fish processing and value addition can help improve sales and also create more employment from the industry but at our proposed scale of operation it will have minimum impact in supporting industry such as canning. Canning requires mass production for its viability but due to limited budget the produce expected is at a small scale and only post-harvest techniques such as smoking, drying or freezing will be implemented. If the project expands and increase production the fish processing will be looked into as a way of creating employment.

Justification

There are multiple fishermen in the delta targeting certain commercial species but their fishing nets are not species selective so even the untargeted fish species get caught and discarded. Secondly the targeted species by using certain fishing net mesh sizes are heavily overfished creating an imbalance in terms of numbers in the diversity of fish occurring in the delta.
Therefore fish farming can greatly reduce fishing pressure in the delta since fish can be produced all year round on farm thereby allowing fish species to regenerate in numbers and also gradually balancing the fish diversity in the Okavango panhandle.
Since the project can be categorised as a capacity development it will also help different communities along the delta to benchmark and implement the same concept geared at conserving fish species by reducing fishing pressure mounted by fishermen on the delta.

Project location

The project will be located in Mohembo west along the river for easy withdrawal of raw water into ponds. The plot is characterized by sandy loam soil with a gentle sloping land. The plot is 5941m2 and can accommodate four fish ponds and a horticultural garden including other structures such as storeroom and toilets. The plot where the project is to be carried out has good access to all infrastructures being good roads, electricity, and telecommunication of all networks and close to market centre Shakawe. It is therefore well situated for business.

Target communities

The project will be targeting mohembo community and the rest of communities in terms of food security and creation of employment through value chain by buying fish in bulk and re selling to individuals as cooked or raw fish. The communities will benefit also through learning and benchmarking to escalate the same concept of conserving fish biodiversity in the Okavango Delta. Schools in neighbouring communities can utilise the farm to learn skills of producing food fish as a way of self employment and income generation and appreciate the benefits of fish farming as a way of conserving biodiversity of fish in the delta.

Relevance of project to GEF OP6 strategic initiative

The fish farming project is in relation to a GEF OP6 strategic initiative that aims at community landscape conservation. There are more than 80 species of fish in the delta that are gradually affected by commercial fishing in the delta. Some are over fished and some are never fished creating an imbalance in the fish biodiversity affecting the ecosystem and food chain of fish. By establishing terrestrial fish farm the fishing pressure is reduced over time and the fish diversity can regenerate overtime.