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The Fisheries Section is headed by the Senior Agricultural Officer (Fisheries), Mr. Freddie Magagula. The Section has seven (7) technical staff (including the FO). The Section is based in Mbabane but has an officer in each region.
Background:
Swaziland is endowed with river resources and man-made dams. This makes the country a conducive environment for the development of inland fisheries. However, since the indegenous fish species which are potentially exploitable for this purpose are barely known, a comprehensive fish survey has just been launched to create an appropiate data base.
Mandate:
The mandate of the Fisheries section is to ensure an optimal and sustainable exploitation of the country's fisheries resources and to promote the consumption of fish at both household and national levels in order to enhance national food security.
Activities:
The Section assists rural communities in the development of fish farming. The section provides assistance in siting fish ponds, construction and stocking of the ponds with fish fingerlings. The section also conducts training on management of the fish ponds and also on harvesting of the fish.
The Section has fish hatcheries and nurseries where it breeds and nurtures the fish spores and fingerlings. The section also has specialists in all four Regions of the country who provide assistance to fish farmers.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Fisheries Section are:
To promote an efficient, effective and sustainable fish farming industry
To promote commercialisation of the fishery industry
To promote the utilization of fish at household level
To develop an efficient fishery information system
To promote an efficient marketing system
To initiate a fisheries research programme
To create an effective fisheries extension service.
To ensure the protection of the fisheries resources
The following activities will be undertaken by the Fisheries Section:
Fish Farming Extension.
- The Section's future programme focuses on the creation of awareness of income generating potential of fish farming and on the benefits of integrating fish farming into the household economy. This will include the developing of fish farming extension messages, training farmers and extension workers as well as conducting demonstrations on production techniques. In 2000, 57 ponds were sited, 40constructed, 26 stocked and 18 workshops and seminars conducted. The intention is to better these figures in the coming year.
- Improve the supply of fingerlings.
- Finalize the rehabilitation of Nyetane Fish Hatchery
- Relocate the Mbabane Fish Hatchery. A new site which was secured at Motjane was lost due to the construction of the Ngwenya-Mbabane road as well as some infighting on the land secured.
Training of staff.
Fish farming extension staff will attend short-term training courses abroad and ( funds permitting) also go for long term fish farming. Recently one officer returned from Bunda College in Malawi with a BSc degree in Aquaculture.
Trans-border trade
The section effects control on exportation and importation of aquaculture fish species.
The Section is responsible for the issuing of export and import permits for live fish. 35 import permits were issued in 2000. However the bulk of these permits were for aquarium purposes and stocking of dams for angling.
Fisheries Management.
A fish survey is currently being undertaken. This is a capital project that is funded by the Republic of China. It is envisaged that the training of the Fisheries Biologist will be completed under long-term training. This officer is already studying in Rhodes University, Republic of South Africa; This is a three-year study programme (which ends in December 2003).
A programme involving training of communities on conservation and sustainable utilization of fish in Swaziland will be pursued. The Anglers Association of Swaziland will also participate in this exercise.
The section will also inventorise fish species in Swaziland. This will be pursued in support of sport fishing, which promotes eco-tourism.
The section will also ensure that environmental impact assessment studies on fisheries are conducted whenever major projects that affect rivers and/or dams are implemented.
Other projects
1. Update of Fresh water Fish Act and Regulations. The current Act and Regulations are obsolete and serve as no deterrent to would be violators.
2. Development of a fisheries policy. This is still a pending assignment which is yet to be undertaken.
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