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THE POTENTIAL OF SMART AQUACULTURE

ON IMPROVING FISH PRODUCTION


IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN
MALAWI

Mr. Mexford MULUMPWA


Senga bay Fisheries Research Centre, Malawi
LUANAR, Malawi
Introduction
 As the Department of Fisheries aims at increasing aquaculture
production from 3,600 to 10,000 metric tonnes 2021 (NFAP 2016)

 New smart technologies in aquaculture should be taken to potential


adopters.

 There is a need to cultivate a strong linkage between different


research stations in Malawi to Extension systems.

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Aquaculture technologies that can overcome
climate change effects
a. Cage Culture
 Cage culture is relatively new aquaculture technology in Malawi but
it is now a serious option for aquaculture investors (FAO, 2004)

 Medium and small-scale cage culture enterprises are very


conducive economically to most people in Malawi (Figure 1 and 2).

4th Global Science Conference THE POTENTIAL OF SMART AQUACULTURE ON IMPROVING FISH PRODUCTION IN THE FACE OF
CLIMATE CHANGE IN MALAWI M. Mulumpwa | 3
Birchwood Hotel, 27 Nov -1 Dec, 2017
 The Department of Fisheries has carried out exploratory surveys to
identify better sites on Lake Malawi for cage culture and several
sites were identified in Salima, Mangochi and Nkhatabay districts

Figure 1: Sample of medium scale fish cages ready for stocking at Michesi in Mangochi district

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b. Use of water harvest in fish pond production
 As used for irrigation in crop production water harvest can be used in
fish production to deal with drying up of fishing ponds annually

 Water can be harvested in a dam and used throughout the year to


provide water adequately to fish ponds.

c. Use of plastic sheeting to conserve water in fish ponds

 This technology can take fish farming to areas deemed to be


unsuitable for the enterprise even those made unstable due to climat
change
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 Of late, many ponds that could hold water through out the year are
becoming annual making fish farming relatively becoming challenging.

 There are some areas that have been unsuitable for fish farming ever
since due to poor soils (i.e. sand soils).

 In these areas a pond or frame work of a cage can be made and


aligned with a plastic sheeting to hold water hence making fish
farming possible to areas where it has never been thought to be
possible as shown in Figure 2, 3 and 4.
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Source: Sarnissa 2017
Source: Sarnissa 2017 Figure 3: Big fish ponds aligned with a plastic
Figure 2: Wooden frame inland cage aligned with sheeting.
plastic sheet to hold water for fish production

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Source: Sarnissa 2017
Figure 4 Water channel aligned with plastic sheeting
to avoid water in transit

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Using plastic sheeting to increase water temperature for increased
fish production
 It is reported that fish grow slowly during cold season in Malawi
making fish production during this season very low.

 This technology uses clear plastic sheeting on top of the pond


leaving sides for air circulation as the model shown in Figure 6.

 This simple but yet an important technology can be used to make


the productivity of fish in the country high throughout the year
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Source: Kaunda et al. 2007
Figure 5: A model showing covering of a pond
surface with clear plastic sheet

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The role of extension services in smart
aquaculture in the face of climate change
 The aquaculture sub-sector has a potential to increase fish
production in the country.

 This is inline with the aim of the Department of Fisheries to


increasing aquaculture production

 The extension workers should fully understand these technologies


and carry them to the farmers and other investors who can adopt
them
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 If this process of adoption of the smart aquaculture is
adequately facilitated by extension workers fish production in
Malawi will significantly increase.

 This will contribute positively to food security in the country.

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Thank you
for
your attention

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