A strategic assessment of warm-water fish farming potential in Africa

CIFA TECHNICAL PAPER 27

by
J.M. Kapetsky
Senior Fishery Resources Officer
(Inland Fisheries)
Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service
FAO Fishery Resources and Environment Division

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

M-44
ISBN 92-5-103615-2

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PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document was produced to call attention to the apparently large and widespread potential for further development of warm water fish farming in Africa. The underlying purpose is to encourage countries with large absolute or relative potentials for warm water fish farming to undertake national-level studies to improve the definition of that potential as a step towards updating policy on aquaculture and to improve planning for aquaculture development.

As pointed out in the document, the results of this study are indicative; however, since the data have already been compiled and the analytical procedures developed, the results can be improved without great effort. One avenue for improvement is to have feedback from fish farmers and government officials familiar with the geographical distribution of fish farming. It is important to know how the criteria used in this study actually relate to the locations where fish farming is practised. Knowledgable readers are encouraged to correspond, providing firstly, the most exact location of farms, preferably in latitude and longitude, and secondly, a statement of the circumstances at and around the farms in terms of the main criteria listed in Section 2 of the study. In turn, FAO will reply with the parameter values on each criterion obtained from the geographic information system (GIS) for the 18 km × 18 km grid encompassing the farm location. Comments on any matter relating to this report are most welcome and highly appreciated. These should be sent to the Chief, FAO Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100, Rome, Italy.

Distribution:

Members of CIFA
Mailing list of CIFA
FAO Fisheries Department
FAO Regional Fisheries
Director of Fisheries

Kapetsky, J.M.
A strategic assessment of warm water fish farming potential in Africa. CIFA Technical Paper. No. 27. Rome, FAO. 1994. 67p.

ABSTRACT

Aquaculture in Africa is in its beginning stages in terms of output. Estimates of fish farming potential have not yet been made in a comparable or comprehensive way for the continent or its regions even though this information is needed for development planning. This study is a strategic assessment of the areal expanses and locations encompassing suitable to optimum potential for subsistence and commercial warm water fish farming in ponds.

Three temperature regimes were specified using the Nile tilapia as a model. These corresponded to one or two crops per year with growth ranging from fair to good while at the same time ensuring over-wintering without special precautions. In concert with each temperature regime, subsistence fish farming potential was assessed on the basis of availability of surface water for storage in ponds, suitability of topography and soil texture for pond construction, availability and variety of agricultural by-products as inputs, and local market potential. For commercial farming two criteria were added: perennial streams and rivers as independent or supplementary sources of water and availability of paved and motorable roads. Thresholds were established for each criterion corresponding to optimum, suitable and marginal conditions. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to evaluate the criteria on 10 minute (18 km × 18 km) grids and by country boundaries.

In all, there are some 9.2 million km², equivalent to 31% of the African surface, containing areas suitable for warm water fish farming at a subsistence level. The corresponding results for commercial fish farming indicate that there are 3.9 million km², equivalent to 13% of the African surface, encompassing area potentially suitable for warm water fish farming. Of the 48 countries included in this study, 40 possess at least some land suitable for subsistence and commercial warm water fish farming.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, 1994 © FAO

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1. OVERVIEW AND JUSTIFICATION

1.1 Aquaculture in Africa
1.2 Rationale

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 Analytical Framework and Constraints
2.2 Criteria for Assessment
2.3 Temperature

2.3.1 Temperature, growth and survival
2.3.2 Africa-wide interpolation of air temperature
2.3.3 Conversion of air temperature to water temperature

2.4 Availability of Water

2.4.1 Rainfall runoff
2.4.2 Water from perennial rivers and streams

2.5 Soil Texture and Topography

2.5.1 Soil texture
2.5.2 Topography

2.6 Local Market Potential

2.6.1 Population density in Africa
2.6.2 Local market potential from population density

2.7 Agricultural By-products as Fish Farm Inputs