Govt on course to meet fingerling stocking target

Thirty-two dams have been stocked with fingerlings, bringing the total number of dams stocked to 97 since the inception of the Presidential Community Fisheries Programme in 2023.

Government targets to stock 50 dams with fingerlings this year and so far 64 percent of the dams have been stocked.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) director, Mr Milton Makumbe, said the dam stocking programme contributed significantly towards attaining the 2026 production target of 60 000 tonnes of fish.

“A total of 32 dams have been stocked in 2025 and our target is 50. The programme’s focus on sustainable fisheries practices will help ensure our fishery resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner,” he said.

Mr Makumbe said some of these dams had already started yielding impressive results, with harvest reaching up to 85,6 kilogrammes per day since the stocking exercise started.

“These dams have the potential to yield at least 1 032 tonnes per annum contributing to the capture fisheries tonnage. A key component of this initiative is the establishment of dam stocking committees, which comprise local community members tasked with managing stocked dams and ensuring sustainable use, and equitable distribution of benefits,” he revealed.

For every dam stocked, a committee is established and trained in sustainable utilisation of fishery resources.

The decentralisation of fingerlings access will also play a crucial role in increasing fish production by supporting more players in the sector. Currently, the sector faces numerous challenges, chief among them lack of specific legislation to enhance fish production.

Mr Milton Makumbe said the country was targeting an annual fish output of 60 000 tonnes by 2026.

“Zimbabwe’s ambitious target of producing 60 000 tonnes of fish annually by 2026 is a challenging but achievable goal. While significant progress has been made, there is still a substantial amount of work to be done to reach this target,” he said.

This year the country is targeting an output of 40 000 tonnes with Government making significant strides towards the achievement of this target.

“Government is implementing several initiatives to support the growth of the fisheries sector that include the development of fish ponds, commercial cage farming and the promotion of sustainable fisheries practices. One of the key initiatives that will help us achieve our target is the removal of value added tax (VAT) for fish and fish products,” he added.

FARD recently completed nationwide consultations on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill and is consolidating evidence gathered from exercise. Zimbabwe’s fisheries and aquaculture industry is still developing, but the country’s existing laws, particularly the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20: 14), only cover fisheries. However, these provisions focus more on conservation and are not aligned with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s mandate for fish production.

Government through the Bill seeks to reduce the import bill and increase protein intake from fish. The country’s annual per capita fish consumption stands at approximately 3,2 kilogrammes per person per annum, with a total demand of around 60 000 tonnes.

The Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report: first round (CLAFA-1) 2024/25 summer season report revealed that 31 296 tonnes of fish were produced in the 2023/24 season with 26 310 tonnes being capture fisheries and 4 986 tonnes from aquaculture.

Meanwhile, statistics with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that the country imported US$20 910 957 fish products in 2024.

The country imports live fish, herrings, sardines, sardinella, mackerel, hake, cod, tunas and other fresh and dried fish products among others.-herald