From Hake to fresh water fisheries

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon Dr Samuel Ankama (standing centre right), the Spanish Ambassador, Her Excellency Mrs Carmen Diez (fifth from right), and officials from the fisheries ministry, and the inland fisheries institute, who accompanied the ambassador on her field trip.

Last week the Ambassador of Spain, Her Excellency Mrs. Carmen Díez, visited the Kamutchonga Inland Fisheries Institute on the northern border of the Mahango enclave which forms part of the Bwabatwa National Park in the eastern Zambezi.
The fresh water fisheries institute falls in the Divundu district, which is part of the Okavango Region.

The ambassador was accompanied by Hon Chief Dr. Samuel Ankama, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources for the closing ceremony of the course “Practical Aquaculture Training Programme for the Namibian Freshwater Aquaculture Sector”. The aquaculture course, the first pilot-course for fish farmers in the country, is a joint project between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Spanish Government.
Twelve students and four teachers received their diplomas after successfully completing a 6-month training programme which started in April this year.
The course covered theoretical and practical modules and field attachments at six of the aquaculture farms in Namibia. The course was developed in partnership with UNAM, the fisheries ministry and the Spanish Foundation CETMAR. The ambassador said that in the framework of this project, the Spanish Cooperation is finalizing the construction of a new aquaculture hatchery in Katima Mulilo together with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. The hatchery is part of a bigger project to establish and promote freshwater fish production for improved food security.