Introduction to Bream Farming

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2 Introduction to Bream Farming Bream Farming is in every way similar to most farming practices in Zimbabwe. The main difference is that instead of soil as a medium of production, fishing is based on water. Bream Fish, also known as tilapia are a living organism that require five basic needs that are clean water, oxygen, food, light and room to swim. This environment is what is required to provide the optimum conditions for fish to grow healthy and fast. This therefore means that we need to conserve our water bodies by avoiding stream-bank cultivation, conserving grass and trees and ensuring that we do not pollute the water. The best farming practice for bream, or aquaculture is one in which these needs are well understood and provided in sufficient quantities. As a potential farmer of fish, it is important to know that fish are cold blooded animals, they rely on the warmth of their environment to be able to undertake metabolic processes within their bodies. Cold water therefore restricts the growth of your fish whereas water that is too warm bears less oxygen all of which reduce the rate at which the fish gain weight and reduce your yield. KNOW YOUR WATER!!! Fish Farming can be conducted using two key methods 1. Pond Fishing or Pond Culture 2. Cage Fishing or Cage Culture The farmer needs to choose which method they prefer based upon the source of the water (if for example you have a deep water body in your vicinity cage culture is possible while if there is a borehole as a source of water then pond culture is most suitable). In addition the farmer has to ensure that the other necessary requirements to grow the fish are within their financial and physical reach. Fish in Zimbabwe is sold by way of permit issued by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. 2

3 Contents Page A. Overview of Fish Farming 4 B. Fish Farming Business Cycle 4 C. Fish Production Systems 6 1. Cage Culture 6 2. Pond Culture 9 D. Marketing 11 E. Farmer Support Services 12 Appendix 1: Production Cashflows 3

4 A. Overview of Fish Farming in Zimbabwe There is a growing demand for the exploitation of fisheries resources as evidenced by overwhelming applications for fish permits and licences submitted to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. On the other hand, Zimbabwe has a limited fisheries output despite that the country has over 10,700 small, medium sized and large dams most of which have conducive environments for intensive fish production. This presents the country with a huge potential for the development and or expansion of the fisheries industry anchored on these dams. Currently Zimbabwe is producing approximately 15,000 tonnes of fish per year in a small number of dams including Lake Kariba, Lake Chivero and Darwendale Dam. If all the dams can be fully utilized the country has a potential to increase the fish production to almost 1.5 million tons per year. With an average of 5 cooperatives per dam with a membership of 20 fishermen, these dams have the capacity to support 214,000 families. With an average family size of 6, these dams if fully utilised will support 1,284,000 people throughout the country at the primary production level. This number will be further increased by other support industries and product beneficiation sectors. This will have a huge impact in increasing fisheries contribution to GDP which is currently at a paltry 0.05% with export earnings from fisheries also at 0.94% (FAO Statistics). Demand for fish has outgrown supply with some consumers importing Kapenta from Cabora Bassa, Mozambique. The high demand for fish has also increased pressure on Lake Kariba as the sole supplier of Kapenta in the country. Both subsistence and commercial poaching including transboundary poaching are putting heavy pressure on fish resources in the Lake. These problems can be partly curtailed if more effort is put in improving fisheries and aquaculture production in the other dams and ponds. B. Fish Farming Business Cycle The practice of farming requires basic resources such as land, water, labour, and inputs such as seed, medicines/chemicals e.t.c. Agricultural production has different stages of within a system of production that are undertaken with profit in mind. The fish industry follows a similar cycle that involves breeding, rearing, and harvesting. Breeding involves processes whose output are FINGERLINGS which are the young of fish. This is a process conducted in Zimbabwe by specialist fish production companies that supply their excess stock to other fish farmers who begin at the secondary stage of rearing. 4

5 Rearing, or grow-out, is the stage of fish farming that picks up after the farmer has procured the fingerlings fro the hatchery. At this stage, the fish farmer's objective is to raise the fish to harvest size quickly, economically, and in good health. This stage involves processes such as water testing, sorting, weighing, and several maintenance jobs. Harvesting, or processing, involves selecting the fish that have reached harvest size and slaughtering them, humanely and then packaging for transportation or to provide the buyer. This stage may involve refrigeration. Marketing, or selling involves identifying a suitable selling channel in relation to the location and the distance to customers from the dam or pond. This stage is crucial as it is where revenue is generated by the farmer and as fish is a perishable product, the handling method of sales stock becomes paramount. The diagram below shows the Fish Production Flow Supply Side Fingerlings Stockfeed Cages/Ponds Boats Production & Beneficiation Farming Processing Packaging Distribution Access to Markets Market Development Preparation for Investing in Fish Farming Crop farming practice yields best results for the best prepared. Fish farming is no exception. The farmer needs to ensure that they have planned for all the stages shown in the flowchart above as any omission compromises yield and profitability of the venture. The following are the major areas to be addressed when preparing to venture into fish farming a. Adequate clean water supply. b. Reliable source of stock-feeds c. Suitable Cage/ Pond in relation to volume of fish d. Knowledge on care of fish e. Disease Management f. Pre-planned market or selling method of fish. 5

6 C. Fish Production Systems 1. Cage Culture System Cage Culture is a fish production method that involves rearing fish in a cage submerged in a large water body. This method requires the farmer to have access to the cages via a ramp (jetty) or using a boat. The key aspects considered under this method is that the depth of the water should be adequate to allow circulation of water beneath the cage thereby ensuring adequate supply of oxygenated water to the fish. The density of the fish should prevent crowding of the fish as damage to their scales may lead to fungal infections on its skin that retard the growth of the fish. The Cage Floats on water suspended using plastic drums, PVC pipes or Plastic Liquid Containers fastened to the top of the cage. The capital required to invest in Cage Culture depends on the scale of operation, larger cage the following section details production under the Small Scale Commercial and Communal Areas Project Model (Subsistence) a. Small Scale Commercial Model Materials required for a 5m x 5m x 5m cage = 125 m 3 Stocking density o o Intensive fingerlings per m 3 = fingerlings Expected harvest at an average body weight of 400g = g/8 000kg/8 tons Optimal 80 fingerlings per m 3 = fingerlings Expected harvest at an average body weight of 400g = g/4 000kg/4 tons Table 1 below shows the cost structure for cage culturing in a 5m x 5m x 5m Cage i.e. length x width x height. Table 1. cost structure for cage culturing in a 5m x 5m x 5m Cage. Item i. Cage construction and installations costs (5m x 5m x 5m i.e. length x width x depth) ii. Fish Fingerlings $0.055/fingerling for fingerlings iii. Fish Feed $0.65/fingerling (from fingerling size to harvest for fingerlings) iv. Sport-fisher boat (11ft long including paddles and life jackets) v. Parks Fish Farming $0.40 per cubic metre total volume Total Cost $ $ $ $ $50 6

7 TOTAL COST $ Total costs for cage, fingerlings, feeding, boat and permit costs for the farmer its $ Total sales for fish = x 0.400g fish x $3.50/kg = $ b. Communal Areas Project Model This model is designed for communal areas. It is designed for the communal farmer who engages in multiple small scale farming activities such as rearing chickens, cattle, seasonal agronomy among others. This project aims to supplement income beyond their normal activities and ina way depends on other activities. There are a few communal area cage culture projects in Zimbabwe. The key lessons learnt from the challenges faced where that there is a need to protect the fish from predator attack from the Cape Clawless Otter as well as fish eating birds. Feed at communal level has been successfully supplemented with the following materials in addition to supply of some commercial stock-feed Litter from fowl runs Cow dung manure Grinding mill sweepings It was established that fingerlings required starter commercial feeds upon introduction of the fingerlings to the cage after which supplementary feeds could be used when they are 4 weeks old. The environment in the dam also provided food for the fish as the water has streams beneath its surface that brought in other nutrients. It was also established that the stocking density of fish in the dams was higher than in pond fishing due to higher oxygen levels from flowing water. Communal Fish Cage Culture Production System. In order to develop communal fish production using cage culture, a low cost cage model that uses materials available at growth points was manufactured. The objective was to produce a cage that required no specialist skills for its manufacture in order to make it replicable in growth points around Zimbabwe. Description of Cage 7

8 All materials were purchased at Mbare Home Industries (Magaba) shown in the table overleaf. Item Unit Cost Total Cost vi. Sixteen 25 litre used containers vii. 10 Steel Mesh sheets measuring 1,2m x 2.4m viii. Nylon Rope 3 ix. Connecting steel wire 3 x. Saw to cut the wooden poles 4 xi. Shade cloth for the internal net 14 xii. Sack needle and nylon thread. 4 TOTAL COST $592 The Mbare model was used as it can be replicated in most Home Industries in towns and growth points around Zimbabwe. A steel mesh cage measuring 2.4m x 2.4m x 2.4m shown in the diagram below was constructed. The net is placed inside the cage which protects the fish from predator attacks 8

9 It comprised of 10 steel mesh sheets joined by wires to make a cage with an open top, suspending 16 floats supported to remain in place by wire, rope and bamboo poles The cage floats by way of sixteen 25litre used containers supported by bamboo (or wooden poles) to be attached to the frame using rope. No skilled artisans were part of the team that made this cage while simple tools such as a pliers were used to work the wires. Communal Fish Production Model Production Summary ITEM Unit $ Capital Investment $700 No of Fish 750 Target Weight per fish Total Harvest 400g 300kg Production Cycle Duration in Months 7.00 Sales $3.50/kg $1,050 Surplus for 1 st Cycle $350 Surplus for 2 nd Cycle $ Pond Culture Pond culture is rearing fish in a pond excavated in the ground. This method is versatile as it allows fish farming at any location with a sustainable source of clean water. This method is cheaper than cage culture as the maintenance and construction costs are less. The major effort involved is digging the pond and making the bed of the pond waterproof. The key requirement for this pond is the quality and volume of the water. The farmer has the option of locating it near a wetland such as a river, dam, lake or a marsh provided the area had adequate water that is pumped or diverted to flow into the pond. 9

10 Bream fish do not necessarily require flowing water, however, the water should have adequate oxygen supply from aquatic plants within the pond. The characteristics of a pond are that oxygen levels plummet during the night when fish are breathing while the plants are also respiring and not photosynthesising (process that produces oxygen). This requires the farmer to ensure that the stocking density is within the optimal levels to prevent fish from suffocating due to lack of oxygen. Below is an image example of a fish pond lined with tarpaulin to as waterproof for the bed. Pond culture is simpler than cage culture as it requires no boats or jetty to access or feed the fish. In addition, feed provided to the fish remains in the pond whereas it may flow with the waves in submerged cages. The table overleaf shows the cost structure for pond culturing in a 20m x 20m Pond i.e. length by width. 10

11 Table 2. Cost Structure for Pond Culturing in a 20m x 20m Pond Item Total Cost i) Pond Construction (average cost of $8.75/m 2 ) $3 500 (Optional- can be incurred by farmer) ii) iii) iv) Fish Fingerlings $0.055/fingerling for $ fingerlings Fish Feed $0.65/fingerling (from $ fingerling size to harvest for 4000 fingerlings) Parks Fish Farming $0.05 per square $50 metre total area TOTAL COST $ Total costs for fingerlings, feeding and permit costs for the fish farmer its $ (excluding pond construction costs) Total sales for 4000 fish = 4000 x 0.400g fish x $3.50/kg selling price = $ D. Marketing The fish production cycle ends with the selling of the stock to the market. The farmer needs to ensure that they secure a wholesale buyer or have access to a market to sell or that customers can access their pond or dam to purchase the fish off site. Harvesting is the first stage of the Marketing Stage. Commercial Producers of fish gut their fish and package them frozen for transportation to distant markets. In some cased butcheries are supplied direct by the farmer. It should be noted that fish is sold by a holder of a permit issued by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority every farmer should therefore ensure that their pond or cage is registered with the Authority. A farmer can seek a market during the rearing stage of the fish by alerting potential buyers of the volumes expected and price to be sold. Arrangements can be made with buyers for them to procure the fish at the pond or dam to avoid the cost or need for refrigerating the fish. This system passes on the risk of loss due to the perishable nature of fish to the buyer. Where electricity is available, it is advisable to gut the fish and freeze them within suitable packaging to preserve the stock and enable future selling. 11

12 E. Farmer Support Services The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Scientific Services Division that provides extension services from Aquatic Ecologists. The Parks Offices listing is as follows: Province ZPWMA Contact Office Mashonaland Central Bindura Office Mashonaland East Marondera Office Manicaland Mutare Office Mashonaland West Chinhoyi Regional Office - Chinhoyi Caves Matabelland South Bulawayo Regional Office Matabeleland North Bulawayo Regional Office / Hwange Main Camp Masvingo Masvingo Regional Office Midlands Kwekwe Office Mrs. Roselyn Chikerema, Chief Ecologist on mandisodzar@gmail.com or rmandisodza@zimparks.org.zw or Mr. Blessing Matokwe, Ecologist on bmatokwe@zimparks.org.zw

13 Annexure 1 Projected Cash flow statement Cage culture Projected Cash Flow first cycle Mar Apri May June July Aug Sept Oct Opening Bank Balance (8,137.44) (1,062.50) (1,062.50) (1,062.50) (1,062.50) 2, , Cash Recei pt s Investments Sal es Income 4, , , Bank Interest Other Income Cash Inflow , , , Total Cash Available Cash Payment s Admin. Permits Labour costs Cost of Goods Interest Expense Capital Costs 6, Finance char ges Other Payments Total Payments 8, , , , , , , , Net Movement Closing Bank Balance (8,137.44) (1,062.50) (1,062.50) (1,062.50) (1,062.50) 2, , ,

14 Annexure 2 Projected Cash flow statement: Pond culture Projected Cash Flow first cycle Mar Apri May June July Aug Sept Oct Opening Bank Balance (4,205.00) (435.00) (435.00) (435.00) (435.00) 1, , Cash Recei pt s Investments Sal es Income 1, , , Bank Interest Other Income Cash Inflow , , , Total Cash Available Cash Payment s Admin. Permits Labour costs Cost of Goods Interest Expense Capital Costs 3, Finance char ges Other Payments Total Payments 4, Net Movement Closing Bank Balance (4,205.00) (435.00) (435.00) (435.00) (435.00) 1, , ,