Aquaculture in Madagascar

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Aquaculture in Madagascar started to take off in the 1980s. The industry includes the cultivation of sea cucumbers, seaweed, fish and shrimp and is being used to stimulate the country's economy, increase the wages of fishermen and women, and improve the regions ocean water quality. Coastal regions of Madagascar are reliant on the Indian Ocean's marine resources as a source of food, income, and cultural identity. [1]

Contents

History

Over the past fifty years, aquaculture in Madagascar went through four stages of development. It started during the colonial occupation when new marine species were introduced. After the nation's independence, the government played a major role in regulating the development of aquaculture ponds. During the 1980s, the government stepped back from state-owned controlled aquaculture fields to allow independent entrepreneurs to invest the sector. Then, in the past 15 years, a marketing-focused approach to promote Malagasy aquaculture became dominant to favor exports. [2]

Aquaculture sectors

Sea cucumbers

Sea cucumbers, considered a delicacy in Asia, play a crucial role in recycling nutrients from sediments on the ocean floor to form the bedrock of complex marine chains. Wild sea cucumber populations have dropped with many fishers now using SCUBA gear to access those that are left, a practice now banned in Madagascar. [3] [4] A 2012 EU commissioned study of Madagascar’s sea cucumber trade showed an 85% drop in the population since the fishery’s peak. [5]

The country's first locally owned sea-cucumber farm is located in Tampolove and was developed with the British NGO Blue Ventures. They developed a protected area called Velondriake ("to live with the sea" in the Vezo language). [4]

Sea Cucumber (Aquatic) Sea Cucumber (Aquatic).jpg
Sea Cucumber (Aquatic)

In the southeast Velondriake region of the island, Toliara's marine institute uses new technology to produce broodstock of sea cucumbers to sell to fishers. Community farming groups then grow these animals in simple mesh farming pens close to their village. Because sea cucumbers feed off the ocean floor, the growing process requires no food, just pen maintenance. After nine months sea cucumbers reach their full adult size and are sold to exporters for around US $2.50 each. This system links isolated communities to global markets and has been proven to raise income of farmers who make less than one-dollar fifty per day, by US $30 per month, nearly doubling their monthly income.

Shrimps

The Amano Shrimps The Amano Shrimps.jpg
The Amano Shrimps

Commercial shrimp farming was introduced to Madagascar in the early 1990s. International organizations and foreign investors have dominated this industry with financing, technical support and infrastructure development. Shrimp aquaculture in Madagascar has grown in importance over the years, and is responsible for the direct and indirect employment of over 3 000 people on the island. As of 2005, Madagascar counted six shrimp aquaculture companies. During the 1980s, the FAO concluded that shrimp aquaculture was a great factor of development, and oriented many development programs in Madagascar towards this industry. Besakoa became a boom town thanks to those developments, going from 10 households in the 1990s to 3,000 inhabitants 10 years later after the site Aqualma opened. [6]

Shrimp farmed in Madagascar are high quality and sell at relatively high prices. Today, the shrimp export industry has difficulty competing with less costly shrimp from other areas such as Asia.

One species of shrimp, from Madagascar, prized by shrimp farmers is Penaeus monodon. It is renowned for its size and quality and sells for up to three times as much as shrimp from other countries. Penaeus Monodon is valued by consumers for both its taste and texture but it is too expensive to those whose purchase based on the price. Therefore, on price alone, shrimp products from Madagascar cannot compete in export markets. It is unknown whether they can compete in high-end niche markets, but it could be a marketing opportunity and solution to the crisis the industry now faces. [7] The company Unima was the first to breed pathogen-free Penaeus Monodon on the island [8] and manages the first farm in Africa to be awarded the Aquaculture Stewardship Certification by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). [9]

Marine aquaculture in the northwest is dominated by giant tiger prawn farming near the mangrove areas which have been identified by the Madagascar Shrimp Aquaculture Development Master Plan (Schéma d'aménagement pour l'aquaculture de crevettes à Madagascar - SAACM). These farm areas are systems composed of breeding ponds, a hatchery, a processing and packaging factory and storage facilities.

Seaweed

Seaweed farming is practiced in the northeastern region of the island in conjunction with the IBIS Madagascar company. Harvesting is done in a coastal zone, usually by women and children. [10] Along with Tanzania, Madagascar is the top producer of aquaculture seaweed in Africa. [11]

Seaweed, just like sea cucumbers, is also cultivated and harvested, among other places, in the Velondriake protected area. [12]

Training and research

Training and research on aquaculture started in the 80s with the Marine Station of Toliara and enhanced by the implementation of the Fishery High Training Unit (UFSH: Unité de Formation Supérieure Halieutique). [13] The Marine Station, established in 1961 near of the current Harbor of Toliara, has achieved many research mainly on coral reefs in the South West (Bay of Toliara and Bay of Ranobe), especially the Great Reef Toliara (GRT). Since 1972, with the gradual creation of the current University of Toliara, research has diversified and included fisheries. Several researchers and technicians have been trained, but at the time the need was more academic and pedagogical. With the UFSH project funded by FAO, it was extended to aquaculture. 40 fisheries scientists Engineers were trained with several specialties including fishery and aquaculture. Most of these engineers have strengthened the team of the Ministry for Fisheries and Agriculture, other contributed to the creation and development of the first shrimp farms in Madagascar (currently grouped in UNIMA). Two engineers were recruited by the Fishery and Marine Science Institute (IH.SM: Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines) [14] to ensure following training of new technicians, managers and aquaculture, and new fisheries scientists Engineers (effective training of 20 new engineers in 2013). Both research and training entities have combined their structure to create in 1993, the current IH.SM. Since 1993, all training and research in fisheries and aquaculture are being provided by this Institute. With the adoption of the LMD system by the Universities of Madagascar, training is now grouped into 3 academic cycles: (1) License of the Sea and Littoral which include Biodiversity-Environment and Fisheries and Aquaculture options; (2) Masters in Applied Oceanography including several specializations and (3) PhD in Applied Oceanography. Research in these field are now welle diversified and performed by more than 30 researchers (PhD) and several PhD research Student. In recent years, skill levels in the Madagascar aquaculture industry have improved considerably. This has been largely due to the improvement efforts of IH.SM and the government created, in yearly 2000s the Ministry of Fishery and Marines resources. The implementation of non-profit NGO’s, such as MIDEM, which have become an integral part of the islands seafood industry has also enhanced the effectiveness of the development of fishery and aquaculture training in Madagascar. These NGOs especially focus their work on Aquaculture training programs based on prior experience and training for wild fisheries and marine farms. The Independent Mission for Development and Education in Madagascar (MIDEM) is an open, non-profit NGO in Madagascar aiming to provide a sustainable solution to the needs of the Malagasy population stricken by extreme poverty and social injustice on the East coast of Madagascar. MIDEM’s mission is to improve livelihoods by implementing projects on education, rural development including fish farming, entrepreneurship and social development. [15]

Legislation and administration

Marine farmers usually look for sheltered and unpolluted waters rich in nutrients. Often these areas are also desirable for other purposes. In the late 1990s, demand for coastal aquaculture space increased. Aquaculture developed with the regional councils unsure of how marine farms might impact the delicate coastal environments. By early 2000, farmers/fishers and NGO’s were operating with inadequate regulations for managing the coast in a sustainable way. This lack of regulation lead to the creation of locally managed marine areas (LMMA). [16] There are however, few regulations limiting aquaculture in Madagascar, and of the few, even less are enforced. [3]

Related Research Articles

Aquaculture Farming of aquatic organisms

Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater, brackish water and saltwater populations under controlled or semi-natural conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. Mariculture, commonly known as marine farming, refers specifically to aquaculture practiced in seawater habitats and lagoons, opposed to in freshwater aquaculture. Pisciculture is a type of aquaculture that consists of the culturing of fish to obtain fish and fish products as food.

Indian prawn Species of crustacean

The Indian prawn, is one of the major commercial prawn species of the world. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific from eastern and south-eastern Africa, through India, Malaysia and Indonesia to southern China and northern Australia. Adult shrimp grow to a length of about 22 cm (9 in) and live on the seabed to depths of about 90 m (300 ft). The early developmental stages take place in the sea before the larvae move into estuaries. They return to the sea as sub-adults.

Marine shrimp farming

Marine shrimp farming is an aquaculture business for the cultivation of marine shrimp or prawns for human consumption. Although traditional shrimp farming has been carried out in Asia for centuries, large-scale commercial shrimp farming began in the 1970s, and production grew steeply, particularly to match the market demands of the United States, Japan and Western Europe. The total global production of farmed shrimp reached more than 1.6 million tonnes in 2003, representing a value of nearly 9 billion U.S. dollars. About 75% of farmed shrimp is produced in Asia, in particular in China and Thailand. The other 25% is produced mainly in Latin America, where Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico are the largest producers. The largest exporting nation is India.

White spot syndrome (WSS) is a viral infection of penaeid shrimp. The disease is highly lethal and contagious, killing shrimp quickly. Outbreaks of this disease have wiped out the entire populations of many shrimp farms within a few days, in places throughout the world.

Shrimp farming

Shrimp farming is an aquaculture business that exists in either a marine or freshwater environment, producing shrimp or prawns for human consumption.

<i>Penaeus</i> Genus of crustaceans

Penaeus is a genus of prawns, including the giant tiger prawn, the most important species of farmed crustacean worldwide. The genus has been reorganised following a proposition of Pérez Farfante and Kensley based on morphological differences, in particular the genital characteristics of these animals, although this revision has not been universally accepted. Following the revision, many species formerly in the genus Penaeus have been reassigned to new genera in the family Penaeidae: Farfantepenaeus, Fenneropenaeus, Litopenaeus and Marsupenaeus. The following table gives an overview:

<i>Penaeus monodon</i> Species of crustacean

Penaeus monodon, commonly known as the giant tiger prawn, Asian tiger shrimp, black tiger shrimp, and other names, is a marine crustacean that is widely reared for food.

Fishing in India Major industry employing 14.5 million people

Fishing in India is a major industry employing 14.5 million people. India ranks second in aquaculture and third in fisheries production. Fisheries contributes to 1.07% of the Total GDP of India. According to the National Fisheries Development Board the Fisheries Industry generates an export earnings of Rs 334.41 billion. Centrally sponsored schemes will increase exports by Rs 1 lakh crore in FY25. 65,000 fishermen have been trained under these schemes from 2017 to 2020. Freshwater fishing consists of 55% of total fish production.

Aquaculture in China

China, with one-fifth of the world's population, accounts for two-thirds of the world's reported aquaculture production.

<i>Penaeus esculentus</i> Species of fish

Penaeus esculentus is a species of prawn which is widely fished for consumption around Australia.

Fishing in Pakistan

Fishery and fishing industry plays a significant part in the national economy of Pakistan. With a coastline of about 1,120 km, Pakistan has enough fishery resources that remain to be developed. Most of the population of the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan depends on fisheries for livelihood. It is also a major source of export earning.

Velondriake, meaning “to live with the sea” in the Vezo dialect of the Malagasy language, is a locally managed marine area (LMMA). Established in 2006 in southwest Madagascar, Velondriake is home to over 7,000 resident Vezo people and covers a marine and coastal area of about 64,000 ha making it one of the largest LMMAs in the western Indian Ocean. The LMMA includes extensive coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, baobab forests, spiny forest and other threatened habitats. The LMMA includes five permanent coral reef reserves, two permanent mangrove reserves, and numerous periodic fisheries closures (PFCs), primarily for octopus on reefs and for mud crab in mangroves.

<i>Holothuria scabra</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria scabra, or sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus Metriatyla by Rowe in 1969 and is the type species of the subgenus. Sandfish are harvested and processed into "beche-de-mer" and eaten in China and other Pacific coastal communities.

Aquaculture in South Korea

South Korea is a major center of aquaculture production, and the world's third largest producer of farmed algae as of 2020.

Shrimp Decapod crustaceans

Shrimp are decapod crustaceans with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata. More narrow definitions may be restricted to Caridea, to smaller species of either group or to only the marine species. Under a broader definition, shrimp may be synonymous with prawn, covering stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long, narrow muscular tails (abdomens), long whiskers (antennae), and slender legs. Any small crustacean which resembles a shrimp tends to be called one. They swim forward by paddling with swimmerets on the underside of their abdomens, although their escape response is typically repeated flicks with the tail driving them backwards very quickly. Crabs and lobsters have strong walking legs, whereas shrimp have thin, fragile legs which they use primarily for perching.

Eyestalk ablation The removal of one or both eyestalks from a crustacean

Eyestalk ablation is the removal of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) eyestalks from a crustacean. It is routinely practiced on female shrimps in almost every marine shrimp maturation or reproduction facility in the world, both research and commercial. The aim of ablation under these circumstances is to stimulate the female shrimp to develop mature ovaries and spawn.

ICAR - Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Rohtak also called as ICAR-CIFE Rohtak is one of the regional research and education campus of the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), which is a Deemed to be University and institution of higher learning for fisheries science.

<i>Penaeus semisulcatus</i> Species of crustacean

Penaeus semisulcatus, the green tiger prawn or grooved tiger prawn, is a commercially important species of prawn in the genus Penaeus.

Unima

Unima is a company specialized in the fishing and production of shrimps, with a focus on aquaculture farming. Unima is headquartered in Paris, France, and operates in Madagascar. Amyne H. Ismail has been the President and CEO of Unima since 2014.

References

  1. Blue Ventures. (2013) "Discovery Through Aquaculture."
  2. National Aquaculture Sector Overview: Madagascar, Fao.org
  3. 1 2 National Geographic, Posted by Guest Blogger in Ocean Views on June 13, 2013. http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/13/farming-sea-cucumbers-in-madagascar-for-economic-hope-and-conservation/
  4. 1 2 The Madagascar farmers trying to save sea cucumbers, Bbc.com, 6 August 2019
  5. Andrianaivojaona, Charles (2012). Analyse Globale de la Gouvernance et de la Chaîne d'Approvisionnement de la Pêcherie du Concombre de Mer à Madagascar (PDF).
  6. Rachel B. Gruzen, Shrimp Aquaculture and Urban Growth in Madagascar: Sustaining Societies and Conserving Coasts?”, Yale.edu, December 2005
  7. http://www.unep.ch/etb/initiatives/Executive%20Summaries%20and%20briefs/Madagascar%20Ten%20Pager.pdf Integrated Assessment of Trade-related Policies and Biological Diversity in the Agricultural Sector in Madagascar
  8. Unima: how one Malagasy company reframed the international shrimp industry, Africa Reports, 20 October 2021
  9. Lucy Towers, ASC Certifies its First African Shrimp Farm, The Fish Site, 4 October 2016
  10. "Health Benefits of Seaweed". WebMD. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  11. Shem Oirere, Surge in seaweed demand to drive growth of Africa’s market, Seafoodsource.com, 6 September 2021
  12. Jacopo Pasotti, Madagascar: No more fish? We'll farm seaweed instead, Dw.com, 25 July 2017
  13. RABENEVANANA, M. W. et RALIJAONA, C. LA FORMATION HALIEUTIQUE A MADAGASCAR. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/003/ab825f/AB825F14.htm
  14. "IH.SM". www.ihsm.mg. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  15. Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific. (NACA) (2013) FK Norway South-South Aquaculture Professional Exchange Programme.
  16. Harris A. (2007) ‘To live with the sea’ Development of the Velondriake Community-managed Protected Area network. Madagascar Conservation & Development Vol.2, Issue 1: 43-49. http://blueventures.org/downloads/bv-research-report-2007-mcd-harris-velondriake.pdf Archived 2012-05-05 at the Wayback Machine