Fish production could spur economic growth—expert
Experts have said the increase in fish production can boost the country’s socio-economic status if good practices are adhered to.
World Fish programme manager Sloans Chimatiro said this last week in Mangochi during a three-day conference on fish production organised by Great Lakes of the World (Glow).
Glow is an annual conference in which representatives of countries of major lakes of the world meet to showcase and discuss experiences and challenges experts from these countries face in their quest to improve high-value stocks of fish.
At the conference, fish experts from Malawi and outside discussed pertinent issues that impede growth of the fish industry.
“If a country increases fish production, there is likelihood of improved variety of fish, which will aid Malawians to have a variety in their business setting. That is also one way of generating economic platform for its entrepreneurs and the country as a whole.
“That said, fish has high value of protein, which is beneficial to human bodies,” said Chimatiro.
He said fishers are bound to gain substantial economic benefits from the adoption of this improved variety.
Chimatiro, however, bemoaned the dwindling levels of fish stocks due to over-fishing as well as effects of climate change, saying these cripple the country’s potential to have species such as chambo and kampango.
In his remarks, director of fisheries in the Department of Fisheries Alexander Bulirani concurred with Chimatiro, saying increased fish production has potential to boost the country’s economy as it creates employment within the expanded aquaculture sector and possible foreign exchange earnings in the longterm.
