Aquaponics : an alternative and sustainable technology for farming

In the Budget 2018-19, the Minister of Finance Pravind Jugnauth announced that the government will provide funds for the sensitisation and training of households in aquaponics for the production of water adaptive vegetables in freshwater ponds and basins and that the Albion Fisheries Research Centre will provide fish fingerlings freely for the aquaponics projects. Aquaponics is considered as an alternative and sustainable technology for the Mauritian farming industry and an economic alternative for the importation of food crops. Stakeholders share with News on Sunday their views on the feasibility of the measure announced and how to promote Aquaponics in Mauritius.

Sunita Facknath, Professor in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Mauritius: “The measure must be accompanied by local research to determine the right type of aquaponics”

What are your views about the measure announced in the Budget?
It will help in increasing the share of animal protein in people’s diet, and fish is a good and healthy source of protein and good cholesterol. People will also have fresh and healthy vegetables grown in the aquaponics system.It is also an environmentally friendly way to increase food production while making optimum use of available water, of available space, growing vegetables with little or no fertilisers added, and avoiding the pollution caused by dumping effluent water from aquaculture into the environment.
Do you believe that this measure is sufficient enough to promote aquaponics?
The training and awareness-raising is a start. For it to bear the envisaged fruits, it must be accompanied by local research to determine the right type of aquaponics. There are several ways in which aquaponics can be set up. We need to determine which set-up and type is most suitable for different purposes in the Mauritian context. We need to determine the appropriate conditions, in terms of the water quality, the species and type of vegetables and fish which can be grown in such systems, the number of fish that can be placed in a given size of tank, the safety aspects of the vegetables and fish in the aquaponics system, among others.
What additional measures do you believe should be introduced and why?
In the near future, other measures will have to be considered - establishment of standards and norms for the quality of vegetables and fish emanating from aquaponics, registration of aquaponic businesses for traceability purposes, subsidies on the inputs required, fiscal incentives to those practicing aquaponics as a business, training of extension staff so they can provide right advice and guidance to those practicing aquaponics, and so on.
The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius is currently working on a research project on aquaponics, to determine the optimum water quality, species of vegetables and fish to grow together in the aquaponics system, the appropriate density of the fish, the right filter quality, and other similar parameters. This project will provide the necessary data to help us establish a bigger, field level aquaponics unit, and we will be looking for partners in the public and private sectors to partner with us on this bigger project. Source; News On Sunday 23 June 2018

Recolte de Berri Rouges a Albion Fisheries Reserach Centre

Environ 170 kg de “berri rouges” ont été récoltés en début de semaine à l'Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC). Ils ont été mis en vente à Rs 60 le kilo. Le “berri rouge” est un hybride de trois espèces introduit de Malaisie en 1990. La production de larves est effectuée au centre de recherche d’Albion pour produire des juvéniles de qualité à destination des pisciculteurs.Au centre de recherche d’Albion, les alevins sont collectés des bassins et cultivés dans des réservoirs jusqu’à ce qu’ils atteignent la taille de juvénile (4 à 5 cm). Une sélection visuelle est ensuite effectuée pour identifier les mâles et les femelles à des fins d’approvisionnement auprès des éleveurs. Cependant, un volume de poissons, mâles et femelles, est retenu à l’AFRC pour les besoins de reproductions. Le “berri rouge” peut être élevé dans de l’eau douce ou salée et dans des bassins et des réservoirs à une température de 28°C. Nourris de granules de Red Snapper, ces poissons sont résistants aux maladies et faciles à produire.Le “berri rouge” a été introduit à l’AFRC pour étudier sa capacité d’adaptation aux conditions locales. Le but principal est de promouvoir l’aquaculture comme un moyen efficace pour combattre la pauvreté et assurer la sécurité alimentaire. Des juvéniles sont mis à la disposition des pisciculteurs sur demande de septembre à avril.


Le ministère de l’Économie océanique, des Ressources marines, de la Pêche, des Services maritimes et des Îles éparses offre 100 juvéniles gratuitement aux éleveurs. Ceux qui en font la demande pour un nombre supérieur à 100 doivent cependant débourser Rs 1,25 l’unité. En 2014, 111 individus et petits éleveurs ont bénéficié de juvéniles de “berri rouges”. Ceux souhaitant se lancer dans la culture de “berri rouges” peuvent se renseigner auprès de l’AFRC, qui a déjà mis en place plusieurs facilités pour promouvoir l’élevage de ces espèces. Depuis son introduction, la production de cet hybride n’a cessé d’augmenter, passant de 9,4 tonnes en 1992 à 70 tonnes en 2014.Mis sur pied en 1981, l’AFRC, une branche technique du ministère de l’Économie océanique, des Ressources marines, de la Pêche, des Services maritimes et des Îles éparses, a pour mission d’effectuer des recherches et des études sur l’écosystème marin et de gérer les ressources marines vivantes, dont le stock de poissons et de récifs coralliens. L’AFRC couvre une surface de 3 410 m2 et comprend une équipe de 85 officiers.
Source Le MAuricien du 12 Aout 2015

Aquatic Animal Disease Workshop in Mauritius

​GIS - 29 July 2015: A ten-day training programme in Aquatic Animal Disease and Food Safety, organised by the Competent Authority – Seafood and the Agence Francaise de Développement, kickstarted yesterday at the Mauritius Maritime Training Academy in Pointe aux Sables.


The training is meant for the officers of the Competent Authority – Seafood and the aquatic division of the Albion Fisheries and Research Centre as well as for operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The course is being dispensed by Dr Laurent Pasco, Veterinary Officer and Head of the Board Inspection Post in Vannes (France).

Participants will gain knowledge in aquatic animal diseases specific to Mauritius and how to curb the risk of proliferation of aquatic animal diseases to species endemic in Mauritius. They will also acquire enhanced knowledge and skills in verifying whether shellfish, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals meant for export are fit for human consumption. After the training, they will be able to establish a food safety management plan that will ensure compliance to the requirements of importing countries. Moreover, the training will contribute in equipping officers with the necessary skills to enable them to effect appropriate verification and control within the national and international Regulatory Frameworks. In so doing, Mauritius can have access to several other markets while consolidating our presence in traditional markets.

The training comes at an opportune time, says Minister The Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands, M. Premdut Koonjoo, was present for the opening. In his address, he highlighted that the training has come at an opportune time since the Ministry is working on the expansion of the aquaculture sector in Mauritius. He recalled that the vision of the Government is to make the ocean economy an important industry to sustain economic diversification, job creation and wealth generation. In this respect, the fisheries and aquaculture industry will play an important role in developing the ocean economy, he said. The training programme, the Minister said, will contribute in developing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in a sustainable manner and allow operators in fish and fish products sector to develop their business free from diseases.

Food for a Healthy World Drawing Competition!

Dear Students

This is a golden opportunity to show case your hidden talents!!!!!!!!!!!

GO FOR IT

AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE FOR FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION!

FOOD FOR A HEALTHY WORLD DRAWING COMPETITION

Recent developments from FAO: YUNGA, 18^th July 2013

YUNGA is proud to present the International Drawing Competition: Food for a Healthy World. This competition encourages children and young people to create artwork and drawings that express why nutritious foods are important for a healthy world.

Participants
This international drawing competition is open to ALL children and young people from 6 to 20 years old.
Deadline and submission of entries
The deadline for submitting your drawings is 1 October 2013. The postmark date will be regarded as the date of delivery.
Send your drawing by e-mail to: yunga@fao.org or by post.
For more information and to download the drawing competition form, visit http://yunga-youth.weebly.com/food-for-a-healthy-world-drawing-competition.html or www.fao.org/climatechange/youth/83719/en/.

We look forward to receiving your artistic expressions soon!

The YUNGA Team