Edwin Requintina has a degree in inland fisheries and many years of experience in managing aquatic resources. He spent two weeks last July in the towns of Bagamoyo and Mkuranga, Tanzania, as a volunteer with the Coastal Resources Center at the University of Rhode Island. There he served as a trainer and expert advisor to farmers raising milkfish, a popular commercial species related to catfish and carp.
Tanzania has tremendous potential for sustainable mariculture, particularly milkfish farming. However, it is important not to repeat the mistakes that have plagued milkfish production elsewhere. Doing it right means you don’t cut down your mangroves, where young milkfish live in the wild; instead, you site your ponds in appropriate areas that minimize environmental damage. In Tanzania, this means the salt flats and abandoned salt ponds that are widespread along the coast. If done right, milkfish farming can become a significant source of jobs and income for the coastal poor.
Experience shows that the poor are often averse to the risks involved in becoming an entrepreneur, as any failed venture can push their already precarious economic existence over the edge. Hence, our efforts to launch a successful milkfish demonstration farm focused first on offering technical assistance to a few select entrepreneurs showing the characteristic traits of innovators and risk-takers. This approach makes early adoption of milkfish farming more likely to succeed. In fact, this year Tanzania saw its first successful harvest and commercial marketing of farm-raised milkfish—a significant milestone. Since this operation is labor-intensive, it will benefit the community by employing local workers.
It was really satisfying for me to be able to help correct and improve the initial pond designs and management practices. Things often move slowly in developing countries, but progress does come—often one small step at a time. It is deeply fulfilling to help people identify the steps that are needed and help them gain the skills necessary to take them.
