Africa

Mozambique

• Southern oceans education and development

Southern oceans education and development

Project purpose: The project, in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, aims at improving productivity, competitiveness, efficiency and the quality of human capital in rural areas. The Ministry's personnel will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to manage efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner the new commercial shrimp production industry. Furthermore, extension programs will be developed to promote the establishment of small scale marine aquaculture micro-enterprises in rural coastal areas, thus augmenting employment opportunities and food security.

Key results to date: Year one focused on capacity building at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and at the Mozambique Ministry of Fisheries through the provision of training programs while establishing strong communication networks among partners and stakeholders. Strategies to upgrade facilities at the UEM School of Marine and Coastal Sciences (SMCS) in Quelimane were developed and sites for community-based pilot aquaculture operations identified. Personnel from the Ministry and UEM participated in a one month technical training program in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The five participants, including two extension workers who will work directly with community members, received instruction on best practices for sustainable shrimp culture, developing skills that are essential for the management of the developing industry in Mozambique. Two students from Mozambique began their masters' programs in Brazil on mollusk and fish aquaculture. After their graduation, they will develop the teaching program at the SMCS and assist fishing communities in developing small-scale aquaculture businesses.