By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s rapidly expanding aquaculture sector faces rising disease and environmental risks, with more than 80 percent of fish farmers not implementing biosecurity measures, raising concerns about production losses and the industry’s sustainability.
Director of Livestock and Fisheries Production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Water Resources Development, Milton Makumbe, said a pilot survey on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in aquaculture highlighted the urgent need for farmers to adopt sound fish health management and environmental protection practices.
Speaking at the official launch of the Manual on Biosecurity for Small-Scale Fish Farmers in Zimbabwe and the Environmental Guidelines for Small-Scale Fish Farms in Harare on Tuesday, Makumbe said the two publications were critical to protecting farmers’ investments as the country’s aquaculture industry continues to expand.
“This is a matter of concern. Without adequate biosecurity, farmers remain vulnerable to disease outbreaks, production losses and reduced profitability,” he said.
Makumbe said Zimbabwe had recorded significant growth in fish farming, with the number of fish farmers increasing from 4 803 in 2024/25 to 8 663 active farmers, reflecting growing confidence in aquaculture as a viable business enterprise.
He said the country had also witnessed a 129 percent increase in fish ponds over the past year, while fish production rose by an average of 24 percent to reach 33 710,12 metric tonnes during the 2025/26 production season.
The growth has been supported by Government interventions, including the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, as well as the establishment of Village Business Units, Youth Business Units and School Business Units, which have widened participation in fish farming and created livelihood opportunities.
However, Makumbe warned that the expansion must be accompanied by responsible production practices to safeguard fish health, water resources and aquatic ecosystems.
“The Manual on Biosecurity for Small-Scale Fish Farmers in Zimbabwe provides practical guidance on disease prevention, fish health management and farm risk reduction,” he said.
“Complementing this, the Environmental Guidelines for Small-Scale Fish Farms promote environmentally responsible production practices that protect water resources and aquatic ecosystems.”
He said biosecurity should be viewed as an investment rather than an additional expense, as healthy fish and well-managed production systems were fundamental to the sector’s long-term profitability and sustainability.
He called on Government departments, extension personnel, development partners, private sector players and fish farmers to embrace the guidelines and translate their recommendations into practical action at farm level.
The Livestock and Fisheries Production Department, he said, remained committed to supporting implementation through strengthened extension services, farmer training and technical assistance.
Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife principal officer, Ruramai Reppoh said fish farming must be developed in ways that protect the natural resources on which production depends.
She said aquaculture’s contribution to food security, employment creation and rural livelihoods would only be sustainable if production was balanced with environmental protection.
“An aquaculture enterprise that increases production in the short term but degrades its water source, spreads disease or damages surrounding ecosystems may ultimately undermine its own productivity and profitability,” Reppoh said.
She warned that poorly managed fish farms could contribute to water pollution, excessive nutrient loading, the accumulation of organic waste, habitat degradation and the spread of pathogens.
Reppoh said the environmental guidelines would help farmers improve the management of water, fish waste, feed, chemicals and other farm inputs, while encouraging appropriate site selection and the protection of aquatic habitats.
She also urged farmers to adopt practical biosecurity measures, including maintaining good hygiene, sourcing healthy fingerlings from reliable suppliers, monitoring fish health and reporting unusual fish mortalities or suspected disease outbreaks to relevant authorities.
Reppoh called for greater investment in farmer training, extension services and technical support to ensure that small-scale producers could understand and implement the recommendations.
“The objective must be to build a culture in which biosecurity becomes a normal and integral part of fish-farming operations rather than a measure introduced only when problems arise,” she said.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) FISH4ACP Project Coordinator, Paul Mwera said the launch marked an important milestone in efforts to ensure that Zimbabwe’s growing fisheries and aquaculture sector remained economically viable, environmentally responsible and resilient to emerging threats.
Mwera said FAO had supported the transformation of the sector through technical assistance, policy support and capacity development, including initiatives under the FISH4ACP Programme, funded by the European Union.
The programme has contributed to strengthening Zimbabwe’s tilapia value chain through improved production systems, local feed solutions, producer capacity development, private sector investment, value addition and market access.
However, Mwera warned that growth in production also brought increased risks associated with aquatic animal diseases, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, invasive species and climate-related shocks.
“Without proper safeguards, these risks can reverse gains achieved through years of investment and hard work,” he said.
The two publications are expected to provide practical guidance for improving farm management, preventing disease outbreaks and reducing the environmental risks associated with small-scale fish production.
The launch brought together Government departments, development partners, environmental organisations and fisheries stakeholders in a coordinated effort to promote sustainable aquaculture development in Zimbabwe.
The initiative builds on collaboration among Government, FAO, the European Union, the FISH4ACP Programme, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation, the Environmental Management Agency, the Department of Veterinary Services, the Zimbabwe Fish Producers Association and other stakeholders.
The guidelines are intended to strengthen responsible aquaculture practices as Zimbabwe seeks to expand fish production, improve livelihoods and enhance the sector’s contribution to national food and nutrition security.
New Ziana
