Poverty eradication through Aquaculture
Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest growing food production sectors and plays an important role in global food security by providing a source of protein.
Project leader
Professor Selina Stead
Dates
January 2009 to December 2012
Project staff
Dr Matt Slater
Sponsors
Leverhulme Trust
Partners
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Prof. Yunus D Mgaya
Gavin Johnston and Georgi Robinson, HIK Ltd, South Africa
University of Aas, Norway
Prof. Ian Bryceson
Description
This project set-out to develop community-led aquaculture. This was in coastal communities dependent on declining fisheries in Tanzania.
The project recognised that many aquaculture development programmes have failed.
This was due to a lack of local involvement from the start. It was also due to a lack of investment in infrastructure.
This successful project developed an adaptive learning framework. It documented the process so that lessons learned and the approach adopted is useful worldwide.
The project conducted socio-economic research to collect knowledge about drivers influencing local livelihoods. It helped to understand how to develop sustainable and viable aquaculture.
The project team comprised of:
- local stakeholders
- private enterprise business partners
- social, environmental and economic scientists
The learning framework outcome is a participatory process. It optimises sustainable sea cucumber, 'sandfish' (Holothuria scabra) aquaculture. It takes into account local conditions, cultures and practices.