Zambian aquaculture project to start
Simon Birks Aquaculture without Frontiers - The Appointed Solicitor Trustee
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s a 16 year old student reading law at “A” Level, I was sure that Law was the vocation from which I would gain the most satisfaction and pleasure. I did not however appreciate just how much this vocation would afford the chance to meet so many kind, generous and benevolent individuals. Turn the clocks forward by more years than I care to mention and now I find myself and our law practice working with many business owners who, as well as their day to day business operations, wish to use their positions, success and contacts to create long-term legacies that have as their foundation, the purpose of making lives better for those less fortunate than themselves. Prior to accepting this role I have been fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to join a trustee board on more than one occasion, particularly in relation to charities that I have assisted in the formation of. On each occasion, I have been incredibly humbled by the invites and simply overwhelmed by the dedication of those who would be my fellow trustees. However I declined each of these as I felt that I could add little to the board other than my legal and regulatory experience.
Accepting the role
So why now accept the role of ‘Solicitor Trustee for Aquaculture without Frontiers Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)’? The answer is embedded in two of my fellow trustees; Roger Gilbert and Tuti Tan. It was their passion to use aquaculture and the amazing opportunities it brings, to change the lives of those in developing and transition countries. With the position and AwF, I feel there is scope to make a real difference, and I am convinced that whether great or small, AwF will undoubtedly result in saving lives.
Objectives of AwF
Roger and Tuti explained the history of AwF, the former charity that existed in the UK prior to its handover to AwF USA and how they would dearly like to resume the work of AwF in the UK. That was the start of project-renaissance that would ultimately lead to AwF UK (CIO) being ‘reformed’ in February 2016. As part of that process, the Trustees were required to state what the ‘Objects’ of the CIO would be. We decided that this should not be overly complex and therefore we agreed that the object should be “To Promote Sustainable Aquaculture Development for the benefit of the public by the relief of poverty and the improvement of the conditions of life in developing and Transition Countries”. We also took the opportunity to clarify that 'sustainable aquaculture development' is 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs' and aquaculture, under the CIO objects is 'the farming or aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants'.
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he Zambian government has announced the start of a fish-farming project aimed at boosting the production of fish both for local consumption and export. The Aquaculture Productivity and Market Enhancement project aims to achieve the target of producing 50,000 tonnes of fish per year over two years. Currently, the official fish requirement for Zambia stands at 186,000 tonnes, whereas the country has a fish deficit of 74,000 tonnes. Michael Katambo, the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock reported that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has pumped US$50 million so far into the project. He also added that apart from producing fish for
Building the AwF future
Since the CIO was incorporated in February 2016, Roger, Tuti and I have been joined by three other very gifted Trustees, Clifford Spencer, Janice Spencer and Sven-Olof Malmqvist. As part of a Trustee board, I feel that we are each able to offer a variety of skills, experiences and different perspectives. The first year has very much been one of formation, establishment and foundation building. So I am really looking forward to the forthcoming year when, with the increased awareness and promotion of the CIO, not to mention with the support of much needed donations, we can seek to make a difference to the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. simon@sherborneslaw.co.uk
Simon Birks is a Director of Sherbornes Solicitors Limited and specialises in corporate and commercial legal support advice and assistance. Sherbornes Solicitors are no-nonsense, straight talking Business Lawyers based in Gloucestershire, with clients nationwide. 10 | February 2017 - International Aquafeed
local consumption, the project would help the country produce surplus fish for export. The high demand for fish in neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, combined with the international market, provides an opportunity for the country to boost its fish production. The project will target small and medium enterprises that will be given loans to start fish farming projects. This will support the construction of fishponds and the production of fingerlings in three of the country’s provinces.