Winner of Outstanding Performance Business Award
Clifford Spencer
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Part one: AwF development in Malawi
he UK based AwF activities continue to grow and I am pleased to describe the latest developments in the charity’s increasingly full calendar. After our presence at the World Aquaculture Society conference in Cape Town we have since undertaken London meetings with directors of the charity Christian Aid and follow on discussions on aquaculture assistance. One particular emerging AwF project is based in Malawi, and involves assisting subsistence/smallholder fish farmers at Cape Maclear at the base of Lake Malawi. This project which is founded upon the concept of an energy facilitated market place has excellent prospects as Christian Aid is already present there involved in other activities and thus able to lend a sound base to AwF work. Also we are currently in discussion with the UK R&D establishment to assist in work in Malawian aquaculture and we are also involved in direct discussions with the Malawian government, donors and the LUANAR node at Lilonge University, Malawi. The latter contact is through the appreciated co-operation of Professor Emmanuel Kaunda its Deputy Vice Chancellor and Professor of Fisheries Science. Professor Kaunda has for instance been instrumental in configuring the shape of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPS) for many countries in the region. He is also the co-founder of African Fisheries Experts Network (AfrFishNet), a fisheries voice for CAADP to ensure that fish is appropriately positioned in the continental work plan. Professor Kaunda for instance facilitated the African Union meeting on how livestock can be mainstreamed in the CAADP Results Framework after the renowned and historic Malabo declaration of the African Union. He is also the Coordinator of the African Union Aquaculture Working Group as well as Coordinator of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Fish Node of the Southern Africa Network on Biosciences (SANBio). Malawi has a glaring economic potential in integrated fish farming. It is estimated that there
are just over 6,000 farmers currently engaged in aquaculture with fish production increasing from 800 Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2006 to nearly 5,000 MT and making a contribution of in excess of K5 billion to the Malawi economy in 2015. It is further estimated that approximately 10-20 percent (11,650km2) of the landmass of Malawi is suitable for aquaculture but less than 300 hectares are currently under fish farming in the country. Feed is currently imported from Zambia or purchased from Maldeco, the largest Malawian commercial fish feed producer. If formulated, feed cannot be purchased by the fish farmers, locally available ingredients, such as maize bran, are used. Some commercial players like Chambo Fisheries, Maldeco produce their own fingerlings, others purchase from the National Aquaculture Centre (but supply is limited). As a result smallholder producers generally do not restock with purchased fingerlings but rely on natural reproduction in their ponds. The current lack of reliable, quality fingerlings is the major barrier to development within the sector. This year Malawi played host to the Southern African Regional Irrigation Association (SARIA) annual conference and in line with its theme, Rural Fresh Water Aquaculture, the delegates were offered a chance to tour fish farms. However given the demanding nature of an aquaculture venture both financially, human resource wise and commitment it is little wonder that many smallholder/subsistence farmers have looked away from investing in fish farming though it is very attractive in return financially. A lack of private, commercial activity in the Malawian aquaculture sector has meant that critical elements of the market, such as feed and fingerling supply chains have been neglected to the point that currently neither affordable, high quality feed nor fingerlings are available for the majority of Malawian fish farmers. This lack of commercial inputs in the supply chain has been highlighted as one of the main limiting growth factors for the sector and must be addressed if the industry is to commercialise and grow in a sustainable manner.
Currently Mr Spencer leads the Global Biotechnology Transfer Foundation (GBTF), which is dedicated to promoting the potential for biotechnology to support sustainable, long-term, socio-economic development. He is also Chairman of Trustees for Aquaculture without Frontiers UK. 10 | October 2017 - International Aquafeed
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ael Force Group has been awarded the accolade of Outstanding Performing Business (25+ employees) at an awards ceremony attended by the Highlands and Islands’ most influential and important business leaders. The 2017 Highland Business Awards, which aims to recognise and celebrate the achievements of companies and individuals across the whole region, were presented at a ceremony on Friday September 29, 2017, at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness. The award win comes as a result of Gael Force’s very strong showing this year, including a growth in turnover in excess of 30 percent, the recruitment of over 50 new employees, successful launch of the SeaFeed Offshore Feeding System and the confirmation of their biggest ever single order for feed barges. The success of this year follows a period of management and corporate organisational change in 2016, which has led to a re-focusing of strategy and an almost immediate improvement in business activities. Collecting the award on behalf of the Gael Force team was owner and MD Stewart Graham. Celebrating the win, he said, “This is a fantastic acknowledgement and appreciation of the hard work and commitment by everyone at Gael Force which is delivering phenomenal success to all our stakeholders. Our highly accomplished and committed team are a great credit to us, and we are very proud to serve the many customers we deal with on a day-today basis, without which we could not have won this award.” He continued, “Our congratulations also go to Marine Harvest Scotland for their tremendous effort in winning a trio of awards. It is very satisfying to see representations from the Scottish Aquaculture industry, including ourselves, being recognised for the social and economic contribution the industry is making to the Highlands and Islands and the wider Scottish economy.