Zimbabwe Launches Hatchery Management Guidelines to Boost Fisheries Towards US$1 Billion Target
Zimbabwe is making bold strides to unlock the full economic potential of its fisheries and aquaculture sector with the recent unveiling of the Hatchery Management Guidelines. Developed in close partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this vital document establishes new national standards for fish breeding, addressing critical fingerling quality challenges that have long hindered commercial growth.
Held in Bulawayo on 19 November 2025, the launch was attended by senior government officials and sector leaders who highlighted the transformative impact these guidelines will have. Deputy Minister Hon. Davis Marapira, who spearheaded the launch, underlined the government’s commitment to making fisheries a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s agricultural economy. “Our focus is to create a billion-dollar economy out of fisheries… Fisheries is going to be the future of the agriculture GDP,” he declared passionately.
Marapira stressed the importance of this institutional transformation, moving away from a fragmented approach to a dedicated Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Production Department (FARD). He called for swift adoption and implementation of the guidelines, urging stakeholders to ensure they are not merely theoretical but fully embedded in hatchery operations.
Representing the FAO, Tendai Mugara reaffirmed the organisation’s backing, describing the guidelines as a practical, science-based framework essential to improving fingerling quality, promoting biosecurity, and establishing a traceable, reliable fingerling supply chain. Mugara remarked, “These guidelines will guide hatcheries on operational best practices, help improve fingerling survival rates, and lay the foundation for sustainable sector growth.”
Permanent Secretary Prof. Dr Obert Jiri emphasised the critical role fisheries play in national food security and inflation control. He revealed the scale of the supply shortfall: the national fish requirement stands at 60,000 metric tonnes annually, yet current production is just over 31,000 metric tonnes. The Hatchery Management Guidelines are expected to narrow this significant gap by ensuring better management of fingerling production.
Milton Makumbe, Director of FARD, outlined the immediate benefits for fish farmers. “With these voluntary hatchery management guidelines, fingerlings produced will have superior feed conversion ratios and faster growth rates, enabling farmers to harvest sooner and increase profitability,” he said.
The guidelines address four critical pillars fundamental to fingerling quality:
– **Genetic integrity:** Comprehensive certification and recording of broodstock to maintain superior fish genetics and prevent inbreeding.
– **Fish health:** Adoption of strict biosecurity measures to limit disease outbreaks, significantly boosting fingerling survival.
– **Environmental control:** Standards for water quality monitoring, ensuring optimal breeding environments.
– **Nutrition:** Best practices for feed administration enhancing fingerling growth and health.
To ensure accountability, the guidelines mandate certification and registration for hatcheries, alongside detailed broodstock record-keeping. This transparency is designed to elevate sector professionalism and investor confidence.
The government, in partnership with FAO, has established five decentralised breeding sites nationally, ensuring farmers can readily access quality fingerlings close to their communities. Marapira reported that farmers using these fingerling hubs have seen up to 40% reductions in production costs, primarily through savings on transport and reduced mortality rates.
Government breeding units aim to produce up to 10 million fingerlings annually at the outset. These outputs will underpin the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme and facilitate stocking for over 49,000 Village, School, and Youth Business Units, promoting inclusivity by empowering rural communities, youth, and women.
This initiative is pivotal to leveraging Zimbabwe’s abundant water resources while driving the fisheries and aquaculture sector’s contribution towards Vision 2030 – supporting economic diversification, poverty alleviation, and sustainable food production.
### Zimbabwe case study: Empowering rural fish farmers for food and income security
In Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland East province, village-level fish farming supported by government fingerling hubs has transformed livelihoods, particularly among women-led cooperatives. Improved fingerling quality has enabled farmers to boost yields and incomes, enhancing nutrition and economic resilience in rural areas.
### FFA Explainer Box: What are fingerlings?
Fingerlings are juvenile fish that have recently passed the fry stage and are ready to be transferred to ponds or cages for grow-out. The quality of fingerlings—determined by genetics, health, and nutrition—directly impacts survival rates and growth performance, making them a critical factor in successful aquaculture.
As Zimbabwe’s fisheries sector embarks on this new chapter, the success of the Hatchery Management Guidelines hinges on collaborative effort between the government, hatchery operators, farmers, and development partners. Their joint commitment can realise a sustainable, high-value fisheries industry that plays a crucial role in food security, job creation, and economic transformation in line with Zimbabwe’s NDS1 and Vision 2030.
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