Aquaculture is a developing sector in South Africa with significant growth potential. The country has a diverse range of environments that support the farming of various fish species, including freshwater species like tilapia.
However, the industry is still in its infancy compared to other countries and faces challenges, says David Fincham, director of David Fincham Aquaculture in Gauteng.
With his extensive expertise in the aquaculture sector, Fincham provides valuable insights into the nuances of tilapia farming.
Capital investment
Fincham emphasises that capital is a significant consideration in setting up an aquaculture business, where the initial investment in infrastructure like ponds, tanks, or recirculating aquaculture systems is crucial.
It is essential to farm under optimal conditions, which includes a conducive environment, proper financing, a well-structured business plan, a targeted market, appropriate species selection, and high-quality feed.
“Because we’re farming in a closed, intensive environment, we have to invest money in capital infrastructure. Most of that infrastructure is to create the environment that will grow your fish under optimum conditions, with temperature being the biggest driving factor.
“Small-scale pond farmers in most areas of South Africa would only have conditions where those fish would grow for four to six months,” he says. A farmer cannot develop a 12-month budget if the growing season is only six months.
“These are the things we iron out on a blank piece of paper before we get our farmers involved in actually farming tilapia,” Fincham says.
Most pond farmers in the country would be considered subsistence farmers, who still feed the majority of our communities and populations. “They play a vital role in food production and food security,” he adds.
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Optimal farming conditions
Farmers should ensure that the physical environment is conducive to achieve optimal fish farming. The following factors should be considered:
Species selection: Choose species well-suited to the local environment and market demand. Nile tilapia is commonly preferred due to its adaptability and marketability.
“If you’re farming commercially, you want to farm with the best available commercial species, which has become the Nile tilapia. It exceeds any other species by a long way,” Fincham advises.
Fincham notes that the challenge with farming Nile tilapia and other Oreochromis species is that they can interbreed, creating hybrid fish, which complicates breeding programmes and stock consistency. “As farmers we are conservationists, and we wouldn’t spread Nile tilapia where it shouldn’t be.”
Feed quality: Fincham advises farmers to use high-quality feed suited to the breed to ensure healthy growth and efficient feed conversion rates.
“Other species, now called coptodon or red-breasted bream, consume mainly vegetation like grasses and reeds. They’re favoured by the aquaponics industry because they eat a natural plant-based diet. Any waste lettuce or other leafy vegetables can be fed to coptodon,” he says.
Water quality: Fincham notes that many farms in South Africa utilise recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) where water typically comes from boreholes. “Generally, our water quality is good, so any borehole on most farms would be suitable for farming tilapia.”
However, water quality can vary as these systems are stocked with high densities of fish and subjected to warm conditions, promoting algae growth. Monitoring through filtration and temperature control is essential.
Fincham explains that salt is added to the systems to limit parasite infestations. “Fish are like any other wild animals, getting parasites. We need to control those as well.”
He says addressing heavy metals like iron and copper is important, as their presence can affect fish health. In closed water systems, careful design and engineering are critical to maintaining optimal water conditions. If issues arise, practical solutions like replacing part of the water with fresh water can temporarily mitigate problems.
“One of the beauties of farming fish is that if you have a water quality problem, you can pump out half of the water and fill it with clean, fresh water, reducing the problem by half,” he explains. Maintaining water quality and addressing issues like pH imbalance or ammonia levels from biological filter failures are key to successful aquaculture.
Disease prevention and control
Fincham explains that biosecurity is paramount to prevent disease, especially as the South African tilapia industry is very young.
“We are fortunate that we don’t have to administer vaccines or antibiotics to our fish. Our primary method of controlling diseases is through biosecurity. Your farm must be bio-secure. If you’re bringing fish onto the farm, they must be healthy fish. You never bring fish you haven’t inspected.”
Continuous monitoring is essential for early detection of issues. Fish behaviour, such as “flashing” (rubbing against the tank bottom), indicates parasitic infections. “By monitoring the behaviour of your fish, you can detect parasites. That means someone is always looking at those fish and monitoring their behaviour. Our farmers and operators are trained to monitor and immediately report problems,” Fincham says.
Production systems
Fincham explains that in South Africa, pond and cage farming for tilapia generally requires warm water areas, such as the Jozini Dam, Limpopo, and northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Recirculating aquaculture systems and raceways can be installed in buildings or greenhouse structures, allowing farming in controlled environments.
“The systems you design, which are closed systems, must allow maximum use of the environment you’re creating. Your tank designs are limited by the underroof space you can create,” he says. Besides tilapia, other freshwater species like carp and catfish can also be farmed using these methods.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes in tilapia farming occur even before the project begins, often due to a lack of adequate knowledge and planning. “With any type of development and business, 90% of that is in the planning,” Fincham says.
Investment in tilapia farming involves substantial financial commitment, often with borrowed money, necessitating careful planning and respect for investors’ expectations, Fincham cautions.
Since the initial growth cycle spans about six months with no income generation, achieving targets in this period is critical to maintain investor confidence. Failure to meet targets in the first six months can lead to investor anxiety, and repeated failures can jeopardise the entire project.
“We’re very mindful of how that money is invested and how we can ensure that some of those risks are mitigated,” Fincham says.
Sustainable farming
“Aquaculture is one of the least resource-hungry livestock operations. It takes 750 litres of water to produce one kilogram of beef, whereas fish only use 20 litres of water,” Fincham explains.
Aquaculture systems are designed to be low-energy because farming is often done in rural communities across Africa. However, a reliable supply of electricity is necessary.
ALSO READ: Aquaculture Development Bill criticised for its blind spots
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