Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa Edited by Modadugu V. Gupta Devin M. Bartley Belen O. Acosta CHAPTER | Topic i Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa Edited by Modadugu V. Gupta Devin M. Bartley Belen O. Acosta 2004 Published by WorldFish Center PO Box 500 GPO, 10670 Penang, Malaysia Gupta, M.V., D.M. Bartley and B.O. Acosta (eds.) 2004. Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa. WorldFish Center Conference Proceedings 68, 113 p. Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia. Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Use of genetically improved and alien species for aquaculture and conservation of aquatic biodiversity in Africa / edited by Modadugu V. Gupta, Devin M. Bartley, Belen O. Acosta. ISBN 983-2346-27-4 1. Aquaculture--Africa. 2. Fishery technology--Africa. 3. Fishes-- Genetics. 4. Biological diversity conservation--Africa. I. Gupta, Modadugu V. II. Bartley, Devin M. III. Acosta, Belen O. 639.8096 Cover photos by: R. Brummett and WorldFish photo collection ISBN 983-2346-27-4 WorldFish Center Contribution No. 1707 Printed by Oriental Graphics Sdn. Bhd., No. 20, Persiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Bay, Sg. Nibong, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia. The WorldFish Center is one of the 15 international research centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) that has initiated the public awareness cam paign, Future Harvest. ii WorldFish Center | Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa Contents Foreword v Preface vi Opportunities and Challenges for African Aquaculture 1 Daniel Jamu and Randall Brummett Genetic Improvement with Specific Reference to Tilapia Genetic 10 Resources in Africa and Their Use in Aquaculture – Potential Benefits and Risks Aggrey Ambali and Lawrence Malekano Introduction of Alien Species/Strains and Their Impact on 16 Biodiversity Devin Bartley and Felix Marttin Invasive Species in Water-Dependent Ecosystems 22 Geoffrey Howard Capacity for Developing and Managing Genetically Improved Strains 27 of Tilapia in Africa including Broodstock Management and Quarantine Valentine Yapi-Gnaore, N.C. Kouassi, O.S. Assemien and Z.J. Oteme Capacity for Conservation of African Aquatic Biodiversity 36 Magnus Ngoile and Wilfred Sarunday Biodiversity Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Policies, Laws and 42 Institutions to Control/Prevent the Introduction of Invasive Alien Species John Mugabe The Role of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena 47 Protocol on Biosafety in Minimizing Adverse Effects of Invasive Alien Species and Living Modified Organisms Ryan Hill and Cyrie Sendashonga A Biosafety Approach to Addressing Risks Posed by Aquaculture 56 Escapees Loren Miller, Anne Kapuscinski and Wansuk Senanan Quarantine Procedures and their Implementation 66 Rohana Subasinghe Protocols for Moving Germplasm among Countries in Africa 77 Irene de Moor Summary of Discussions and Recommendations from The Workshop 93 Nairobi Declaration 101 CHAPTCEoRn | tTeonptisc iii Foreword In response to major challenges faced by the developing world today on food insecurity and malnutrition, greater efforts are being made to domesticate new species and improve production traits of commercially important aquatic species. In many developing countries particularly in Asia, national breeding programs for major aquaculture species have been established with some of the improved fi sh approaching commercialization and widespread dissemination stage. While signifi cant progress has been achieved in this aspect, developing countries are also confronted with concerns about the potential impact of introductions of improved fi sh and other alien species particularly in Africa, a region known for its rich diversity in freshwater fi sh. The concern expressed by environmentalists centers on potential negative ecological and genetic implications of introduced species on wild genetic resources due to interbreeding of domesticated stocks with populations from the wild. In view of the risks associated with indiscriminate introductions, the governments of African countries are now faced with the challenge of ensuring the enforcement of biosafety regulations/ guidelines and of achieving the participation and full cooperation of sectoral institutions and key stakeholders. These include not only the public sector institutions (national, regional and international) responsible for issues pertaining to the introduction/release of improved or alien invasive species, but also the private sector groups. To increase the benefi ts of aquaculture while protecting the environment/native biota, there has to be better recognition by all sectors/stakeholders of the interdependence of genetic enhancement and genetic conservation. The “Expert Consultation on Biosafety and Environmental Impact of Genetic Enhancement and Introductions of Improved and Alien Species in Africa” held in Nairobi, Kenya during 20-23 February 2002 is a signifi cant step to enhance awareness among African institutions, agencies, planners of the issues involved in improving production through introductions of improved strains/alien species while sustaining the biodiversity. I recommend the proceedings of the consultation presented to you. You will fi nd it a useful tool as these provide valuable information on the status and potential for genetic improvement, introductions and risks of introduced/alien species, and tools and policies for introductions and transfers of these species. Meryl J. Williams Director General WorldFish Center iv WorldFish Center | Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa Preface Africa’s population has grown from 200 million to 500 million in 30 years and is projected to grow to 2 billion by 2050. With the rapid increase in population growth, the region has been the focus of great concerns for food security. Per capita food availability remains the lowest, at an average of 2 100 kilocalories per day. Over 200 million people suffer from chronic malnutrition. It is projected that at current levels of consumption, without allowing for additional imports of food, Africa would have to increase food production by 300 per cent to provide minimally adequate diets for 2 billion people by 2050. The majority of African populations have traditionally relied on fi sh, derived mainly from capture fi sheries, as the primary source of animal protein in their diet. Fish represented more than 50 per cent of animal protein consumed by developing countries during the mid-1990s and some African countries fall into this category. However, for Africa as a whole, fi sh availability has declined, and in some countries (for example Ghana, Liberia, and Malawi), the average diet contained less fi sh protein in the 1990s than it did during the 1970s. Fish catches from the wild are declining due to land and catchments degradation brought about by the rapid increase in population and human activities and over-fi shing. Under this situation, a growing number of African farmers consider aquaculture as an option for improving food production and farm income. Unlike in Asia, aquaculture in Africa has only been slightly exploited to meet the needs of the growing population. The total aquaculture production in Africa in 2000 was estimated at 392 213 t and contributed only about 1.1 per cent of the global aquaculture production. Tilapia accounts for about 40 per cent of aquaculture production in the region. To realize the potential for aquaculture to contribute to food security and compensate for the low growth of capture fi sheries, productivity in African aquaculture needs to be increased, made more effi cient, and sustainable. Hence, a growing number of African nations are examining ways to achieve this. While there is room for increasing aquaculture production through better farm management, the increases in production needed to meet the demand will require the use of genetically improved and/or better fi sh breeds, as has been the case in crops and livestock. Genetic improvement of tropical fi sh has recently begun to help increase productivity from aquaculture and enhance benefi ts to the farming community. Studies undertaken in Asia have clearly indicated that production from aquaculture operations in tropical countries could be substantially increased through selective breeding of major aquaculture species. Recognizing the potential of this, efforts are now underway in various parts of Africa to domesticate new species for aquaculture and improve fi sh production through genetic enhancement. Africa is the world’s repository of diverse freshwater fi sh fauna and home to native tilapias. The region has 7 502 freshwater fi sh species distributed in natural water bodies of 48 countries. It also boasts of large natural and man-made lakes, which are important fi sh and conservation areas. Lake Nyasa, for example has the highest species diversity of any lake in the world, while Lake Tanganyika has a greater diversity of fi sh families and, in terms of genetic diversity, is the richer lake. Genetically improved fi sh developed through selective breeding and other genetic improvement technologies have been projected to bring socio-economic benefi ts, especially to poor farmers. However, despite these benefi ts, there might be risks associated with intentional and non-intentional introductions of the improved fi sh into natural waters. Hence, while there is an urgent need to enhance fi sh production by developing improved fi sh breeds, it is also imperative that valuable genetic resources and biodiversity are conserved and protected. In view of this, African scientists and international organizations involved in aquaculture development and biodiversity conservation felt that guidelines that will help foster the development of aquaculture while maintaining biodiversity and sustaining capture fi sheries were necessary. CHAPTERP r|e Tfoapciec v Bringing awareness among African institutions, agencies, planners of the issues involved in improving production through the introduction of improved breeds and alien species while sustaining biodiversity is the fi rst crucial step in this process. In view of this, the WorldFish Center in collaboration with the Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) organized an “Expert Consultation on Biosafety and Environmental Impact of Genetic Enhancement and Introduction of Improved and Alien Species in Africa” during 20-23 February 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya, to bring together fi shery and conservation experts, resource managers, geneticists and policy- makers from African countries (Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia), advanced scientifi c institutions, and regional and international organizations to discuss ways to increasing production without compromising biodiversity conservation. This proceedings volume reviews the potential and constraints for aquaculture development in Africa, the status and potential for genetic improvement, introductions and risks of introduced improved and alien species, and tools and policies for introductions and movements of improved and alien species. We gratefully acknowledge the fi nancial support provided by CTA, FAO and IUCN and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya for providing the venue for the meeting. Special thanks are also due to the paticipants for their invaluable contributions in the discussions. Modadugu V. Gupta Devin M. Bartley Belen O. Acosta vi WorldFish Center | Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa Opportunities and Challenges for African Aquaculture Daniel Jamu1 and Randall Brummett2 1WorldFish Center P.O. Box 229, Zomba, Malawi 2WorldFish Center, BP 2008, Yaounde, Cameroon Abstract Starting from a small base, aquaculture production in Africa registered annual growth rates equal to or above those in other regions. This expansion was due to signifi cant increases in a few African countries. Increasing demand coupled with rapidly dwindling catches from capture fi sheries, the implementation of novel participatory approaches to technology development and transfer, and the emergence of a few successful large-scale tilapia culture operations directed at the export market offer opportunities for further expansion in both the small-scale and large-scale commercial sectors. Existing biotechnical, economic and institutional challenges, which include lack of national policies to guide aquaculture development, unfriendly investment policies, the absence of linkages between farmers, research/technology development and extension, and unfavorable investment climates, are currently being addressed in a number of African countries. Long-term economic sustainability of African aquaculture will depend on the development and implementation of national policies that ensure the social and environmental sustainability of the industry. Introduction Traditional Aquaculture Africa has big potential for fi sh farming with 37 per cent of its surface area suitable for artisanal The contribution of traditional African and 43 per cent suitable for commercial fi sh aquaculture systems to overall production is not production (Aguilar-Manjarrez and Nath 1998). well documented. These systems are believed to Although Africa contributed less than 1 per cent have arisen independently in different regions to global aquaculture production (251 000 t particularly in fl oodplains and lower courses in 1999), the production has been expanding of rivers characterized by seasonal cycles of since 1984 at a rate equal to or greater than the fl ooding and drought and include the damming global rate, albeit from a much smaller base (FAO of natural depressions, drain-in ponds and 1997). If the statistics are to be relied, over 90 per brushparks (ICLARM-GTZ 1991). These systems cent of reported aquaculture production comes are common in West Africa and in the Nile Delta from Egypt and Nigeria. Madagascar (6 000 t) and typical production ranges from 0.1 to 3.8 and Zambia (4 000 t) add another 4 per cent. The t/ha/year (Table 1). rest of the continent combined, contributes less than 5 per cent to overall output (FishStat 2001). Drain-In Ponds Unfortunately, these fi gures are probably not very accurate. Institutional motives for over-reporting Drain-in ponds are mainly found in the Nile combined with inadequate/poor data collection Delta and West and Central Africa. There are and analysis leave us with a very fuzzy image of two major types of drain-in ponds: ouedos and the actual status of aquaculture sector in Africa. ahlos of West and Central Africa, and the hoawash Reliability of statistics could be improved from (Figure 1) which are mainly found in the Nile personal interviews with government offi cials Delta. Both types of drain-in ponds are used to and farmers, along with direct observation of culture tilapias. the situation on the ground. The current status of African aquaculture as stated in the paper is based The ouedos are used by people living in the Ouémé on such personal knowledge, combined with the valley of Benin to catch fi sh when fl oodwaters fi ndings of a review of the subject recently done recede in the fl oodplain (Nzamujo 1995). Fish by the Committee for the Inland Fisheries of holes are also used in the deltaic fl oodplains Africa (CIFA) in consultation with a variety of of Cameroon (Balarin 1985). The fi sh holes, stakeholders (FAO 2000). which are 50 to 1 500 m long and 4 m wide, Opportunities and Challenges for African Aquaculture 1 are constructed from natural water channels and are deepened to about 1.5 m below the dry season water table (ICLARM-GTZ 1991). Fish, predominantly tilapias, enter naturally into the fi sh holes during the wet season and are trapped as fl oodwaters recede. The fi sh are then harvested using nets or mobile reed barriers. During the dry season, animals graze in the fi sh holes and their manure fertilize the fi sh holes (Nzamujo 1995). The ouedos are integrated with agriculture in Benin where maize is cultivated in the drawdown areas between ponds and vegetables are cultivated on the banks around the drawdown areas (Welcomme 1983). Ahlos are fi sh holes with tree branches inside to provide refuge and food for the fi sh. The ahlos are a combination of the brushparks/acadjas and ouedos (Welcomme 1971). The problems faced by these systems include population growth, deforestation due to cutting of trees to Figure 1. A brushpark in a lake in Nigeria (top) and a howash in the provide branches for the ahlos, accumulation of Nile Delta, Egypt (bottom) undecomposed branches which reduce water fl ow and the indiscriminate harvesting of smaller fi sh thus reducing recruitment into the rivers and lakes using branches to promote and attract food. (Nzamujo 1995; Welcomme and Kapetsky 1981). However, high costs associated with setting up the enclosures and supplementary feeds have made Brushparks it diffi cult for local communities to adopt the technology (Nzamujo 1995). Brushparks (Figure 1) consist of branches, bushes or other soft vegetation stuck into muddy bottoms Brushparks compete with adjacent capture of lagoons, lakes or rivers (Welcomme and Kapetsky fi sheries by attracting the juveniles from the 1981). Brushparks are used in various parts of the open water to the brushpark, and there is New World, for example Ecuador, Madagascar, also competition for space and resources. Malawi, Mexico, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and West Brushparks contribute to local deforestation and Africa (Welcomme and Kapetsky 1981; Kapetsky environmental degradation as well (Welcomme 1981; Williamson 1972). In Africa, brushparks are and Kapetsky 1981). To minimize deforestation common in West Africa where the black chinned and accumulation of organic matter in the system, tilapia Sarothederon melanotheron constitutes Hem and Avit (1996) used bamboos, which last about 60 per cent of the species caught from the up to six years compared to soft wood branches brushparks. Brushparks are extremely productive that need to be replaced annually. The confl ict (Table 1) and their yields, which range from 5 to10 between the brushparks and capture fi sheries is t/ha/year are comparable to modern intensive exacerbated when the brushpark is used as a fi sh aquaculture operations (Welcomme and Kapetsky aggregation device. This occurs when harvesting is 1981). The high productivity of brushparks is undertaken at short intervals (three months), thus attributed to high nutrient loading resulting frm not allowing the fi sh to breed and grow inside the the decomposition of the wood in the brushpark. brushparks. (Hem and Avit 1996). The prolifi c The brushwood and branches in the brushpark spread of brushparks in Benin has also been also act as a growth substrate for epiphytic algae, shown to result in serious social confl icts between attract insects and provide breeding sites for fi sh. brushpark owners and navigators (Pliya 1980). Attempts have been made to improve the Introduced Culture Systems management of brushparks in Benin through the stocking of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Most African aquaculturists use culture and the use of conventional feed instead of technology imported from Asia, Europe and 2 WorldFish Center | Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa North America as part of rural development Zambian Kwacha per kg, equivalent to about projects. Most of these are based on earthen US$0.81 (Lally 2000; Edward Lally personal ponds. According to King (1993), over 90 per communication). Other animals produced on cent of cultured fi sh in Sub-Saharan Africa the farm are pigs and ducks. come from earthen ponds of 200 to 500 m2 fed with locally available, low-cost agricultural by- In Egypt, where aquaculture is reputed to be a products. In general, the production from these booming industry (Wassef 2000), producers in ponds is input-limited, both in terms of quality the Fayoum depression south of Cairo are typical. and quantity resulting in yields of 1 000 to 2 000 These farmers operate 1 to 2 ha earthen ponds, kg/ha/year. However, these ponds are multiple producing primarily O. niloticus and mullets (a purpose facilities for the farming households mixture of mostly wild-caught Mugil cephalus rather than just for fi sh production (Brummett and M. lazera), sometimes with aeration. New and Noble 1995). Field studies have indicated hatchery systems developed in Asia have been that a good percentage of the fi sh grown in such built by private investors to permit the use of systems are bartered or consumed directly by the sex-reversal technology (Figure 2). Pelleted diets farm households and so never enter the cash manufactured locally by animal feed companies economy (Brummett and Chikafumbwa 1995). are used to achieve fi sh standing stocks of up to Almost all of these fi sh are disposed of on the 3 000 kg/ha/cycle. pond-bank within minutes of harvest, a fi nding that might mean that actual fi sh production Raceway or tank systems (Figure 3) are less in Sub-Saharan Africa is much more than that common than ponds, but in situations where reported in offi cial statistics. water is either available by gravity or is being pumped for other purposes, these can also be Commercial systems in Africa are few in number profi table. On the Namibian coast, oysters are and idiosyncratic, making analyses of systems and being raised in evaporation raceways operated by trends rather diffi cult. In Zambia, commercial a salt export company and are sold to restaurants pig-fi sh systems routinely produce yields of up to increase the economic effi ciency of the salt to 5.4 t/ha. For example, the Kafue Fisheries enterprise. Likewise, Baobab farm in Mombassa, Company in Zambia, which at 1 870 ha is the Kenya has been operating since the early 1970s largest integrated fi sh farm in Africa, covers 37 ha with water pumped to supply the Bamburi of water and produces 1.5 t/week of 180 to250g Cement Plant. The Baobab system incorporates sized fi sh of mostly indigenous tilapias (O. novel circular spawning tanks that can produce andersonni, O. mossambicus, O. niloticus, Clarias up to 60 000 fry of 2 g each per month. Growth gariepinus and Cyprinus carpio). Production is rates of about 1.5 g/day can produce 250 to 400 sold in Lusaka (the Zambian capital) at 3 000 g market sized tilapias in eight to nine months. Table 1. Summary of the characteristics, inputs and expected yields of selected traditional extensive African aquaculture systems (ICLARM-GTZ 1991). System Essential Inputs Accessory Time to Harvest SeedStock Extrapolated Yield (Dimensions) Equipment (t/ha/year) Damming; Excavation, Nets Various, often Adventitious entry 0.25-0.5 Depressions (≥ 1ha) supplemental feed unregulated of wild stock Drain-in Ponds Howash (1-20ha) Earthen dikes, Pump, boat, nets 1-10 yrs Adventitious entry 0.5-4.5 pumping, manure, of wild stock feeds Ouedos (20-1250m Excavation Net/traps 4 mos “ 1.0-2.1 trench) Ahlos(30m trench) Excavation, Net 1 yr “ 1.0 branches Brushparks Acadjas Branches Canoe, Nets 1-6 yrs “ 4-20 Adokpo Branches Canoe, Nets 4-8 mos “ 8-10 Barachois Stone wall Seine net 1 yr “ 0.1 Opportunities and Challenges for African Aquaculture 3 Figure 2. Improved hatchery systems for pond farming of tilapias on a privately owned farm in Egypt (top) and the employment potential of a pond-based tilapia farm in Malawi (bottom). Feeds manufactured from local by-products are Figure 3. Trout farm in Zimbabwe (top) and an oyster farm used. Regular grading to ensure that only the integrated with a salt production facility, Namibia (bottom). fastest growing individuals are maintained is a key to the success of the operation. The culls are Cage culture systems, which exist as pilot or fully fed to crocodiles, the skins of which add to the operational systems in Southern and West Africa, profi tability of the system. have so far not signifi cantly contributed to overall production. For example, in 1992, cage culture Raceways are also being used in Zimbabwe for systems contributed about 2.5 per cent to the total outgrowing tilapias (O. niloticus) from 50 g to tilapia production (7 755 t) in Nigeria (Ezenwa about 700 g in eight months (Windma‘r et al. 1994). Cages are usually made out of wire 2000a). A raceway 650 m long with average water mesh and securely locked to avoid losses from fl ow rate of 1.7 m3 per second in the Zambezi crocodiles, which are prevalent in most African River is employed to produce 480 t of whole lakes, rivers and reservoirs. While not much tilapia. The raceway facility in Zimbabwe also information is available on cage culture in Africa, incorporates a recirculating system for a pond and existing data indicate that low lake levels adversely tank-based hatchery unit. The tilapia is processed affect the cage culture of tilapias. The high cost into fi llets and are exported fresh or frozen to the of production makes them an uncompetitive, European Union Market. Raceways are also being cheap imported marine species (Marshall and used in Kenya to produce O.niloticus. Balarin and Maes 1994). Returns to small-scale cage culture Haller (1979) reported that 10 x 1.5 x 0.4 m have also been reported to be unpredictable and deep raceways were being employed to rear fry. dependent on the cost of fi ngerlings, feed (which The raceways used water from production tanks can amount to 60 to 70 per cent of the total cost) where the water was exchanged at three to four and the fi sh itself (Marshall and Maes 1994). times of the water volume per hour. The fi sh were There are, however, a few successful cage culture fed a 22 per cent crude protein diet and harvests operations in Africa. The largest is in Lake Kariba of 22.5 kg/m3 were attained. with an annual production capacity of 2 000 t 4 WorldFish Center | Use of Genetically Improved and Alien Species for Aquaculture and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa