One of the common challenges in low-input fish farming systems in rural African aquaculture is the uncontrolled reproduction in the ponds due to the use of mixed-sex Tilapias. To tackle the problem, a size-selective, cheap wire mesh fish trap (material cost around 3 USD) was developed to help reduce the number of offspring through intermittent harvesting while leaving the initial fish stock (parent fish) in the pond to grow. Fish farmers using this technology are satisfied with the minimal workload required to harvest the fish, as well as amount and size of fish harvested. Furthermore, results of a comparative study revealed that fish farmers using the technology (intervention group, n=53) eat significantly more fish (3 – 4 times a week) and tend to eat more fish from their own ponds, compared to fish farmers without trap (control group 1, n=52). Additionally, households using the innovative technology had more diversified diets and were also less likely to experience food insecurity than control group 1 and control group 2 (farmers without fish pond, n=55).
The Aquaculture Value Chain for Higher Income and Food Security Project (AVCP), part of the Global Programme “Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture” commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development supported the development and distribution of the innovative trap technology in collaboration with the Malawi Government through the Department of Fisheries. A three-arm comparison study in the Northern Region of Malawi aimed at assessing the impact of intermittent harvesting on Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale (HFIES), Food Consumption Score (FCS), and fish consumption. In all four indicators, the intervention group had higher scores compared to the control groups.