Being 2012 MSc. Aquaculture graduate from Ghent university solidified my aquaculture professional skills after obtaining my BSc. Aquaculture in 2007 from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. Ghent University not only improved my skills but also created confidence, regional and international collaborations that contributed to the significant contributions I have made in the development of Aquaculture in my country which has grown >300% in the past 15 years. I have been trusted to serve higher posts such as Assistant Director of Aquaculture in Tanzania and currently serving regionally as Lake Tanganyika Aquaculture Specialist under The Nature Conservancy.
Ghent University being Artemia Reference Canter – ARC, immensely contributed to my championship in leading Artemia research project in the country known as Optimizing Artemia Production Technology for Sustainable Aquaculture Development (APTSAD) For Food Security and Economic Growth for East African Coastal Communities funded by WIOMSA. Achievements obtained include the awareness created to the public and policy makers on the significancy of Artemia in Aquaculture Industry. Accordingly, capacity building to the coastal community through practical training on Artemia farming, Artemia demonstration farms/ponds, and research sponsorship to a MSc student. Other achievement is the recent publication titled Biometry, hatching efficiency, growth performance and survival of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana from Tanzania published in African Journal of Marine Science, DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2024.2443545.
Nevertheless, Aquaculture in Tanzania is still challenged by low productivity due to slow adoption of best management practices, low investments, poor technology, insufficient skills in writing bankable aquaculture projects/proposals, business management, partnership, market and ICT skills. Major focus of aquaculture courses has been on the fish production and leaving the business, marketing and value addition behind which are key aspects in commercial aquaculture. Therefore, capacity building is required for both aquaculture professionals and practitioners to be able to push aquaculture in higher dimension.
Keywords: Commercial aquaculture, Ghent University, Tanzania