Establishment of a pump-ashore mariculture abalone farm along the coastline of Namibia.

The following are already in place:

• A feasibility study and a business plan including capital and cost budgets for a 10-year period;
• An Environmental Impact Assessment was submitted and accepted by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine and Resources (MFMR);
• Permission to farm with abalone from MFMR;
• Permission to import spat and brood stock from MFMR.

A pilot programme was initiated to establish the feasibility of farming with the South African abalone Haliotis midae in Namibia. A pilot programme was initiated to establish the feasibility of farming with the South African abalone Haliotis midae in Namibia. It was necessary to establish if (i) the South African abalone would acclimatize to local environmental conditions, (ii) if brood stock could be conditioned to spawn, (iii) if animals could be chemically induced to demand-spawn and (iv) if the resultant larvae would be viable. Results obtained over a 12-month period were conclusive.

A total of N$24,4 (US$3,5) million over a three-year development period. From the 4th year onwards, all expenditure will be financed through cash generated from the first harvest in the 4th year.