07 Oct 2026

A proposal by Aquaculture Consultancy Botswana to establish an integrated aquaculture training and production hub within a Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA)-designated zone has received support.

Founder of Aquaculture Consultancy Botswana, Mr Seloilwe Seloilwe, confirmed in an interview, the Department of Fisheries and Apiculture support, noting that the next step was to engage SEZA to consider zoning the aquaculture hub.

He said the company’s prospect was to establish a world-class Integrated Aquaculture Hub within a SEZA-designated zone.

The proposed zones are Shakawe and Pandamatenga, and he highlighted that the hub would be Botswana’s first fully integrated aquaculture value chain, from fingerling to fork and from feed to training.

He also said the project had secured a Memorandum of Understanding with Ba Isago University for curriculum development, certification and delivery of Human Resource Development Council-accredited short courses in hatchery management, fish health and feed formulation, among others.

“Our mission is to commercialise sustainable aquaculture in Botswana and make the country a net producer of fish and fish products, while the vision of the hub is to create a Special Economic Zone anchor that transforms Botswana into a regional centre of excellence for climate-smart aquaculture production, value addition and human capital development,” he said.

Mr Seloilwe further said the Integrated Aquaculture Hub was not just a fish farm, but an industrial ecosystem that addressed three national challenges at once: food security, youth unemployment and import dependency.

With SEZA’s support and the strategic MoU with Ba Isago University, he said Botswana could become a Southern African Development Community (SADC) leader in sustainable aquaculture technology, training and production.

“We are ready to present detailed designs and financial models to SEZA’s Investment Committee and to host a site visit to our pilot operations. We believe SEZA will consider this proposal and look forward to building Botswana’s Blue Economy together,” he said.

The Department of Fisheries and Apiculture noted that the proposed model had the potential to strengthen the aquaculture value chain and contribute to the development of local technical capacity.

The model incorporates fish hatchery production, recirculating aquaculture systems, fish feed production, fish processing and value addition, as well as training and innovation.

The proposed initiative is considered relevant to Botswana’s efforts to develop a sustainable and commercially viable aquaculture industry. ends