Hooked on fresh catfish

Namibian entrepreneur Johannes Shuuya, a fish farmer and founder of Fikameni Fish Farming, began his aquaculture venture in 2024 at Ombandjele village in the Omusati region and has made notable strides since then.

He now supplies restaurants across the country, with orders streaming in from both businesses and individuals.

Shuuya named his business Fikameni Fish Farming after his three-year-old son, Silas Fikameni Shuuya, hoping the boy will one day follow in his footsteps. At just three years old, Silas is already learning the basics of the business.

Reflecting on his experience, Shuuya told Namibian Sun that 2024 was a challenging year. He initially struggled with feeding, lacking the necessary knowledge about fish nutrition.

“I started with just three 50 kg bags of feed per month, which was insufficient because fish require proper feeding," he explained.

"Now, I purchase at least four to five 50 kg bags to ensure the health of all my fingerlings and prevent mortality. In 2025, I used 25 bags of fish feed,” he said.

He admitted that his first 2024 harvest was disappointing, with many customers complaining about the small size of the fish.

This feedback motivated him to get proper training on fish feeding techniques, allowing him to start strong in 2025. He raised 8 000 fingerlings (juvenile fish), of which 4 500 were successfully harvested.

With a promising yield of 4 500 fish, he generated a profit of N$32 000, which he immediately reinvested to expand his hatching pond capacity to 12 000 fingerlings.

With demand growing, Shuuya has expanded his operations to keep pace with a steady stream of orders.

He has established agreements with several hotels, including SOS Club Hotel, Uutapi and Omankete Lounge, which have praised the quality of his fish for their culinary offerings.

“Supplying hotels, lounges, and individual customers from a small pond is challenging. I want to maintain my customer base, which prompted my decision to expand,” he said.

Shuuya encourages local farmers to consider venturing into aquaculture, noting that many consumers prefer fish over meat due to health benefits, thus reducing competition for customers.

Giving back to the community

Shuuya employs four permanent staff members and hires temporary workers during harvest seasons.

During previous harvests, he was able to hire 12 temporary workers for fishing and cleaning tasks, primarily local individuals.

He said many locals approach him for work and he considers them for employment during peak harvest periods.

“If more farmers enter the aquaculture sector, it would create additional employment opportunities and inspire others to start their own fish farming businesses,” the entrepreneur advised.

Tricky business

Shuuya highlighted that establishing a pond is quite expensive. The cost of hiring an excavator is currently N$1 100 per hour, and due to rising fuel prices, this is expected to increase to N$1 400.

The total cost for pond construction can reach approximately N$25 000, depending on the speed of the work.

To address these challenges, he suggested that government consider subsidising the initial set-up phase of operations, which would encourage farmers to expand their businesses annually and attract new entrants into the sector.

He acknowledged that while some individuals may be interested in aquaculture, securing the N$25 000 needed for pond construction can be a barrier.

In terms of sales, Shuuya sells his fish at N$70 per bundle of five, while wholesalers are charged N$50 per bundle.

Shuuya said he plans to diversify the fish operation by adding tilapia, although he noted that tilapia feed is currently unavailable in Namibia and will need to be sourced from Zambia.