Aquaponics project in Henties Bay shows promise
Aquaponics, a farming system that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (growing plants in water), is showing potential as a sustainable solution for Namibia’s desert coastal regions.
This was highlighted in a presentation by Professor Tamuka Nhiwatiwa from the University of Namibia’s Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (SANUMARC) during the Sustainable Fisheries Seminar hosted by the International University of Management (IUM) in Walvis Bay.
Professor Nhiwatiwa reflected on the one-year aquaponics trial at Henties Bay, describing it as a “self- contained and very good system” that aligns with Namibia’s broader economic and environmental agenda.
He, however, cautioned that success depends heavily on supportive policies and sustainable funding models.
“We cannot run aquaponics projects in isolation. They must be supported by policy frameworks, long-term funding mechanisms and continuous community engagement. Otherwise these initiatives risk failure,” he said.
Public trust
The professor stressed that many past green projects have collapsed after short trial period creating what he referred to as “graveyards of failed initiatives.”
He warned that such failures damage public trust and make it harder to secure government backing or investment.
“If projects are only run for three months and then abandoned, they are bound to fail. My biggest worry is that with each failure it becomes more difficult to convince stakeholders to support future initiatives. We need to show success stories,” he added.
Looking ahead, Nhiwatiwa encouraged public-private partnerships and greater efforts toward commercialisation as a means of scaling up aquaponics in Namibia.
He emphasised that with sustained commitment aquaponics could become a model for food security and economic diversification in arid coastal communities.
The Henties Bay trial, though still at an early stage, demonstrates how innovative farming can thrive in harsh desert conditions when supported by research and local collaboration.
The call now is for stronger policy backing, funding continuity and partnerships that can transform aquaponics from small pilot projects into lasting impactful programs.
This was highlighted in a presentation by Professor Tamuka Nhiwatiwa from the University of Namibia’s Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (SANUMARC) during the Sustainable Fisheries Seminar hosted by the International University of Management (IUM) in Walvis Bay.
Professor Nhiwatiwa reflected on the one-year aquaponics trial at Henties Bay, describing it as a “self- contained and very good system” that aligns with Namibia’s broader economic and environmental agenda.
He, however, cautioned that success depends heavily on supportive policies and sustainable funding models.
“We cannot run aquaponics projects in isolation. They must be supported by policy frameworks, long-term funding mechanisms and continuous community engagement. Otherwise these initiatives risk failure,” he said.
Public trust
The professor stressed that many past green projects have collapsed after short trial period creating what he referred to as “graveyards of failed initiatives.”
He warned that such failures damage public trust and make it harder to secure government backing or investment.
“If projects are only run for three months and then abandoned, they are bound to fail. My biggest worry is that with each failure it becomes more difficult to convince stakeholders to support future initiatives. We need to show success stories,” he added.
Looking ahead, Nhiwatiwa encouraged public-private partnerships and greater efforts toward commercialisation as a means of scaling up aquaponics in Namibia.
He emphasised that with sustained commitment aquaponics could become a model for food security and economic diversification in arid coastal communities.
The Henties Bay trial, though still at an early stage, demonstrates how innovative farming can thrive in harsh desert conditions when supported by research and local collaboration.
The call now is for stronger policy backing, funding continuity and partnerships that can transform aquaponics from small pilot projects into lasting impactful programs.
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