SWAKOPMUND – The African Aquaculture Company (ACC) is expected to provide about 5 000 jobs through direct and indirect beneficiation, full production, in-house and services, logistics and construction.

This will be due to the company’s acquisition of an ‘Offshore Commercial Phase’ licence, which will pave the way for Sub-Saharan Africa’s first commercial salmon farming and production facility.

AAC is a subsidiary of the Norwegian African Aquaculture Company.

In a media statement
issued on Friday, the
company’s operations' president in Namibia, Clement Kaukuetu, noted that the licence is operational for 15 years.

Operations mainly focus on three offshore sites north-west of Lüderitz in the
//Kharas region. The AAC, will be producing high value and omega-rich Atlantic Salmon for
export as well as domestic markets.“Relying on Norwegian expertise, the AAC anticipates the initial phase to commence in early May with a projected production capacity of 50 000 tonnes per annum.

The salmon farms are envisaged to contribute to
the socio-economic progression of the country through infrastructure development, job-creation and skills transfer,” Kaukuetu noted.

He added that the AAC is cognisant of the beginning
of the industry, and is embarking on the establishment of a local Salmon Farming Association to invite more players into the globally-lucrative salmon fishing industry. -Nampa