Oyster farmer to grow species at Walvis Bay

Namibian waters are favourable for growing species like oysters when compared to other areas in the world.

“Oysters grow to market size in eight to 10 months for a 100 gram oyster in Namibian waters compared to 18 to 36 months to grow in countries like France,” oyster farmer Joe Gross said this week.

He was speaking during a presentation to the Walvis Bay Municipality on plans to develop a 40 hectare oyster and abalone farm along the Walvis Bay coastline.
Gross stated that a project of this magnitude could rake in much-needed foreign currency for the country and create thousands of jobs.

“Skills development for Namibians in an industry like this has massive potential for growth,” he said.

The oyster farmer said he wants to contribute to bringing the oyster industry back to where it was before it suffered a setback in 2008. In that year, local oyster farming operations were flooded by the 'red tide', causing millions of dollars in losses. Red tide is a common term for used for a harmful algal bloom.

The oyster farmer also added that the project will be environmentally friendly.
“All the industries in the world that farm with marine aquaculture successfully do it on a very large scale. We want to plant the seed today, but to make this a viable successful project we would need more land,” Gross said.

He further explained to the council that the company is looking into getting an additional 500 to 600 hectares of land near the ocean to expand its operations.
Meanwhile, Walvis Bay Mayor Derek Klazen responded that the council carried out a study along the Walvis Bay coastline years ago and earmarked a portion of land for mari-culture, a specialised branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms for food.

He, however, told Gross that such a large piece of land is not available now.
“There are quite a few investors that also want to develop land along the coastline and we have to see how we can accommodate everyone on the same piece of land,” the mayor said.

He said he would discuss the company’s ideas with the council and representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources as the proposed project holds enormous potential for the country’s economy.

click to enlarge DELIGHTFUL: Namibian mari-culture farmer Joe Gross presents President Hifi kepunye Pohamba with different types of oysters when he paid a courtesy call on State House © NAMPA