PhD Aquaculture and Fisheries Science

This is a regional program for Eastern and Southern Africa, given at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi. Aquaculture and fisheries production are major contributors to national economies. In sub-Saharan Africa, capture fisheries is also important contributing on average 4% to GDP. There is however, a general decline in capture fisheries the world over, but more so in sub-Saharan Africa. To supplement the declining production of fish from capture fisheries, governments in sub-Saharan Africa have embarked on developing aquaculture at both smallholder and commercial levels. In southern Africa, Malawi has been mandated to co-ordinate the Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors of the region. To implement this, a state-of-the-art research and training facility was established at Bunda College in Lilongwe in 1999. Fol-lowing an independent review of existing capacities for capacity development for the aquaculture and fisheries sector, Bunda (now Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources) was identified to host a regional facility for training at both MSc. and PhD levels for the RUFORUM countries and others.