Fish farming provides prospects for the future of children
BioMar helps African children in orphanages in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to learn about the benefits of eating fresh fish and the different career opportunities that the aquaculture industry can offer.
Vanessa Paillet, BioMar’s Sales Manager for Africa, has run seminars in two orphanages in Côte d’Ivoire: the Bingerville Orphanage for boys and the Grand Bassam National Orphanage for girls. The children were taught the basics about aquaculture in general, and more specifically about the different methods of fish farming and the fish species bred on the African continent.
Future jobs in aquaculture
A special focus was made on the various professions in the aquaculture value chain, which were previously unknown by the children, such as fish farmer, fishmonger, laboratory technician, researcher and aquaculture veterinarian.
- It was so important to show these children that aquaculture is a real opportunity for their future, especially in a profitable context where the Ivorian government is encouraging the fish farming industry. The country will need educated and skilled employees to develop this industry in the future. The whole value chain might be built by these children, says Vanessa Paillet.
The children were attentively listening to Vanessa Paillet from BioMar, and now the orphanages dispose of breeding tanks to put their knowledge about fish farming into practice.
Donation of breeding tanks
The children and their teachers have shown such enthusiasm to the seminars that they are keen to put their knowledge into practice. BioMar is setting up a breeding tank for the children in each orphanage in collaboration with a local BioMar partner, Mr Habibe Coullibally, owner of the Ivorian farm Fish Farm Success, who is generously donating the fish fry for the project.
Locally farmed fresh fish
In an initiative to introduce the children to eating fresh fish, BioMar is supplying both orphanages with 10 kg of local farmed fish each month. This action provides an alternative to frozen fish, which is generally imported from Asia, and is increasing general awareness of traceability and food hygiene among children and staff. BioMar has also distributed toys and school supplies to help the orphanages on a practical level.
- We strive to deliver upon a number of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “Zero Hunger” is one of them, thus contributing to ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable food production are of utmost importance for BioMar. By encouraging children to learn about the benefits of eating fresh, locally farmed fish, we hope to raise their awareness and their interest for the sustainable farming of safe and healthy food, says Vanessa Paillet.
Seminars about fish farming in two orphanages in Côte d’Ivoire, run by Vanessa Paillet, BioMar’s Sales Manager for Africa, have largely inspired the children to see the benefits of eating fresh, locally farmed fish.
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The article is also available in French