HSF Aquaponics Project Coordinator Henties Bay System Setup
After the project pre visit in March to Henties Bay to assess the potential sites for the construction of new aquaponic systems, on August 15th to August 22nd, Mr. Patrick Hilger, the Aquaponics Project Coordinator, traveled to Henties Bay to oversee and support the installation of the aquaponics system. The UNAM Henties Bay Campus was scheduled to receive a turnkey aquaponics unit on a 6x12m site, as outlined in the project agreement and objectives. This activity was allocated one full week. The partner institution was to assist with the installation, which was carried out by Mr. Jean Bouwer, the main contractor for the aquaponics system.
The primary objective of this initial trip was to monitor and assist in the construction of the demonstration aquaponic systems with the partner institution, SAM NUJOMA UNAM CAMPUS. Additionally, Mr. Hilger together with Mr Jean Bouwer explained the components and functions of the system to the main lecturer, trainer, and selected students during the installation phase.
All steps of the setup were meticulously documented to be included in the planned training manual. This manual will be used by the trainer (Mr Hilger) for student instruction and by the individual responsible for system maintenance, as the aquaponics project also serves an educational purpose.
As with any aquaponics system installation, there were a few unforeseen challenges. The initial plan was to stay on-site for four days while the service provider prepared the groundwork and to arrive when the dam liner and special orders from South Africa were delivered. The service provider had already commenced site work on August 12th. Some of the smaller aquaponics materials that were ordered were insufficient, and other materials were missing and had to be reordered. Additionally, some items required refitting, and materials procured from South Africa took longer than expected to arrive. The project coordinator assisted on several occasions with procuring missing items. These challenges contributed to the prolonged installation of the system.
Despite these challenges, progress was made with the system’s installation. During the initial days of the service provider’s involvement, documentation of the construction steps was thorough, making the presence of the project coordinator essential.
Starting on Friday, August 16th, the project coordinator engaged UNAM to ensure more student participation, especially over the weekend when they were not attending classes. Lunch was provided as part of the weekend workshop. Professor Tamuka and the center’s maintenance person also became more involved, which was crucial for fostering learning and ownership.
In conclusion, the system was completed on August 22nd and now requires cycling with bacteria to prepare for the fish. The fish are expected to be introduced in September during the next planned visit to Henties Bay, allowing the winter season to end to avoid cold weather affecting fish transportation. Further training will be conducted once the plants start growing, providing students with practical learning opportunities.
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