12 JUNE 2013 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Despite this progress, Namibia lacked support industries, e.g. equipment suppliers and fish feed suppliers. To answer to this deficit, the Government of Namibia, with the assistance of the Spanish government, built a fish feed mill in 2009 to supply quality fish feed to farmers. Having seen examples in many African countries, Dr. Iyambo realized that medium- to large-scale private investments in aquaculture were the key to positive development. He encouraged knowledgeable and experienced local and foreign investors to look for opportunities in the Namibian aquaculture sector, recognizing that private-sector operations act as locomotives for aquaculture development. The private sector has made significant investment and continues to be a driving force in the marine aquaculture sector, culturing oysters, abalone, mussels, and marine finfish. Dr. Iyambo wanted investors to have access to affordable finance and so the Ministry formulated guidelines for evaluating aquaculture projects by public financial institutions. He was mindful of the dearth of experts in Namibia to help develop aquaculture. Institutions of higher learning were encouraged to offer courses in aquaculture and to send young people abroad to ensure capacity building and skills development. Dr. Iyambo encouraged universities, polytechnics, research institutions and vocational training institutions to organize tailor-made aquaculture training courses to cater to the needs of the commercial aquaculture sector in Namibia with hands-on practical training. He had confidence that advanced technology and science was part of long-term solutions. He invited experts from aquaculture related fields and institutions of higher learning and research to Namibia to impart and share their knowledge. He hoped that by developing close relationships with aquaculture experts and investors abroad, and by working within its own institutions and associations, Namibia would be able to realize its aquaculture potential in the near future. Furthermore, he called on various international organizations and development partners to assist Namibia to reach its goals for aquaculture development. These initiatives have enabled Namibia to fight the ills of poverty, food insecurity and unemployment. At present, the fruits of his dedication have grown through far-sighted initiatives such as establishing a regulatory framework, a feed mill, South-South cooperation, and a national aquaculture master plan. Dr. Abraham Iyambo was born on 2 February 1961. After secondary education he studied food chemistry in Cuba and then went to England, where he earned a B.Sc. (1990) and Ph.D. (1994) degrees in food science at the University of Surrey. He returned to Namibia in 1994 and worked as a consultant for FAO, GTZ and the Government of Namibia before joining the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources as Deputy Minister in 1995. He became Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources in 1997. In 2010, he was asked to become the Minister of Education. Dr. Iyambo was a member of the international task force responsible for the fight of global IUU. He was a Member of Parliament since 1995 until passing away on his birthday in 2013. In September 2009, Dr. Iyambo was awarded Aquaculturist of the Year by the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa. In November, 2009, the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations honored Dr. Iyambo by awarding the Margarita Lizárraga Medal. He was the first individual to receive this prestigious award, as all previous recipients were organizations. Kungsfenan — The Swedish Seafood Award in sustainable fishing was also awarded to Dr. Iyambo in 2009. He made remarkable contributions to tropical fisheries and aquaculture, especially on responsible aquaculture and fisheries management in Africa and beyond. We recall him with great love, affection and respect as he has always been known as ”Dr. Fish” and ”Dr. Deliver” by the whole Namibian nation. Dr. Iyambo’s vision was unlimited, but of course he was aware of obstacles and problems that must be solved before his vision could be realized. His vision and his hope was that Africa would be able to develop aquaculture and make use of vast and untapped opportunities. EDITORS NOTE: This tribute to Dr. Iyambo was submitted by Md. Ghulam Kibria, Special Aquaculture Advisor to the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and Dr. Samuel Chief Ankama, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Republic of Namibia. Iyambo, continued from page 11
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