A youth-led hatchery built on science
AquaEco Hatcheries, formerly Aqua-Farms Hatcheries, produces tilapia fingerlings at Bugando Beach, Nyanguge, on the shore of Lake Victoria.
Who we are
AquaEco Hatcheries is the flagship business of AquaEco Ventures Co. Limited. We breed premium tilapia fingerlings for small-scale and commercial fish farmers, and give them the technical support to turn those fingerlings into a profitable harvest.
Tilapia farming is growing fast in Tanzania, but good seed is hard to find. Farmers want fingerlings that grow quickly and reach market size sooner. That is the gap we were set up to close.
Our team is young, trained in aquaculture, and supported by advisers in Europe, North America and other international institutions.
From pilot hatchery to a growing business
- 2021
Pilot
Hatchery operations established in Mwanza.
- 2022
First sales
Hundreds of thousands of fingerlings sold to farmers.
- 2023
Registered
AquaEco Ventures Co. Limited formally registered.
- 2024
Scaling up
Production systems expanded and consultancy services added.
What guides our work
- Quality
- Robust, disease-resistant fingerlings ready for rapid growth.
- Sustainability
- Responsible water use and solar power in our production systems.
- Community
- Training, support and jobs for the farmers and youth around us.
- Innovation
- Ongoing research into better hatchery methods for African conditions.
Leadership
Mbonea Assery Mdoe
Founder and CEO
Mbonea holds a BSc in Agriculture (Aquaculture) and has more than eight years of field experience, with international training in hatchery management and production systems. Mbonea is also a certified SSI Open Water Instructor and Divemaster.