RESEARCH

The Centre currently has seven areas of research.

1. Mariculture Research & Development
Mariculture has been declared a national development priority in Namibia. Research at the Centre currently includes comparisons of the food preferences and growth of abalone, the sulphur and hypoxia tolerance of oysters, and finfish breeding and culture. A new facility dedicated to mariculture research is under development at the Centre, called the Solitude Research Centre.

2. Mushroom Research & Development
Although research has already been carried on the culture of different mushrooms in inland areas, the coastal zone provides a more suitable, humid environment, as well as different materials to use as substrates.

3. Seaweed Research & Development
Seaweeds can be used for: food; as fertiliser; as supplement for livestock feeds; as a source of aquaculture feeds; and as the basis for cosmetic products as well as pharmaceuticals and health supplements.

Some species of seaweed and algae can be cultured, and there is a need to assess resources in the wild.

4. Coastal Agriculture
Research is planned on crops that can be irrigated with salt water, such as Salicornia, as well as indigenous species and more conventional crops and tree species that will grow at the coast.

5. Renewable Energy Sources
Technology to harness wind energy needs to be tested at the coast and the feasibility of harnessing the energy of waves will be tested.

Biogas production from domestic waste is also being developed for the local community.

6. Water Resources
Fresh water is a scarce resource at the coast. The presence of vast quantities of seawater points to research on the possibility of using desalination technology, for small and large scale applications.

7. Coastal Environment
The Namibian Coast is a harsh environment for buildings and equipment. Research will be carried out on coatings and other methods of protection against corrosion. Baseline data on the climate at Henties is also being collected.