Aquaculture

There are many causes of poverty, but the most devastating natural cause is drought. Due to poor forestation practices many regions in Oaxaca have been left to the bare sun and whole populations have dropped into a depth of poverty that is staggering. Drought leads to lack of food and this lack of food is most devastating to the weak and young. Animals cannot survive and people begin to rely on rice, beans and the little corn they can grow on the parched hillsides. No meat is available.

Fishponds provide a unique relief to drought stricken regions. Tilapia, fast-growing & nutritious fish, add much needed protein to the diet of those suffering from hunger. The ponds also provide an oasis of water that can supply fruit trees with enough water to produce sweet nourishing fruit.

Matt Shannon, a missionary to Roca Blanca, learned about fish farming through an experience with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) and brought his ideas to Oaxaca, Mexico. There have now been more than 30 fish ponds dug in the mountains. Our hope is that as more people learn how to raise fish for their own needs and those of their community, the fish may provide a much needed source of industry and income for the poverty stricken regions. The Roca Blanca Mission Base provides a way for villages throughout Oaxaca to have this valuable resource. Through our aquaculture ministry, this much needed source of food and income is provided to hundreds of people. We have several tilapia ponds where the fish are raised, and once fully grown, they are harvested and taken to newly constructed ponds in villages.

Internship in Aquaculture

Students, if you are interested in aquaculture and in helping the needy of Oaxaca, we offer an opportunity for you to come help us in our ministry. The Roca Blanca base has eight fish ponds (pictured) that are used as a breeding area for the tilapia. As an intern, you will feed the fish, continually ensure that the fish are healthy and growing, and once ready, take the fish to stock fish ponds in indigenous villages. You will also be able to construct new fish ponds in areas that do not yet have one. This opportunity is not available year-round, so please contact us if you are interested. To better understand the work that you will be doing, and the importance of these fish ponds, please download the following manual: (unavailable at this time)









Aaron Claar, a missionary to Roca Blanca with a great passion for aquaculture and field development, had the following to say about his experience.

"How can you learn to integrate yourself into a society that is isolated from mainstream culture, doesn't speak your language, and has very strange and false ideas built up about North Americans. Once you have learned the language and the culture you need to then lead evangelistic, medical, and development teams into that area. You must see the projects through to completion while raising your own personal finances and dealing with day-to-day challenges. In the two-and-a-half years at Roca Blanca, I learned this plus saw what it takes to run a bible school, music school, medical clinic and trade school simultaneously along with outreach. When I look back at what I learned from my experience at Roca I am amazed. Though I did not take part in all aspects of the base, I was able to observe it all and gain more hands-on experience and knowledge than I ever could in a classroom. The most valuable thing I gained from my time at Roca was deep friendships with people whom I will never forget."