The rural communities are often characterised by factors such as poverty, malnutrition, low levels of education and rising unemployment. Although these communities form the basis of the agricultural labour force, high levels of unemployment prevail amongst them. This report looks at the initiative to establish sustainable small scale fish farming units in rural areas of the Western Cape launched during 2004/05 by the Division of Aquaculture, Stellenbosch University, with the assistance from the Department of Science and Technology and the Private Sector.