Africa’s declining fish catches and growing population are strengthening the case for aquaculture as a commercial opportunity capable of creating jobs, improving food security and expanding investment in the continent’s fisheries sector.
Experts from across Africa have called for coordinated efforts to develop a competitive and profitable fish farming industry, stressing that investment, modern infrastructure and stronger collaboration between governments, researchers and private businesses will be critical to unlocking its economic potential.
The call was made at a high-level meeting held in Dakar, Senegal, to assess aquaculture’s contribution to inclusive growth, sustainable development and job creation.
The meeting was organised by the African Network of Institutions for Aquaculture Development and Promotion (RAFAQUA) and the African Network of Fisheries Research and Marine Science Institutes (RAFISMER), under the auspices of the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO).
The discussions brought together representatives from ATLAFCO’s 22 member states, alongside other regional and international institutions, to share experiences and identify opportunities for cooperation in developing the sector.
For African economies, the growing interest in aquaculture reflects the need to reduce pressure on declining natural fish stocks while establishing more reliable domestic sources of fish supply and creating new income opportunities across the fisheries value chain.
Beyond fish production, a stronger aquaculture industry could support businesses involved in fish feed manufacturing, hatcheries, equipment supply, cold storage, transportation, processing and distribution. These activities could widen opportunities for small businesses and create employment beyond the farms themselves.
However, the extent to which these opportunities translate into economic gains will depend on access to finance, affordable inputs, suitable production facilities and reliable markets.
Speaking at the meeting, Baba Ndiaye, Chief of Staff to Senegal’s Minister of Fisheries and the Maritime Economy, said declining fish catches, combined with rapid population growth, had made fish farming an increasingly important alternative.
He said aquaculture could help bridge the gap between fish supply and demand while contributing to food security, employment and income generation.
Mr Ndiaye also linked the development of fish farming to efforts to address illegal migration, arguing that the sector could create economic opportunities for people who might otherwise seek livelihoods elsewhere.
His remarks highlight the potential of aquaculture to contribute to local economic development, particularly in coastal and rural communities where livelihoods depend heavily on fisheries and related activities.
For businesses, however, turning that potential into a viable industry requires more than encouraging people to establish fish farms. Investors must be able to obtain the capital, technology, technical knowledge and infrastructure needed to produce fish at competitive costs.
Mohamed Najih, President of RAFISMER, said the transition required stronger collaboration among policymakers, research institutions, private businesses and development partners.
He called on governments to facilitate investment, standardise production zones and modernise supporting infrastructure, stressing the need to move away from fragmented approaches to aquaculture development.
Such coordination would be important in helping investors identify suitable production locations, access technical expertise and operate within systems that support sustainable and commercially viable production.
Samba Ka, President of RAFAQUA, also called for coordinated action across Africa to develop sustainable solutions for the sector.
Taoufik El Ktiri, Executive Secretary of ATLAFCO, praised the quality of the presentations and contributions at the meeting, saying they demonstrated a shared commitment to building a sustainable, competitive, profitable and equitable aquaculture industry.
The meeting’s emphasis on collaboration reflects a broader economic challenge facing the sector: translating Africa’s fish farming potential into commercially sustainable businesses that can supply domestic markets, create employment and strengthen regional food systems.
For the industry to achieve that ambition, investment in production must be matched by improvements in the wider business environment, including access to affordable finance, dependable electricity, cold-chain facilities, quality fish feed and efficient distribution networks.
These factors will be particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises, which could participate in different segments of the aquaculture value chain but may face financial and technical barriers to expansion.
The Dakar meeting sought to strengthen cooperation among ATLAFCO member states through the RAFAQUA and RAFISMER networks, creating a platform for sharing expertise and coordinating approaches to sector development.
The challenge now is to convert those discussions into practical measures that make fish farming more accessible to investors, improve productivity and enable businesses across Africa to compete sustainably in domestic and regional markets.
