EIN Presswire
7:00 PM ET
Expert Panel outlines strategies for sustainably increasing production of aquatic foods to meet economic and food security goals amid forecasts of a deficit.
KIGALI, RWANDA, Jan 30, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Accelerated growth in Africa's fisheries and aquaculture sector constitutes a major driver to deliver economic growth, food security, and environmental sustainability, according to a new report.
The latest publication from the Malabo Montpelier Panel of agriculture and food security experts highlights the rapid growth of the continent's fisheries and aquaculture sector, which, since 2022, has experienced the highest aquaculture growth rate of all regions of the world, increasing by more than five-fold to reach 2.5 million metric tons (MT) in 2022.
The sector provides almost 20 percent of Africa's animal protein. To counter a projected deficit of 11 million MT annually by 2030, policies and investments are needed to meet future demand and avoid potential shortages, the authors argue. Africa's supplies of aquatic foods would need to increase by 74 percent by 2050 to maintain current per capita fish consumption levels.
"FISH-FRIENDLY: Policy Innovations for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa" reviews the current state of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Africa, its continental and global policy frameworks, and its strategy priorities.
Launched at the 15th Malabo Montpellier Forum in the presence of senior African government representatives, industry experts, and development partners, the report demonstrates that while Africa's fisheries and aquaculture hold immense potential, unlocking the benefits of the sector requires comprehensive policy reforms, technological advancements, sustainable resource management, and regional and global cooperationFish and other aquatic foods play an increasingly important role in African diets and economic development. To benefit more from this growing sector, governments and the private sector need to facilitate innovation and address limiting factors like feed supplies in aquaculture and illegal coastal fishing," said Prof. Joachim von Braun, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, and Co-Chair of the Malabo Montpellier Panel.
"This report illustrates how forward-thinking policies can foster the innovations needed to transform the continent's fisheries and aquaculture sector into a powerful engine for economic growth, jobs, and food security, while protecting the related ecologies.
"Innovative policies needed to promote growth and sustainability of Africa's fisheries and aquaculture, finds new reportGhana's Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) program was launched to boost fish production and create employment for youth". Through AFJ, the government plans to train 10,000 youth in small-scale fish farming, creating around 50,000 additional jobs along fisheries and aquaculture value chains. The government invested in infrastructure, notably through the construction of the National Aquaculture Centre at Amrahi near Accra, where four cohorts have been trained and set up for business in various subsectors of fisheries and aquaculture. In 2023, 265 aquaculture production facilities were constructed, with 32 million fingerlings supplied.
"Fish and other aquatic foods play an increasingly important role in African diets and economic development. To benefit more from this growing sector, governments and the private sector need to facilitate innovation and address limiting factors like feed supplies in aquaculture and illegal coastal fishing," said Prof. Joachim von Braun, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, and Co-Chair of the Malabo Montpellier Panel.
"This report illustrates how forward-thinking policies can foster the innovations needed to transform the continent's fisheries and aquaculture sector into a powerful engine for economic growth, jobs, and food security, while protecting the related ecologies."
The report reviews the policy and programmatic interventions of Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, and Mozambique – countries that have shown considerable success and progress in growing their fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Ghana's Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) program was launched to boost fish production and create employment for youth. Through AFJ, the government plans to train 10,000 youth in small-scale fish farming, creating around 50,000 additional jobs along fisheries and aquaculture value chains. The government invested in infrastructure, notably through the construction of the National Aquaculture Centre at Amrahi near Accra, where four cohorts have been trained and set up for business in various subsectors of fisheries and aquaculture. In 2023, 265 aquaculture production facilities were constructed, with 32 million fingerlings supplied.
