By Madhumita Paul: Department of Research, Studies and International News 08-02-2025

Despite this recent growth, Africa’s contribution to global aquaculture production remains modest compared to Asia, Europe and Latin America

By 2050, Africa’s aquatic food supply must grow by 74% to maintain current per capita fish consumption levels: Report

Fish and fishery products provide 18 per cent of animal proteins in Africa, highlighting fish’s vital role in enhancing the region’s food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. However, rising populations, incomes, and urbanisation, coupled with changing dietary trends, require greater effort from African governments to implement interventions that promote sustainable increases in fisheries and aquaculture production.

The African continent has experienced the highest growth rate in aquaculture since 2000 when compared to any region across the world, expanding by a factor of 5.6 to reach 2.5 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2022. The majority (62 per cent) of the regional aquaculture production in 2022 came from Egypt.

Despite this recent growth, Africa’s contribution to global aquaculture production remains modest compared to Asia, Europe and Latin America. The growing demand for fish has been further driven by the increasing recognition of the health benefits of consuming fish.

In 2021, per capita fish consumption in Africa was 9.4 kg per year, compared to 7.6 kg per year in 2000. This places Africa third among global regions for fish consumption.

Africa’s population has been growing at an annual rate of 2.4 per cent over the past three decades, reaching 1.5 billion in 2024, and it is expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. According to a new report, Africa’s aquatic food supply must grow by 74 per cent to maintain current per capita fish consumption levels by 2050.

The 15th Malabo Montpellier Panel report titled FISH-FRIENDLY: Policy Innovations for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa highlights successful strategies, policy innovations, institutional advancements, and programme interventions adopted by African countries to enhance the role of fisheries and aquaculture in transforming food systems.

The importance of effective policies in fisheries and aquaculture was emphasised at the 15th Malabo Montpellier Forum, convened on 30 January 2025.

The report draws on the experiences of four African countries — Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, and Mozambique — to showcase policy and institutional innovations and programme interventions that have led to the growth of fisheries and aquaculture value chains, transforming aquatic food systems in support of increased value generation and reduced losses.

Ghana’s Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) programme was launched to boost fish production and create employment for youth. The government of Ghana invested in infrastructure, notably through the construction of the National Aquaculture Centre at Amrahi near Accra for fisheries and aquaculture. In 2023, 265 aquaculture production facilities were constructed, with 32 million fingerlings supplied.

Strategising fisheries

In Malawi, the Aquaculture Value Chain Project (AVCP) established the Aquaculture Business School, providing training in organisational, processing, and technical skills to 4,500 small-scale producers and 144 fish farmer groups nationwide.

Morocco’s Halieutis Strategy, a comprehensive fisheries and aquaculture plan launched in 2009, has positioned the country as a leading fish exporter to the European Union.

The Small-Scale Fisheries Project in Morocco established five wholesale fish markets, provided certificate training, and equipped nearly 1,000 mobile fish vendors and 20,000 artisan fishers. These efforts, alongside promoting research and improving fish management plans, have contributed to annual per capita consumption of fish and fishery products increasing by more than 10 per cent.

Mozambique’s MaisPeixe Sustentavel (More Sustainable Fish) programme provides matching grants to artisanal fishers and small enterprises to improve their fishing techniques, reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, and boost food security.

However, Africa faces a growing fish deficit, projected to reach 11 million metric tonnes (MT) annually by 2030. This shortage is attracting the attention of policymakers, as it threatens both economic stability and food security across the continent.

To address this issue, the report stresses the need for additional efforts and investments to sustain growth and avoid shortages, though policies and strategies are being implemented to address productivity and sustainability challenges in the sector.

The panel outlined four priorities to strengthen Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector: Invest in infrastructure, technology, and regulations — such as hatcheries, renewable energy-powered processing, and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture; strengthen support for smallholder aquaculture; support innovation and increase research funding; and enhance regional cooperation, integration, and trade facilitation.