Speakers - 2026

Title: Challenges in aquaculture in africa: Constraints, opportunities, and the path to sustainable development

Abstract

Aquaculture is widely recognized as a strategic sector for improving food security, creating employment, reducing poverty, and supporting economic growth across Africa. Despite abundant water resources and increasing demand for fish, aquaculture production on the continent remains below its potential due to numerous technical, economic, environmental, and institutional constraints. This paper examines the major challenges limiting aquaculture development in Africa, including inadequate access to quality fish seed and feed, limited financing, poor infrastructure, weak extension services, disease outbreaks, climate change, environmental degradation, and inadequate policy implementation. It also highlights the effects of limited research, technology adoption, and market access on the productivity and competitiveness of the sector. The paper discusses practical strategies for overcoming these challenges through increased investment, improved governance, stronger public-private partnerships, enhanced research and innovation, capacity building, and the adoption of climate-smart and sustainable aquaculture practices. It concludes that coordinated efforts by governments, research institutions, development partners, and private-sector stakeholders are essential to unlocking Africa's aquaculture potential. Strengthening the sector will contribute significantly to food and nutrition security, job creation, economic diversification, and sustainable development across the continent.

Keywords: Aquaculture, Africa, Food Security, Sustainable Development, Fish Production, Climate Change, Policy, Investment.