Global development finance priorities are shifting after a turbulent year, with donors under pressure to fund projects that demonstrate measurable social and economic value. According to Essam Yassin Mohammed, Director General of WorldFish, Africa’s aquaculture industry offers one of the clearest opportunities to deliver this balance — combining sustainability, profitability and community impact.
‘Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector on the continent,’ Mohammed said. ‘It holds the key to Africa’s goals for food security, dignified livelihoods and long-term growth.’
He noted that Africa’s ‘blue economy’ — encompassing fisheries, aquaculture and marine resources — could achieve results comparable to Asia’s aquaculture revolution, provided it receives sustained investment and policy support.
Asia’s success offers valuable lessons
Over the past two decades, aquaculture production in Africa has increased fivefold to 2.5 million tonnes, yet this still accounts for less than three percent of global farmed fish output. Asia, by contrast, produces over 90 million tonnes — more than 90 percent of global production.
Mohammed said new initiatives such as the Asia-Africa BlueTech SuperHighway and Climate-Resilient Aquaculture Systems for Africa are helping to bridge this gap by transferring proven innovations and best practices from Asia to Africa.
A digital fisheries monitoring system first developed in Timor-Leste is now being adapted in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi and Zanzibar to provide real-time, open-source data on fish catch, species composition and fishing grounds. This technology, he explained, allows better management of small-scale fisheries and more efficient national oversight.
In Kenya, a Memorandum of Understanding with WorldFish supports the expansion of genetically improved tilapia (GIFT) — a strain developed in Malaysia that grows 10 percent faster per generation. The improved species is also being farmed in Ghana and Nigeria, increasing yields and incomes while reducing environmental impact.
Meanwhile, digital climate information tools under development in Zambia and Malawi aim to help fishers prepare for extreme weather events such as heatwaves, boosting resilience amid climate uncertainty.
The $12bn investment gap
Despite strong progress, Mohammed cautioned that the sector’s growth remains constrained by a shortfall in funding. ‘Africa’s aquaculture investment gap stands at around $12bn,’ he said, ‘a modest figure compared with the potential returns.’
Cote d’Ivoire is taking steps to address this gap by establishing a Regional Hub for Aquatic Food System Innovations for West Africa in partnership with WorldFish, while Nigeria has embedded blue economy objectives into its national fisheries and aquaculture strategy.
Recognition of these efforts is growing. At the recent World Food Forum, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation honoured WorldFish and other partners for their leadership in developing sustainable aquatic food systems.
According to WorldFish estimates, Africa’s blue economy currently generates about $300bn and supports 49 million jobs. With strategic investment, these figures could rise to $405bn by 2030 and $576bn by 2063, creating 78 million jobs across the continent.
Towards a sustainable blue revolution
Mohammed emphasised that the building blocks for transformation already exist. ‘The science is ready, digital connectivity is widespread, and urban demand for fish is rising rapidly,’ he said.
He called for financing models that blend public, private and philanthropic capital, rewarding measurable outcomes such as improved nutrition, resilience and livelihoods. Integrating aquatic foods into national nutrition and climate policies, expanding access to microfinance, and strengthening regional markets, he added, will attract investors and deliver shared benefits.
‘A thriving blue economy awaits at Africa’s doorstep,’ Mohammed concluded. ‘We must seize the moment now.’
