Strengthening African Aquaculture

Abstract

Aquaculture in Africa holds vast potential, yet its contribution to global production remains limited. The study by Iheanacho et al. [1], featured in this issue of Reviews in Aquaculture, highlights the critical role of innovative and sustainable aquafeeds in advancing the sector. While significant strides have been made in countries like Egypt, Nigeria, and Uganda, many African nations continue to struggle with challenges such as feed availability, disease management, market access, and investment. Addressing these barriers requires a research-driven approach that fosters innovation, supports sustainable practices, and integrates aquaculture into national development strategies.

Despite its relatively small global share, African aquaculture has grown nearly 20-fold since the 1990s [2]. However, growth remains uneven, with Egypt alone accounting for over 70% of the continent's production. Other nations face constraints related to feed quality, seed availability, and poor market linkages [3]. Sustainable feed development, as discussed by Iheanacho et al. [1], is particularly crucial, as current reliance on fishmeal exerts pressure on wild stocks, as well as negatively impacting formulation costs. Economic and environmental considerations must also be balanced. Aquaculture positively impacts GDP growth in many African nations [4], but it also has environmental trade-offs. While aquaculture can initially help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offsetting pressure on wild fish stocks, its long-term expansion may increase its carbon footprint or introduce other environmental risks if not managed properly. This underscores the need for policies that support low-impact farming methods, optimize resource use, and enhance waste management strategies to ensure sustainable growth [5]. Research and technological innovation are central to overcoming the sector's challenges. Countries that have invested in aquaculture research—such as Egypt and Nigeria—have seen the most significant gains [3].

Advancing African Aquaculture Requires a Strong Focus on Key Research Priorities. Genetic improvements, particularly through selective breeding, can enhance growth rates, disease resistance, and feed efficiency in widely farmed species like tilapia and African catfish. Equally important is the development of disease management strategies that minimize reliance on antibiotics, ensuring healthier fish stocks and reducing production losses. While climate change poses a significant long-term challenge by altering water temperature, oxygen levels, and overall fish health, research into climate resilience is essential for developing adaptive farming techniques that ensure sustainable production. However, in the immediate term, the growth of aquaculture in Africa depends more directly on access to natural resources, investment, and a skilled workforce. Without sufficient financial backing and a well-trained labor force, even the most climate-resilient technologies cannot be effectively implemented. Therefore, alongside climate adaptation, prioritizing education and investment is crucial to building a viable and competitive aquaculture industry on the continent. Strengthening market access and value chains will also be essential, with efforts needed to improve distribution networks, expand cold storage facilities, and refine trade policies to better connect small-scale farmers with broader markets. Finally, sustainable feed solutions must be prioritized, ensuring the availability of environmentally responsible and economically viable feed options tailored to locally farmed species and production systems [1-5].

Policy interventions must foster an enabling environment for aquaculture growth by supporting infrastructure development, providing financial incentives for sustainable farming, and encouraging private-sector participation. Additionally, significant investment in education is essential, ranging from workforce training to advanced education programs that cultivate future leaders and professionals in the industry.

In this context, scientific review articles can play a crucial role in shaping the future of African aquaculture by synthesizing fragmented research, identifying knowledge gaps, and guiding policy decisions. Systematic reviews can highlight best practices, compare global aquaculture strategies with Africa's unique conditions, and offer evidence-based recommendations. Additionally, meta-analyses can provide insights into trends in fish growth rates, feed efficiency, and disease resistance under different farming conditions.

The role of Reviews in Aquaculture is more important than ever, and we invite experts with extensive knowledge of African aquaculture to contribute in-depth reviews on sustainable feed innovations, climate resilience, and economic models to support the sector's growth. By synthesizing current research and practical insights, highlighting existing gaps, suggesting future research directions, and providing meaningful scientific opinions and recommendations, these contributions will help inform policy, guide investment, and advance sustainable practices. The journal serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, providing stakeholders with the scientific foundation needed to foster resilient, environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially accepted aquaculture worldwide. It embraces the diverse realities of the industry, spanning an ever-growing range of cultured species, taxa, environments, from freshwater to offshore marine systems, from polar to tropical regions, and farming methods, from extensive pond systems to highly advanced recirculating aquaculture systems driven by precision aquaculture technologies. Within this broad scope, the development of African aquaculture must also be a central focus, ensuring that research and innovation support its growth and integration into global aquaculture advancements.

G.M.T.: conceptualisation, writing – original draft. N.P.: writing – review and editing.