African aquaculture in focus
THE World Aquaculture Society’s successful conference in Cape Town in June drew almost 2,000 delegates, including 1,297 African participants from 33 countries on the continent.
The conference theme, Sustainable Aquaculture – New Frontiers for Economic Growth – Spotlight on Africa, highlighted the potential of aquaculture production to support economic development and investment opportunities in Africa - the world’s second fastest growing regional economy.
The presentations and trade show activity confirmed that aquaculture in Africa is in a high growth phase, supported by investors, government and international development and finance institutions.
World Aquaculture 2017 attracted sponsorship and support from African governments, development institutions and the commercial sector.
These included the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the African Union’s Inter-African Union for Animal Resources and NEPAD, and the WorldFish Centre.
The industry Gold Sponsor was the Aller Aqua group from Denmark, which has indicated its confidence in the growing aquafeed market in Africa by making investments in feed manufacture and distribution in Egypt, Nigeria and Zambia.
Keynote presentations by Dr Rohanna Subasinghe, former chief of aquaculture for FAO, and Dr Sloans Chimatiro, acting country director with WorldFish Zambia, outlined the growing fish deficit in Africa and unfolding continental policies to support aquaculture development.
Regional status reports highlighted the rapidly growing African aquaculture production, particularly catfish in Nigeria and tilapia in Egypt, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia.
The Spotlight on Africa theme concluded with a joint policy statement by the Southern and East African Development Community encouraging the establishment of frameworks for effective governance and the creation of consolidated R&D centres of excellence.
Reports: Page 40.