A sea bed./ PHOTO ; Courtesy
Africa’s rivers, lakes, and oceans tell a story of abundance, but also of neglect.
From the shimmering expanse of Lake Victoria to the rolling tides of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the continent is blessed with over 600 lakes, seven major rivers stretching more than 2,000 kilometers, and 30,000 kilometers of coastline.
Beneath these waters lies a potential goldmine, not of minerals, but of nutrition, jobs, and industrial growth. Despite this abundance, Africa is poised to become a net importer of fish.
The irony could not be starker. The continent’s annual fish export value has climbed from $2.7 billion in 2000 to $8 billion in 2022, signaling its strength as a global supplier.
And still, African countries spend nearly $7 billion every year importing fish, mainly to satisfy domestic demand in nations like Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, and South Africa.
The result is a system that ships value out and brings dependency in.
Fish already provides about 18% of Africa’s total meat protein, feeding millions from the coastlines of Ghana to the wetlands of the Congo Basin.
But that share will shrink unless production increases dramatically.
With the continent’s population projected to double by 2050, fish production must rise by a staggering 74% just to maintain today’s consumption levels.
Without decisive action, rising demand will outpace supply, and Africa will be forced to rely even more heavily on imports. This will be a tragic paradox for a continent surrounded and filled by water.
In the markets of Lagos, Dar es Salaam, or Abidjan, fish sellers speak of a familiar frustration: post-harvest losses. Much of the fish caught never reaches the dinner table.
Across Africa, up to 30% of fish harvests are lost to poor preservation, lack of cold storage, and inadequate processing facilities.
Without reliable electricity, fishers resort to traditional smoking or sun-drying methods that, while time-honored, cannot meet modern market demands.
Meanwhile, the specter of overfishing looms large. In many regions, fish stocks are being depleted faster than they can replenish themselves.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, often carried out by foreign fleets, costs African countries billions in lost revenue each year. Add to that the silent killers of pollution and climate change: chemical runoff from farms, plastic debris choking waterways, and warming seas that disrupt migration and spawning.
The result is a fragile balance under threat. Lakes once teeming with life are seeing dwindling catches. Rivers that once nourished communities now carry pollutants.
And the small-scale fishers who depend on these waters, many of them women, find themselves trapped between scarcity and survival.
Yet, amid these challenges lies extraordinary potential. The continent’s vast aquatic ecosystems can become engines of growth, food security, and innovation if managed wisely. Aquaculture, or fish farming, is one of the brightest hopes.
Across Africa, fish farmers are proving that sustainability and productivity can coexist.
In Kenya and Malawi, smallholder farmers are rearing tilapia and catfish in ponds, providing affordable protein and steady income.
In Ghana and Senegal, coastal fish farms are pioneering new methods that balance ecological care with commercial success.
Modern technologies are transforming what is possible. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) recycle water within closed environments, dramatically cutting usage.
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) allows different species, such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed, to thrive symbiotically, mimicking nature’s own balance.
These systems not only reduce environmental impact but can be deployed even in arid regions far from natural water bodies.
The shift to sustainable aquaculture is not just about food; it is about livelihoods.
The fisheries sector already supports millions of Africans, and its expansion could absorb thousands more into productive employment, from fish feed production to logistics, packaging, and cold-chain distribution.
Each new pond dug and each processing plant built represents a job created, a family fed, and a community strengthened.
In the circular economy, nothing is wasted, and in Africa’s fisheries, this philosophy could spark a revolution.
Fish heads, bones, and trimmings that would otherwise rot can be processed into a high-protein meal for poultry, livestock, and aquaculture feed.
In some pilot projects, these by-products are being turned into organic fertilizers and bioenergy, closing nutrient loops and powering sustainable industries.
Imagine an Africa where fish waste becomes the raw material for new businesses, where the leftovers from a local fishery feed chickens, fertilize fields, or generate electricity.
This is not a dream; it is an achievable model of resilience.
Governments can help by offering incentives for recycling innovations, supporting startups that process fish by-products, and funding research that links fisheries with agriculture and energy.
Such cross-sector collaboration could be the catalyst for a new kind of blue-green industrialization.
Technology, too, is breathing fresh life into the sector. Digital monitoring and satellite surveillance are helping countries crack down on illegal fishing.
Blockchain-based traceability systems are ensuring that fish caught off the coast of Mozambique or in Lake Tanganyika can be tracked from net to plate, proving their sustainability to global buyers.
These tools create accountability, boost consumer confidence, and open access to lucrative export markets where certified sustainable products command premium prices.
At the grassroots level, solar-powered cold storage units are reducing spoilage and empowering fishers in remote communities.
In coastal Ghana, for instance, women’s cooperatives are using solar dryers to preserve their catch, cutting waste and increasing income.
In Tanzania, mobile apps are connecting fishers directly to buyers, ensuring fairer prices and more efficient logistics.
The future of African fisheries will depend as much on smartphones and satellites as on nets and boats.
But innovation will mean little without the people who make it possible.
Across the continent, it is the fishers, processors, and traders, especially women and youth, who anchor this sector.
Women dominate fish processing and marketing, often working long hours with limited resources.
Youth, with their energy and familiarity with technology, represent the next generation of innovators who can digitalize and modernize fisheries.
Investing in capacity building, training, and knowledge sharing is therefore critical.
Digital extension services can teach sustainable practices and provide real-time data on weather, prices, and fish health.
Cooperative models can help small-scale fishers pool resources, access finance, and gain collective bargaining power.
Empowering these groups not only strengthens the sector but also promotes inclusivity, social equity, and community resilience.
Africa’s fisheries are more than an economic sector; they are a metaphor for the continent’s broader potential.
Beneath the surface of its waters lies the power to feed its people, create jobs, and propel sustainable industrialization.
A vibrant fish value chain could become the heartbeat of Africa’s blue economy, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The choice before African nations is clear.
They can continue exporting raw fish while importing finished products, or they can build robust, sustainable value chains that keep wealth, skills, and innovation within the continent.
They can let their waters be plundered by others, or they can manage them as shared treasures for future generations.
The story of Africa’s fisheries is not yet written. It can still be one of renewal, resilience, and transformation.
The continent’s vast waters do not just hold fish; they hold the key to food sovereignty, economic diversification, and sustainable prosperity.
All it takes is the courage to invest, the vision to innovate, and the will to cooperate. If Africa harnesses its blue wealth wisely, the tide will turn, not toward dependence, but toward abundance.
This article was co-authored by Liesbeth Bakker of CASBI – Centre for Applied Sciences & Business Innovation
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