UN Urges Rapid Expansion of Fish Farming in Africa

The head of the UN's fisheries division called for an urgent expansion of fish farming across Africa to meet growing food demand ^[1].

This push for aquaculture is critical because the continent faces rising food insecurity. Increasing the capacity for fish farming provides a scalable way to meet the growing demand for protein among African populations ^[1], ^[3].

The call for action took place during a UN ocean conference ^[1]. Officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that the current pace of fish production is insufficient to keep up with the needs of the region ^[1], ^[2].

By scaling up fish farms, African nations can reduce their reliance on wild-capture fisheries, which are often overstressed. The UN fisheries division said that a shift toward managed aquaculture would create a more stable food supply chain, one less susceptible to the volatility of ocean harvests ^[3].

The initiative focuses on creating sustainable infrastructure to support local farmers. This includes improving access to quality fingerlings and feed, as well as implementing better management practices to ensure the environmental health of inland and coastal waters ^[2], ^[3].

Officials said that the expansion is a necessary step to ensure that protein-rich food remains affordable and available to the most vulnerable populations ^[1]. The strategy involves a combination of government investment and private sector partnerships to build the necessary facilities ^[2].

Without a rapid increase in aquaculture production, the UN said that food insecurity could worsen as population growth outpaces the natural replenishment of fish stocks ^[1], ^[3].