East Africa rallies for aquaculture growth at landmark East African Regional Aquaculture Conference

TANZANIA – The Third East African Regional Aquaculture Conference, held from August 13-15, 2024, at the Malaika Beach Resort in Mwanza, Tanzania, concluded today, marking a significant milestone in the region’s aquaculture industry. 

The conference, themed “Promoting Aquaculture Investment in East Africa,” brought together key players from across the industry, including government officials, policymakers, large-scale producers, and smallholder farmers. 

The event was organised in partnership with UNDP, the European Union, FAO, the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania, TrueFish, the World Aquaculture Society African Chapter, and the Aquaculture Association of Kenya, among others, emphasising the collaborative spirit driving the sector forward.

Aquaculture in East Africa is on a rapid growth trajectory, particularly for large-scale producers with access to advanced technology, scientific expertise, and investment opportunities. 

However, the conference underscored that integrating small—and medium-scale farmers into the sector’s development is crucial to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Abdallah H. Ulega, emphasised that creating an attractive investment environment requires comprehensive support for the entire aquaculture value chain. 

This includes improving access to quality feed, seed, technology, research, and capital, ensuring that all farmers can participate in the sector’s growth.

The conference featured a dynamic program designed to cater to producers of all scales, a departure from traditional aquaculture conferences that often focus on government and academic stakeholders. 

“Traditionally, aquaculture conferences are predominantly attended by government officials, policymakers, academia and some large-scale producers. In the 2024 Mwanza conference, the aim will be to attract and cater for producers of all scales by running practical training programs in parallel with academic and governance sessions,” Ulega commented before the event. 

Practical training sessions ran parallel with academic and governance discussions, providing hands-on learning opportunities for smallholder farmers. 

Key sessions during the conference focused on various aspects of aquaculture development. The opening day was dedicated to promoting investment in the sector, with discussions centred around policy frameworks, strategies for unlocking investment, and aquaculture’s impact on the economy. 

Government programs supporting sector investment across the value chain were spotlighted, along with initiatives to address cross-cutting issues like gender empowerment, youth involvement, and climate change mitigation.

One of the standout sessions highlighted the role of women and youth in aquaculture, showcasing their contributions to the value chain.

The session featured success stories from entrepreneurs and case studies demonstrating the socio-economic benefits of aquaculture, particularly in terms of local market supply, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.

The conference’s second day delved into practical aspects of aquaculture business, technology, and research. 

Presentations covered business opportunities and challenges across the entire value chain, from farming and processing to marketing and distribution. 

The day also focused on aquaculture as a food production system, addressing issues such as feed manufacture, fingerling production, and collective marketing networks.

The final day was dedicated to environmental management, fish health, and genetics, with discussions on sustainable practices, biosecurity, and food safety. 

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