AfDB urges urgent investment to safeguard Africa’s inland fisheries

AFRICA – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has released a landmark review of African inland fisheries, warning that immediate action is needed to restore aquatic ecosystems and embed fisheries into broader water resource management to secure the livelihoods of millions of Africans.

The report, “Review of African Inland Fisheries,” highlights the sector’s importance beyond food supply, noting its role in enhancing resilience, promoting income diversification, and fostering social cohesion. 

According to the findings, Africa produces more than 3.3 million tonnes of freshwater fish annually, worth an estimated USD 6.3 billion, providing employment for over five million fishers and sustaining more than 10 million people, including those engaged in subsistence fishing.

“Realising this potential is crucial to meeting the food and nutritional demands of Africa’s growing population,” the Review cautions. 

“However, this cannot be achieved without a harmonised and integrated approach to other activities that are necessary for development, from energy production to agriculture and industrial activities.”

Restoring damaged ecosystems

While inland fisheries have historically shown resilience to climate change, their future depends on the health of aquatic habitats. 

The AfDB urges investments in restoring degraded ecosystems such as Lake Victoria’s reclaimed marshes and Senegal’s polluted Falémé River. 

Recommended interventions include reconnecting floodplains, rehabilitating riverbanks, reducing pollution, and simulating natural floods downstream of hydroelectric dams, as seen on Kenya’s Tana River and the Senegal River.

Such measures would not only boost fish stocks but also improve water quality and strengthen flood protection. The review warns that failing to act risks accelerating habitat loss, pollution, and overexploitation, undermining both biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

Implications for aquaculture and feed

The report also underscores growing interlinkages between inland fisheries and Africa’s rapidly expanding aquaculture sector. 

As wild fish stocks decline, demand for farmed fish is rising, driving a surge in the need for affordable, high-quality feed. 

Fishmeal, a critical ingredient in aquafeed, is in short supply and competes directly with human food needs. 

Stable inland ecosystems could help secure sustainable supplies of raw materials, benefiting both fish farmers and feed producers.

The publication builds on a 2024 joint appeal by the AfDB and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for stronger recognition of the sector’s economic and social value. 

It concludes that safeguarding inland fisheries is essential not only for nutrition but also for Africa’s broader goals of inclusive growth and sustainable resource management.

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