Africa’s largest aquaculture gathering returns in 2026

TANZANIA – Tanzania will take centre stage in Africa’s aquaculture calendar in late 2026 when Dar es Salaam hosts the World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 conference, bringing together global industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to chart the future of sustainable aquaculture on the continent.

The fifth annual International Conference and Exposition of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) will take place from December 1–4, 2026, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam. 

Known as World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 (WA26T), the event will be held in conjunction with Aquaculture Africa 2026 (AFRAQ2026) and is expected to be the largest aquaculture meeting in Africa that year.

Organised by the World Aquaculture Society, with hosting support from the governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar, the conference will convene aquaculture researchers, producers, technology providers, investors, and decision-makers from across Africa and beyond. 

The event follows the World Aquaculture Safari conference held in Uganda in June 2025 and marks only the third time a WAS global event has been hosted on African soil, after Cape Town in 2017 and Uganda in 2025.

WA26T/AFRAQ2026 will run over three days and feature an opening ceremony, plenary sessions, parallel technical and scientific sessions, student sessions, training workshops, side events and meetings, and a large international exhibition and trade show. 

The conference is anchored around the theme “Aquaculture Driving Blue Transformation,” with a strong focus on how sustainable aquaculture can support resilient food systems and economic growth.

Spotlight on Tanzania’s fast-growing aquaculture sector

Tanzania was selected as host in recognition of its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing aquaculture producers. 

The country offers expanding opportunities in tilapia and seaweed farming, alongside growing research activity in emerging species and production technologies. 

Conference sessions will highlight lessons learned from Tanzania and other African countries on scaling sustainable aquaculture while addressing food security, livelihoods and environmental resilience.

The venue, JNICC, is one of Tanzania’s largest and most modern convention centres, located in the heart of Dar es Salaam’s central business district. It can accommodate more than 1,000 delegates and is surrounded by a wide range of hotels, restaurants and transport links.

Dar es Salaam itself is East Africa’s fastest-growing city, a major commercial hub on the Indian Ocean and the region’s second-busiest port.

Beyond the conference halls, organisers are planning special technical and excursion tours to fish farms of different scales, fish markets and aquaculture research and development centres. 

International delegates will also be encouraged to explore Tanzania’s renowned tourism offerings, including Zanzibar, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro.

The event is supported by corporate sponsor Aller Aqua, with premier sponsors including DSM, Qrill, Blue Aqua, Devee, INVE, Syaqua and Zeigler, alongside conference sponsor NEPAD and global WAS premium sponsors.

Abstract submission and registration are now open, with full conference details available on the official World Aquaculture Society event page.

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