UN Urges Africa to Expand Fish Farming for Food Security

The United Nations has called for urgent expansion of fish farming in Africa to address food needs, as highlighted in a report released during the Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. The report reveals that global fish and seafood production reached a record 184 billion tons, with aquaculture surpassing traditional capture fisheries for the first time in 2021.

However, Africa's aquaculture sector is underdeveloped, with only 18% of its fish coming from farms, compared to around 50% in other regions. The FAO predicts that fish production in Sub-Saharan Africa must increase by 68% by 2050 to keep pace with the rapidly growing population.

Manuel Barang, Director of FAO's Fisheries Division, stated that aquaculture is a game changer for managing and developing fisheries in Africa and urged governments to create regulations and incentives to attract investors. The report also noted that climate change is disrupting fish populations, necessitating sustainable management approaches.