East Africa turns to fish farming as ocean stocks decline
By Our Correspondent
The shores of Lake Victoria tell two contrasting stories. On one side, traditional fishermen haul in ever-smaller catches of Nile perch, their nets increasingly empty after decades of overfishing. On the other, enclosed pens bob on the water’s surface, each containing thousands of tilapia raised through aquaculture—a sector that has grown substantially across East Africa over the past decade. This divergence captures a broader transformation reshaping how the continent feeds itself.
Africa consumes approximately 10 kilograms of fish per person annually, roughly half the global average of 20.7 kilograms, according to the FAO’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024. Yet demand is rising steadily as populations urbanise and incomes grow. Kenya imports an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes of fish annually to meet domestic needs, primarily frozen mackerel and tilapia from China. With the United Nations projecting that Africa’s population will reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the protein gap yawns wider. Wild capture fisheries, which have remained stable since the late 1980s, cannot bridge it. Aquaculture must.
The numbers suggest it can. Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached 223.2 million tonnes in 2022, with aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassing capture fisheries for the first time. Yet Africa accounted for 13.1 million tonnes of fisheries and aquaculture production, just 6 per cent of the world total. Kenya’s aquaculture sector produced 33,423 tonnes in 2024, according to Kenya Fisheries Services, whilst Uganda produced 101,000 tonnes in 2022, making it sub-Saharan Africa’s largest aquaculture producer after Egypt and Nigeria. Tanzania has identified vast areas suitable for fish farming, though most remain undeveloped.
The sustainability imperative
Environmental pressures make aquaculture not merely desirable but necessary. The Indian Ocean’s fish stocks face mounting stress from overfishing, pollution and climate change. The FAO’s 2025 Review of the state of world marine fishery resources confirms that 35.5 per cent of fish stocks are overfished, with 64.5 per cent exploited within biologically sustainable levels. East Africa’s coastal waters exhibit similar patterns, with artisanal fisheries reporting declining catches per unit effort across multiple species.
Climate change compounds these challenges. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s projections indicate that marine animal biomass could decline significantly under high emissions scenarios. Warming waters are already altering fish distribution patterns, with species moving towards cooler waters and disrupting traditional fishing grounds. Small-scale fishing communities, which provide livelihoods for millions across East Africa, face an uncertain future.
Aquaculture, when managed properly, offers respite. Recirculating aquaculture systems can reduce water use by up to 99 per cent compared with flow-through systems, according to research published in Aquacultural Engineering. Integrated systems that combine fish farming with vegetable cultivation or other species can improve resource efficiency. The FAO projects that apparent fish consumption will increase by 12 per cent to supply on average 21.3 kilograms per capita by 2032.
The sector aligns squarely with Sustainable Development Goal 14, which calls for conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. It also supports SDG 2’s aim to end hunger and achieve food security. Kenya’s Blue Economy strategy, launched in 2018, recognises aquaculture as central to both objectives, though implementation has faced funding constraints and coordination challenges across multiple government agencies.
Success in the shallows
Practical examples demonstrate what works. In Kirinyaga County, central Kenya, the Mwea Aquaculture Centre has transformed rice paddies into productive fish farms. Operating since the early 2000s with support from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, the scheme integrates rice cultivation with tilapia production. Farmers intercrop fish and rice, with fish waste fertilising crops whilst rice paddies provide habitat. The model has been replicated in other irrigation schemes, though uptake remains limited by technical knowledge and initial capital requirements.
Private investment is following. Victory Farms, established in 2016, has production capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes in Lake Victoria and operates as a fully vertically integrated business. The company employs over 700 people directly and operates more than 50 branches across Kenya. Its products retail in urban markets, targeting middle-class consumers seeking affordable protein. The firm has weathered challenges including disease outbreaks and market disruptions during the pandemic, gradually expanding production capacity.
Uganda produces about 130,000 metric tonnes of fish annually through aquaculture, mainly tilapia and catfish, according to recent government figures. The country has attracted international attention through policy reforms and targeted investment. Norwegian development cooperation has supported hatchery development and training programmes, transferring technical expertise in fish health management and feed formulation. De Heus, a Dutch company, has invested €22 million to establish a fish feed factory in Njeru, Jinja, with production capacity estimated at 100,000 metric tonnes annually.
Tanzania pursues a mixed approach, with both commercial operators and smallholder schemes. The government’s Agriculture Sector Development Programme II identifies aquaculture as a priority growth area, though progress has been slower than anticipated. Coastal regions hold particular promise for mariculture, with pilot projects raising milkfish, seaweed and prawns. The Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute provides technical backstopping, though extension services remain thinly spread across the country’s vast geography.
Obstacles remain
Yet challenges persist throughout the value chain. Feed costs account for 60 to 70 per cent of production expenses, and most East African countries import key ingredients including fishmeal and soya. Kenya imports 7,000 tonnes of aquafeed annually, mainly from small-scale fish feed manufacturers within East Africa, with some feeds imported directly from Israel, Netherlands, Mauritius and Denmark. Local feed manufacturing capacity remains limited. This dependency on imports exposes farmers to foreign exchange fluctuations and supply disruptions.
Disease outbreaks pose existential threats. Tilapia lake virus, first detected in East Africa in 2015, caused significant mortality in cage farms across the region. Research documented mortality rates exceeding 90 per cent in some cages, with economic losses running into millions of dollars. The outbreak highlighted gaps in biosecurity protocols and disease surveillance systems. Kenya and Uganda have since strengthened veterinary oversight, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
Access to finance constrains growth, particularly for smallholders. Commercial banks view aquaculture as high-risk, demanding collateral and charging interest rates that make ventures unviable. Microfinance institutions seldom offer products tailored to aquaculture’s production cycles, which typically run six to nine months from stocking to harvest. Development finance institutions have stepped in with targeted funds, but these reach only a fraction of potential farmers.
Regulatory frameworks vary considerably across the region. Kenya’s Fisheries Management and Development Act 2016 provides comprehensive legislation covering licensing, environmental standards and trade. However, implementation capacity at county level, where aquaculture oversight now resides under devolution, remains limited. Tanzania’s fisheries legislation dates to 2003, predating the sector’s modern development, though updates are under discussion. Uganda has clearer regulations but faces capacity constraints in monitoring and enforcement.
Charting the course ahead
Scaling sustainably requires coordinated action across multiple fronts. Governments must invest in public infrastructure that underwrites private sector growth, including hatcheries capable of supplying quality fingerlings at scale, diagnostic laboratories for disease surveillance, and extension services to disseminate best practices. Regional integration offers opportunities for specialisation and trade. The East African Community provides a framework for harmonising standards and reducing trade barriers, though progress has been uneven.
Technology offers pathways to efficiency gains. Mobile phone-based advisory services can deliver tailored guidance on feeding, water quality management and market information. Solar-powered aerators make intensive culture viable in off-grid locations, whilst reducing operating costs compared with diesel alternatives. Innovations in feed formulation, including greater use of locally available plant proteins and insect meal, could reduce import dependency. Local fish feed production in Tanzania increased almost fourfold from 710 tonnes in 2021 to 3,455 tonnes in 2024.
Investment must flow not merely into production but also into post-harvest infrastructure. Cold storage capacity remains inadequate across the region, forcing farmers to sell immediately or watch harvests spoil. Processing facilities that produce value-added products can capture higher margins whilst extending shelf life. Improved transport links connecting production areas to urban markets would reduce losses and improve farmer returns.
Consumer acceptance matters too. In many East African markets, wild-caught fish commands premium prices over farmed alternatives, reflecting perceptions about taste and quality. Education campaigns highlighting the nutritional equivalence of farmed fish, alongside consistent product quality, can shift preferences. Certification schemes that verify sustainable production practices may appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
The vision is clear: an East African aquaculture sector that produces abundant, affordable protein whilst safeguarding natural ecosystems. To maintain current per capita consumption through to 2050, Africa’s aquatic animal food supply would need to increase by 74 per cent. Achieving it requires overcoming entrenched challenges through patient capital, technical innovation and policy reform. The potential is substantial, the need pressing and the opportunity tangible. With wild fish stocks under pressure and populations growing, aquaculture’s time has arrived. Whether East Africa seizes the moment will shape food security for decades to come.
