Africa

Approximately 200 million Africans rely on fish as an important part of their diet. Ten million households directly derive income from fish production, processing or trade. Yet the enormous potential of fisheries to help feed and improve the nutritional status of the rapidly-increasing population of Africa is greatly under-realized, and precious aquatic resources are being degraded.

Stumbling blocks include overfishing, competition for water, insufficient access to technology, infrastructure and capital, shortage of expertise, HIV/AIDS, limited participation in trade and market channels, and inadequate governance systems for aquatic resources, to name a few.

WorldFish is confronting these problems through innovative approaches appropriate to the socio-economic conditions of the region. Awareness of the importance of fisheries is being raised at top political levels, galvanizing action. Fisheries interventions such as integrated aquaculture-agriculture that help families raise incomes and cope with the HIV/AIDS catastrophe are being developed and implemented. Constraints and solutions to connecting small-scale fishers to markets are being explored.

Highlights of our work in Cameroon

Highlights of our work in Malawi

Visit the WorldFish Center Africa website.

For more information, contact:

Central & Western Africa – Dr. Ann Gordon - a.gordon@cgiar.org

North Africa & West Asia – Dr. Patrick Dugan - p.dugan@cgiar.org

Southern & Eastern Africa – Dr. Daniel Jamu - d.jamu@cgiar.org