AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Aquaculture development in Africa is insignificant compared
to the rest of the world (Changadeya et al., 2003).
According to Hetcht (2000) the entire continent contributed
only 0.4% to the total world aquaculture production
for the period 1994 to 1995. In the year 2000 it contributed
a mere 0.97% of the total global aquaculture (FAO,
2003, Table 1).
Although the history of aquaculture is relatively recent
in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to Asia, and some other
parts of the world most known aquaculture systems have
been introduced over the last 35 years (FAO, 1996a;
1996b). The growth, expansion and production of aquaculture
in northern part of Africa especially, Egypt is more
advanced in techniques and technicalities in comparison
to the Sub Saharan regions (Table 2).
In Sub-Saharan regions aquaculture in most places is
still essentially a rural, secondary and part-time activity
taking place in small farms with small fresh water ponds
(FAO 1996a). The systems that are generally practiced
range from extensive to semi-intensive cultural systems
with limited fish yield, which are mostly consumed directly
or sold locally (CIFA 1998). Almost all fish farming is carried
out by rural small scale operators in small fresh water
ponds as a secondary activity to agriculture. Although
there is abundant potential for the development and expansion
of aquaculture in this region, factors such as the
novelty of aquaculture, the general poor economic conditions
in many countries and the relative paucity of entrepreneurial
skills and credit facilities hamper its development
(FAO, 1997). Aquaculture development in most African
countries is primarily focused on socio-economic objectives
such as nutrition improvement in rural areas,
income generation, diversification of farm activities (integrated
farming) and creation of employment especially in
rural communities where opportunities for aquaculture in
northern part of Africa especially, Egypt is economic activities
are limited (CIFA, 1998). This approach over the fish feed from European countries for the productivity and
sustainability of the industry. For example, in Nigeria an
estimated 4,000 tons of quality fish feeds are imported
into the country each year (AIFP, 2004). This has contributed
in no small way in increasing the total cost of production
which will ultimately translate to high cost of fish,
thereby making it expensive for the teeming population of
the poor people living in Sub-Saharan Africa. In some
countries like Kenya, Namibia, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda,

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