14 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG In June 2025, Uganda meets the world for the World Aquaculture Safari 2025 Conference (WA25 Uganda). Themed “Aquaculture on the Rise”, the conference, which is being organised by the World Aquaculture Society, is expected to bring together nearly 2000 participants from around the world. As always, the organizers intend to foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation within the sector. The event also aims to address some of the sector’s challenges whilst showcasing new technologies for sustainable and resilient aquaculture practices. The EU-funded TRUEFISH Project, overseen by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO) is the lead sponsor for the event. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has just committed to Gold Sponsorship for the event. GIZ, through its Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture has supported previous Aquaculture Africa Conferences in Egypt (2022), Zambia (2023) and recently in Tunisia (2024). WA25 will once again affirm GIZ’s commitment to sustainable aquaculture development in Africa, focusing on value chain approaches, capacity building, and promoting environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices. Moreover, the return of developmental organisations who featured in previous AFRAQs is inspiring. The World Bank, African Union agencies, FAO, WorldFish and others have expressed commitment to deliver special side-sessions and workshops covering some key thematic areas including relevant global and regional processes, technologies and innovations, investment, trade, value chain competitiveness as well as partnerships. Uganda is an ideal location for showcasing the booming development of aquaculture in East Africa. In addition to existing large scale aquaculture ventures flourishing along Lake Victoria, Uganda has a sizeable, small to medium scale aquaculture subsector. Some of the SME farms have become models for sustainable practises in an African context. They are playing a key role in the country’s local food fish production and also assure the viability of aquafeed supply chains. Having seen the great potential the country has, a number of large-scale aquafeed factories are being established in Uganda. The WA25 trade show is expected to feature nearly 150 exhibition booths. Overall, Uganda — known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is ready to offer international visitors its diverse and unique tourism experiences and cultural explorations. The country boasts wildlife safaris including natural landscapes, game reserves, gorilla trekking, birdwatching and — not forgetting, the source of the mighty Nile River, and much more! The country’s main urban centres especially in Kampala and Entebbe have a lot to offer for enthusiastic travellers — from local cultural experiences to traditional, mouthwatering cuisines. Uganda stands ready to provide various adventure activities that will leave you amazed throughout your stay! The WA25 Conference dates are 24-27 June, 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Entebbe (www.spekeresort.com) — a world class conference and exhibition facility on the shoreline of Lake Victoria. Registrations and submission of abstracts are still open. All conference details will be updated on the event page on https://www.was.org/ meeting/code/afraq25. For all enquiries on WA25 Uganda contact worldaqua@was.org or africanchapter@was.org. For more information on the exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Worldaqua11@was.org or Etienne_Hinrichsen@landell-mills.com. Spotlight on World Aquaculture Safari 2025, Uganda as Industry and Development Partners Show Strong Interest African Chapter, continued from page 13 and staff, who continue to work tirelessly, with agility and enthusiasm, to address various chapter business elements. I have participated in the just-ended Aquaculture 2025 in New Orleans, USA. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences in my next column. Otherwise, I look forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming World Aquaculture Safari 2025 in Entebbe, Uganda. Please continue to visit our website www.was.org for new developments and updates. — Foluke O. Areola, President Lastly, I wish to introduce the incoming WAS-AC Executive Board Members who were inaugurated in Tunisia during AFRAQ24: Dr. Francisca Delgado - Secretary (Angola), Dr. Judith Makombu - Regional Director (Central Africa), Cameroon, and Ms. Alushe Hitula - Regional Director (Southern Africa), Namibia. Our gratitude to Dr. Festus Idowu Adeosun from Nigeria for his service as Secretary of the Chapter from 2022 until the end of 2024. I always salute the roles of my executive board, committee members,
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