Africa's contribution to world aquaculture production in 2018 is still insignificant (2,196 ,600 tons; ~ 2.7 %) albeit significantly increasing with larger-scale investments in Egypt (1,561,457 tons), Nigeria (291,233tons) and Uganda (103,737 tons) producing substantial quantities (91 %) of the total fish production from the region. The quantitative SWOT technique and the Multi-Attribute Decision-Making method (MADM) were used to determine and compare aquaculture performance in production, technology, market, policies and framework among Egypt, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. Factors such as the adoption of new technologies used in the formulation and production of aquafeed (i.e. extruded feed and sinking feed); adoption of best farm management practices; commercialization of aquaculture, growing demand-supply gap due to high per capita consumption of fish and government's prioritization of aquaculture industry development through the creation of enabling environment for private sector participation were key strengths and opportunities identified amongst the leading players. The quantified SWOT shows Egypt exhibited aquaculture development strengths and opportunities; Nigeria has aquaculture development opportunities but weak in competitive strengths; while Uganda and South Africa both possess low, competitive strengths and being faced with threats. Capitalizing on the available opportunities and critical success factors of the leading aquaculture players in Africa, this analysis highlights strategic actions that could boost the development of aquaculture in South Africa. The quantified SWOT analysis was used to determine the competitive position of the aquaculture sectors of the compared countries and can be used as a basis for aquaculture policies and roadmaps.