African aquaculture is undergoing a rapid and significant expansion of production, as high prices are attracting new investment, including feed and fry businesses. African production of farmed fish in 2022 was estimated to be 2.3 million tonnes (accounting for about 2.5% of the global figure), with an estimated annual growth rate of 8% (FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2024). In 2000 Egypt accounted for 85% of continental production, falling to 67% in 2021, illustrating a clear trend to spatial diversification (Table 1).
Within Africa, freshwater species are emerging as the main production targets, particularly the Nile tilapia Oreochromis tilapia and African catfish Clarias gariepinus, due to their relative tolerance to adverse production conditions and presence as native species well known to the African consumer. Given that aquaculture products are playing an increasingly important role in the future supply of fish (compared to supplies from capture fisheries) the management of associated food safety risks presents new challenges.
The paper explores the most significant food safety risks associated with African aquaculture products, including pathogenic parasites and bacteria, and residues derived from feed. There is increasing concern that African consumption of freshwater aquaculture species can transmit fish-borne zoonotic trematodes (parasitic flukes, including pathogenic Heterophyidae spp.) and bacterial food poisoning (including Group B Streptococcus). Intensification of production also leads to a need for veterinary interventions (for example with antimicrobial substances, both legal and illegal), residues of which should be monitored and controlled. Feed ingredients such as fishmeal and cereals frequently contain fungal toxins, resulting in harmful residues in the final product. Little attention has been paid so far to understanding these risks, nor to their management by implementing controls during production, based on the HACCP approach. These tasks present significant challenges to aquaculture operators and regulators alike, requiring greater allocation of scientific, legal and human resources to underpin a continued sustainable development of the sector.
Keywords: Africa, aquaculture, food safety hazards, Tilapia spp, Clarias spp.