Fish products are an important source of food for the people of sub-Saharan Africa,
traditionally from wild catch from both marine and freshwater sources. The growing number of people on the sub-continent now located in urban areas along with the decline in available wild catch has created both an economic opportunity and environmental need for the expansion of responsible and sustainable aquaculture production to sustain and improve livelihoods. A trained labor force is needed to advance the commercial aquaculture sector in Western Africa. There is currently a deep divide in the needs of the commercial sector and the services provided by the local universities and federal government ministries. The general lack of practical farm knowledge and experience in the training of students and government personnel often hampers commercial sector growth and advancement, and the lack of sound best aquaculture practices on the commercial farms have resulted in severe economic losses at all levels of the aquaculture supply chain. The World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) has been developing a training program within the private sector for a training program designed to create a high-level internship training program on a commercial farm where students would be held to a higher level of responsibility to address multiple issues and basic management practices on fish (e.g. husbandry, feed management, spawning, fry cultures, transportation, water quality, and overall fish health management) through a well-structured internship and practical training approach. Through funding by the US Soybean Board Checkoff Program, 29 individuals have gone through this intensive training program at Flosell Farms, Ltd. in Ghana over the 2 years. We have also begun a similar program in Nigeria in cooperation with Sej Farms and completed an 8-week pilot program with plans for expansion in 2025. Job placement and program impacts are being monitored for improvements in economic sustainability and survey results from participants will be presented.