Globally, aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food producing sectors, and a major source of the economy. However, most African countries have not benefited from the opportunities available in this sector. Botswana, in particular, has one of the lowest fisheries and aquaculture production figures in the region as a result of limited water resources and capacity, very low fish consumption in comparison to beef and little exposure to the benefits of aquaculture. These factors are compounded by largely dry, hot conditions and increasing impacts of climate change. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region developed a Regional Aquaculture Strategy and Action Plan to assist member states to leverage the value and benefits of this sector. Therefore, the Botswana Aquaculture Strategy was developed within this framework. The FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the SADC Protocol on Fisheries were consulted to provide the legislative framework for the development of this strategy. Currently, the only fisheries centric legislation in Botswana are the Fish Protection Act of 1975 and the Fish Protection Regulations of 2016 which however, focus more on management of wild capture fisheries than on aquaculture. Apart from these, Botswana does not have either a national fisheries or aquaculture policy. The absence of a policy framework, and an arid climate, has resulted in low growth of the aquaculture sector in Botswana. However, despite these challenges, there have been several developments in the sector which suggest that there are still opportunities for aquaculture growth in the country. These include among others, the presence of one large commercial operation, a national hatchery, permanent water bodies in northern Botswana and several dams in south-eastern Botswana. Furthermore, the strengths and opportunities identified from a SWOT analysis of Botswana’s aquaculture sector revealed that these outweigh the identified threats and weaknesses in the sector. Moreover, the identified weaknesses are challenges that can be addressed through development of robust action plans while threats can be addressed through proactive regional and international bi-lateral engagements and planning. Through assessing the level of alignment of the national aquaculture strategies/plans/programmes of Botswana, Malawi and Namibia with the SADC Regional Aquaculture Strategy and Action Plan; aligning and mainstreaming the regional strategy in the three national strategies/plans/programmes; an aligned aquaculture strategy has been developed for Botswana. The goal of the strategy is to increase the contribution by aquaculture to local and national socio-economic growth and trade by 2036. With a mission to create a sustainable, competitive and diversified aquaculture sector in Botswana, the strategy envisions an aquaculture sector in Botswana that will contribute significantly to not only the national GDP and Blue Economy, but also to socio-economic development, as well as food and nutrition security in the country.