Aquaculture is Africa’s fastest-growing food production sector, offering enormous potential for food security, rural development, and economic growth. Yet, the continent’s aquaculture systems face urgent challenges related to fish welfare practices and associated regulatory oversight. Addressing these challenges is essential for enhancing production efficiency, minimizing disease outbreaks, and ensuring long-term industry viability.
This presentation will highlight the critical role of fish welfare in advancing sustainable aquaculture, exploring how welfare-centered practices improve fish health and survival, reduce losses, support environmental stewardship, and align African aquaculture systems with evolving international trade requirements and sustainability standards. The presentation will also showcase the Africa Fish and Aquaculture Welfare (AFIWEL) Program, a pan-African initiative designed to bridge knowledge gaps, strengthen policy frameworks, build professional capacity, and support market access for the integration of fish welfare practices into sustainable aquaculture systems. The program promotes a holistic approach that aligns animal welfare with food security, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. Insights from pilot activities across eight African countries will demonstrate how targeted, scalable interventions can drive improvements in farming practices, policy engagement, and value chain development, ultimately fostering more ethical, resilient, and sustainable aquaculture systems in Africa.
Participants will gain practical insights into integrating fish welfare into national and regional aquaculture strategies, positioning African producers for improved sustainability, market competitiveness, and investment readiness.