Senegal official calls for shift to fish farming to boost African food security

During a high-level aquaculture meeting in Dakar, Senegal, held from October 7 to 8, 2026, Baba Ndiaye, Chief of Staff to Senegal’s Minister of Fisheries and the Maritime Economy, called for a strategic transition from traditional capture fisheries to fish farming. Ndiaye emphasized that aquaculture is a vital tool for addressing unemployment and strengthening food security across Africa, particularly as the continent faces declining fish catches and rapid population growth.

The meeting was organized by the African Network of Institutions for Aquaculture Development and Promotion (RAFAQUA) and the African Network of Fisheries Research and Marine Science Institutes (RAFISMER), under the auspices of the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO). The workshop included representatives from ATLAFCO’s 22 member states, the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (CSRP), Portugal’s AIR Centre, and the OMPDA.

ATLAFCO Executive Secretary Taoufik El Ktiri noted that the discussions demonstrated a commitment to developing an aquaculture sector that is sustainable, competitive, profitable, and equitable. The gathering focused on fostering cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and synergies among member states to promote sustainable aquaculture development throughout the continent.