Report Highlights Urgency for Improved Aquatic Health Management in Sub-Saharan African Aquaculture

by Fishery News
Published: Last Updated on

A collaborative effort led by William Leschen, CEO of Casammak Aquaculture, and Anton Immink, CEO of ThinkAqua, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has produced a groundbreaking report focusing on the state of aquatic health in sub-Saharan African aquaculture.

The report, titled “Aquatic Health in Sub-Saharan African Aquaculture: Perceptions and recommendations for evidence-based sector strengthening,” delves into the findings of an open-access online survey involving individuals and organizations from four key stakeholder groups: private sector, government, education training research, and NGOs.

While the survey encompassed insights from various stakeholders, its primary emphasis was on comprehending the activities and needs within the private sector to enhance support for the burgeoning commercial aquaculture sector across the continent. Notably, countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Zambia have witnessed a significant uptick in aquaculture commercialization.

The escalating commercialization of aquaculture in sub-Saharan Africa has underscored the pressing necessity for a deeper understanding of aquatic animal health management, biosecurity, and disease control in fish and shrimp farms. The report points to existing evidence from Egypt and Ghana, highlighting the adverse impacts and costs of diseases on the commercial finfish aquaculture sector and the broader value chain. Additionally, commercial shrimp farming in Mozambique and Madagascar has experienced substantial economic losses due to specific shrimp viral pathogens.

Key findings from the report offer valuable insights for individuals and organizations within the private sector, government, research, and NGO sectors. The objective is to enhance and develop necessary infrastructure to prevent or significantly reduce the impact and risks associated with aquatic animal diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.

Leschen and Immink note that this report represents the first open-access online survey aimed at understanding and documenting the perspectives of various private sector stakeholders in sub-Saharan African aquaculture, whose work is intricately linked with and impacted by aquatic animal health.

For those interested in delving into the comprehensive findings and recommendations, the full report is available for download on the Casammak Aquaculture website.

Source: The Fish Site

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