More than 1200 of the approximately 2000 delegates came from 33 African countries to attend the conference hosted by the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). This is the first time that WAS has held its annual international conference on the African continent.

Dutch-based aquaculture investors Aqua Spark announced their new Africa fund at a special session on Finance Opportunities – Aquaculture in Africa. The fund aims to “build infrastructure for a thriving sub-Saharan aquaculture sector” and will focus on all aspects of farming catfish and tilapia, as well as aiming to attract additional investors.

Africa joins the Asia-Pacific, Latin American and Caribbean, the United States, and Korea, as the fifth regional chapter of the WAS. Both NEPAD and South Africa’s DAFF will provide support to the Africa chapter.

“Aquaculture is rapidly growing in Africa and increasingly being integrated into the continent’s food systems; therefore 2017 is the perfect time for the world aquaculture community to focus on Africa,” the conference organisers said.

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