Promoting sustainable aquaculture for food security and economic developmentIn the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region, it is estimated that around 100 million people eat fish and other aquatic foods (molluscs, crustacea) regularly. Aquatic foods are generally the most affordable source of dietary animal protein containing essential fatty acids and micronutrients, and are therefore of overwhelming importance for food and nutrition security, particularly for poorer segments of the population, and for sustaining livelihoods and driving economic development. However, per capita consumption of aquatic foods in SADC (2015) at 11.3 kg/yr is 79 percent lower than the global average of 20.2 kg/yr; moreover, the high consumption rates in some of the island and coastal states mask the very low consumption rates of around 5 kg/capita/yr in the rest of the region. With rapid population growth, the gap between supply and demand of aquatic foods in most SADC countries continues to increase. Taking only fish into account, it is predicted that SADC Member States will collectively have a supply deficit by the mid-2020s of around 570 000 MT per year. |
Common terms and phrases
achieve Africa Approach aquaculture development aquaculture in SADC Aquaculture Management aquaculture production aquaculture sector aquatic aquatic foods areas attract availability capacity building capital commercial aquaculture Community constraints contribute countries create currently demand economic Ecosystems Egypt enabling ensure environment environmental establish expansion facilities FAO Fisheries farmers farming feed Figure Finfish fish Fisheries and Aquaculture framework funding genetic global governance groups growth guidelines hatcheries Hecht identified implementation important improved increase inputs institutions interventions investment lack legislation levels major Malawi needs assessment operations percent Plan potential primary private sector investment programmes Project promoting public sector rapid RASAP regulatory responsible role Rome SADC aquaculture SADC Member SADC region SADC Secretariat seaweed seed skills smallholder smallholder aquaculture Source South Africa species Strategy success supply sustainable Technical tilapia tonnes value chain women WorldFish Zambia