Project backs sustainable African aquaculture

20 September 2017. A new initiative that aims to promote inclusive and sustainable aquaculture in Africa as a means to achieve human development, food and nutrition security has been launched this week.

Backed by WorldFish and the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH), the Cape Town Call to Action proposes concrete actions to engender greater collaboration and evidence-based guidance that

takes into account recent innovations with proven pro-poor benefits - especially in terms of nutrition, employment and income generation.

The 3-page document, which is in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is a result of deliberations that took place at the African Aquaculture Policy day during the World Aquaculture conference on 26–30 June. It includes proposals for regional collaboration on research and development with the establishment of centers of excellence, investments in capacity building and the dissemination of best management practices for profitable, productive, environmentally-sustainable and nutrition sensitive aquaculture.

Organizations currently supporting the Call to Action are: The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the East African Community Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (EAC-LVFO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the World Aquaculture Society and WorldFish.