Ivory Coast to invest US$25.6M in aquaculture to increase fish production

IVORY COAST – Côte d’Ivoire is rolling out a new US$25.6M initiative to expand its aquaculture sector over the next five years in an effort to meet rising local demand for fish.

The project, known as the “Project for the Development of Competitive Value Chains in Aquaculture and Sustainable Fisheries” (ProDeCAP), was announced late last year and will run from 2025 to 2030.

With a total budget of US$25.6 million, ProDeCAP is being financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and is expected to enhance both fisheries management and aquaculture production.

The government, during a Council of Ministers meeting on February 12, outlined key areas of focus, including improving marine, lagoon, and inland fisheries, increasing broodstock capacity, setting up hatcheries, expanding the commercial production of fry, and formulating fish feed.

Once fully operational, ProDeCAP aims to boost annual aquaculture production by 35,000 tons, adding to the country’s overall fish supply.

Authorities estimate that the project will directly and indirectly benefit around 700,000 people, with women accounting for half of this figure.

Approximately 50,000 of these beneficiaries are expected to be engaged in aquaculture, while the remaining number will be involved in fisheries.

The government has been working on long-term solutions to strengthen fish production, launching the Strategic Program for the Transformation of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire (PSTACI) in 2022.

PSTACI seeks to increase annual fish production to 500,000 tons by 2030 by improving aquaculture practices, expanding research and training, and developing water bodies into economic zones for sustainable fish farming.

In addition, the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources is implementing the National Policy for the Development of Livestock, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (PONADEPA), which is set to run until 2026.

PONADEPA aims to increase overall fisheries and aquaculture production to 280,000 tons per year by 2026, with a goal of covering 65% of local consumption needs.

Despite these efforts, Côte d’Ivoire’s fish production remains low, with World Bank data showing an output of 106,143 tons in 2022.

To bridge the gap between demand and supply, the country imported fishery products worth over US$840.7 million in 2023, according to Trade Map data.

Fish consumption in Côte d’Ivoire stands at around 650,000 tons annually, while domestic production falls short, forcing the country to rely on imports.

Seafood production in 2019 reached 105,219 metric tons, reflecting a 60% increase over a decade.

Artisanal fishing accounts for 75% of total catches, while industrial fishing contributes 20%.

Aquaculture, though growing at a rate of 70% over the past ten years, remains a small segment of the country’s fish output.

Commonly farmed species include tilapia, catfish, and African arowana, which are cultivated to supplement wild-caught fish.

Despite exporting a portion of its seafood, Côte d’Ivoire remains a net importer as local production is insufficient to meet demand.

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