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Uniting Industry Leaders on how to Transform African Aquaculture

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African Aquaculture Group Photo

From Left to Right:
Back Row: Flavio Corsin (AquaSpark), Dave Okech (AquaRech), Ben Gimson (Gatsby Africa), Caesar Asiyo (Victory Farms), Bon Tjeenk Willink (De Heus), Permit Shava (Lake Harvest), Esther Ninshuti (Dalberg).
Front Row: Gerry McCollum (Chicoa Fish Farm), Ulric Daniel (Yalelo), Francisco Murillo (Tropo Farms), Ibrahim Turay (Eden Group SL), Neil Wendover (FUTUREFISH) - Missing: Andrew Ahiaku (Aceli Africa).

African Aquaculture Meeting Room

Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) in partnership with FUTUREFISH and funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recently hosted a first-of-its kind leadership roundtable for the African aquaculture sector. It focused on identifying opportunities to mobilize greater investment into sustainable and equitable development of the sector.

The meeting, held alongside the recent World Aquaculture Society (WAS) conference in Lusaka, was attended by business leaders from local companies Chicoa Fish Farms, De Heus, Flosell, Lake Harvest, Tropo Farms, Victory Farms and Yalelo, as well as key industry investors Aceli, AquaSpark, AquaRech, Eden Group, and Gatsby Africa.

“The Global Salmon Initiative model has taught us over the last ten years that when we unite business leaders under a progressive vision, we can identify common barriers and we can act together to greatly accelerate progress. This Lusaka meeting has now shown us that the GSI model of collaboration has broader application and clearly has the potential of accelerating the development of aquaculture in Africa by mobilizing the collective insight, initiative and will to action of local business leaders.”

Avrim Lazar, GSI Convenor and facilitator of this roundtable

Following the discussions, the attendees outlined a number of initiatives which they hope to take forward to help strengthen the business case for the continued development of aquaculture in Africa.

The key themes of the group’s agreements focused on:

  • The opportunity for aquaculture to play a much larger role in assuring food security in the region.
  • The potential that working together can have in significantly accelerating progress.
  • The opportunity to work together and mobilize action through collective working groups to:
    • Increase training and inclusion opportunities for women leaders in the sector.
    • Share knowledge and build greater awareness of biosecurity challenges.
    • Increase awareness from the investment community of the opportunities in the sector.
    • Utilize and adapt digital technology to increase the productivity of small-holders.
“While it is recognized there are a number of barriers impacting possible development in the sector at this time, we are optimistic that through greater collaboration, raising awareness of the local opportunities and activating the necessary discussions to drive change, the African aquaculture market can not only grow but can do so in a way which empowers local communities and respects biodiversity.”

Michael Phillips, Director and co-founder of FUTUREFISH

ABOUT GSI

Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) is a leadership initiative established in 2013 by global farmed salmon producers focused on making significant progress on industry sustainability. Today, GSI comprises 23 companies that are fully committed to realizing a shared goal of providing a highly sustainable source of healthy food to feed a growing global population, whilst minimizing our environmental footprint, and continuing to improve our social contributions.

GSI member companies are Australis Seafoods S.A.; Bakkafrost; Blumar; Cermaq; Salmones Camanchaca SA; Empresas AquaChile; Grieg Seafood ASA; Huon Aquaculture; Multiexport Foods S.A.; New Zealand King Salmon; Nova Sea AS; Salmones Austral; Salmones Aysen; Tassal; and Ventisqueros. GSI companies have a presence in Australia, Canada, Chile, Faroe Islands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

GSI also has a number of supply chain Associate Members in both the pharmaceutical and feed industries, including Benchmark Holdings plc; BioMar; Cargill; Elanco; Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health; PHARMAQ; Salmofood; and Skretting.

For further information on GSI, please visit or contact us at:

About FUTUREFISH

FUTUREFISH represents a visionary force in the realm of aquaculture, driven by a mission to revolutionize ideas and practices across Africa and Asia. With a keen focus on fostering innovation and sustainable investment, this UK aquaculture company led by esteemed industry leaders, embodies a commitment to elevating aquaculture while creating meaningful impacts for communities and the environment.

Their collaborations with influential entities like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Economic Forum showcase a dedication to impactful partnerships. FUTUREFISH aims to unlock the potential of smallholder-led aquaculture, aiming to provide accessible, nutritious food while nurturing a sustainable food system.

Embracing challenges as opportunities, FUTUREFISH acts as a catalyst for change, bridging gaps in aquaculture through insights, innovations, and strategic connections. Their aspiration is to create a future where aquaculture thrives, supporting both healthy livelihoods and a flourishing planet.

For further information on FUTUREFISH, please visit or contact us at:

FUTUREFISH Contact: Christine Maxwell (christine@futurefish.org)
Head of Marketing and Communications