The 1999 Africa Regional Aquaculture Review (CIFA OP24) concluded that most countries in the Africa region are focusing on small-scale integrated aquaculture systems producing tilapia and/or catfish. The Review further concluded that: (a) aquaculture is now known throughout Africa as a result of previous extension efforts and (b) adoption/acceptance, even if on a modest scale, has been noted in most countries. The Review inter alia recommended that extension efforts should be focused on small-scale model farmers operating under favourable conditions (water and soil, interest and dynamism, experience with other resources, etc.) and that research to support small-scale aquaculture development should be farmer-driven and based on inputs commonly available to small-scale farmers.
In 2003, the prominence given to small-scale aquaculture prompted the Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, through the Fisheries Department Group of the FAO Regional Office for Africa, to schedule a regional workshop on this subject. As a result, FAO contracted the WorldFish Center West Africa Office in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to facilitate and organize this workshop in early 2004. The workshop assembled senior aquaculture officers from the region as well as development experts representing bi- and multilateral organizations.
This document was prepared by Dr John Moehl, Regional Aquaculture Officer, FAO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Matthias Halwart, Fishery Resources Officer (Aquaculture), FAO Fisheries Department, and Dr Randall Brummett, Senior Aquaculture Scientist, WorldFish Center. Dr Marc Nolting, FAO Aquaculture Consultant, assisted in the finalization of this document.
