A World Economic Forum report outlines pathways for scaling Africa’s blue foods production, revealing that it requires “more than individual projects or technologies.”
by Blue Africa News
A new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) cites Africa’s blue food sector as a powerful opportunity to improve nutrition, generate millions of jobs, and enhance climate resilience.
The report, produced in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says doubling blue foods production in Africa today could unlock an additional $17 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and reduce Africa’s protein gap by 25% compared to the global average.
Currently, according to multiple data sets, blue foods production in African waters stands at approximately 13 million tonnes per year, with its up-scaling to approximately 26 million tonnes projected to produce tremendous returns.
“If blue foods production in Africa were doubled to approximately 26 million tonnes per year, it could reduce the protein gap by around 25%, create roughly 3 million additional jobs and add an estimated $17 billion to GDP,” the report says.
“Achieving this potential at scale will depend on growth that is well-managed, ensuring that productivity gains translate into improved livelihood opportunities, resilient value chains and long-term sustainability.”
“Given Africa’s water resources and its growing demand for affordable protein, the continent’s blue foods systems hold vast untapped potential,” it adds.
Themed “Investing in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for Impact,” the report however warns that realising the full potential of Africa’s blue economy requires “more than individual projects or technologies.”
“It demands coordinated, system-wide effort, which couples innovation across the entire value chain with a strong enabling environment that makes those innovations stick,” it reads, in part.
The report recommends five priority dimensions in ensuring success of Africa’s blue economy which have produced results in other countries (China, Indonesia and New Zealand), ranging from strategic policy commitment and prioritisation, targeted capital to de-risk early investment, regulatory clarity and streamlined implementation, and skills development and business readiness support to structured platforms for incubation and ecosystem coordination.
“Financial institutions can design products aligned with aquaculture cycles, using patient capital, inventory-backed lending and risk-sharing tools to expand micro, small and medium enterprise participation. Given harvest periods of 9-12 months, repayment schedules can be structured for flexibility and aquaculture-specific assets (e.g.cages) can serve as collateral,” recommended the researchers.
Between now and adoption of the research recommendations – if taken up by African governments, underlying challenges such as biodiversity loss from overfishing, ecological disruption from poorly managed aquaculture and social displacement and loss of consumer trust must first be fully addressed.
Additionally, overcoming inefficiencies in seed feed and health systems is another action area, with the report indicating that feed accounts for up to 70% of aquaculture costs in Africa.
“Africa has an extraordinary opportunity to harness the rich diversity and nutrition of blue foods, but realizing this promise demands new knowledge, innovative solutions and concerted action from governments, investors and communities alike,” said Jim Leape, Co-Director, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, a quoted in the WEF report.
Several organisations and institutions made their contributions in enriching the report. Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana and University of Ghana were among the institutions, prompting Emelia Arthur, the country’s minister for fisheries and aquaculture to declare: “The blue food sector is pivotal for enhancing nutrition, strengthening economies and driving industrial growth towards a resilient future.”
Contents of the report cannot be read in isolation by governments and other stakeholders in Africa’s blue economy sphere.
In November 2025, for instance, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) published a policy brief titled “Unlocking the potential of the blue economy in Central Africa,” calling for increased investment to enable infrastructure and technologies for priority blue economy sectors.
“Countries should tailor regional strategies to their unique contexts, prioritising sectors that align with their needs and advantages while balancing economic growth with sustainability. Such techniques as marine spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management should be used to ensure sustainability,” the brief recommended.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News
