A new World Economic Forum report has found that investing in Africa’s blue foods sector could create 3 million jobs, reduce the per capita protein gap by 25%, and add $17 billion to the continent’s GDP. Blue foods refer to fish, shellfish, seaweed, and other organisms sourced from oceans, lakes, and rivers. Africa has over 30,000 kilometres of coastline, some of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, and major river systems including the Nile, Congo, Niger, and Zambezi. The report argues that this natural endowment is significantly underutilised and represents one of the continent’s most accessible pathways to food security and job creation.
Key points
- Investing in blue foods could create 3 million new jobs across Africa’s fishing and aquaculture value chains
- A 25% reduction in Africa’s per capita protein gap could result from greater blue food production and distribution
- $17 billion in GDP gains is projected from scaled investment in the sector
- Egypt is Africa’s largest aquaculture producer, accounting for over 70% of the continent’s farmed fish output
- Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Morocco, and South Africa are identified as key growth markets
- Jobs created span fishing, processing, logistics, retail, technology, and research roles
- Many of these roles would be in rural and coastal areas where employment is most scarce
The report calls on African governments, development finance institutions, and private investors to prioritise investment in blue food value chains, from sustainable fishing practices and aquaculture technology to cold chain infrastructure and market access. The opportunity is described as both economically and nutritionally transformative, with ocean and freshwater foods offering a more sustainable protein source than many land-based alternatives.
Why it matters: Food security and job creation are two of the continent’s most pressing development challenges. The blue foods opportunity addresses both simultaneously, using natural resources that Africa already possesses in abundance.
Source: World Economic Forum
