Quality fish seed is the foundation of a thriving and sustainable aquaculture sector, with increased investment in seed production capable of transforming fish farming across Africa.
This was the key message from Dr. Charles Iyangbe, WorldFish Nigeria Country Representative, during the African Fisheries and Seafood Forum (AFSF2026), where he highlighted the urgent need to strengthen and commercialize fish seed production systems across the continent
.Dr. Iyangbe emphasized that reliable access to quality fish seed is essential for farmers seeking to expand their production, improve productivity and respond effectively to the growing demand for aquatic foods.
According to him, strengthening the commercialization of fish seed production would provide farmers with greater access to healthy, genetically improved and reliable stocking materials, thereby improving the efficiency and profitability of aquaculture enterprises.
He further noted that the development of effective seed systems goes beyond increasing fish production, as it has the potential to create employment opportunities, strengthen rural livelihoods and contribute significantly to food and nutrition security.
Dr. Iyangbe also called for greater regional collaboration among African countries to improve fish seed systems and facilitate the easier movement of quality seed across borders. Such cooperation, he noted, could unlock new opportunities for aquaculture development and enable farmers and hatchery operators to benefit from wider regional markets.He stressed that investments in fish seed systems should be regarded as investments in the broader aquatic food value chain, as improved seed availability can support growth from hatcheries and farms to processing, marketing and distribution.
The WorldFish Nigeria Country Representative therefore encouraged stakeholders, governments, development organizations and private-sector investors to increase support for commercial hatcheries, research, technology and policies that would strengthen Africa’s fish seed industry.
He noted that a stronger and more reliable fish seed sector would ultimately help African countries increase domestic fish production, reduce supply gaps and meet the continent’s growing demand for affordable and nutritious aquatic foods.
The discussions at AFSF2026 reinforced the importance of placing quality fish seed at the centre of Africa’s aquaculture development agenda, with stakeholders expected to deepen collaboration and investment towards building resilient, productive and commercially viable aquatic food systems.
