The fisheries and aquaculture sector has contributed greatly to Africa’s overall economy, according to a study carried out by the FAO
The FAO revealed in a report that the value added by the fisheries sector as a whole – which is referring to inland and marine capture fisheries, post-harvest, licensing of local fleets and aquaculture, reached more than US$24bn in 2011, representing 1.26 per cent of the GDP of all African countries.
Aquaculture is still expanding in Africa already in a few countries and it currently produces an estimated value of almost US$3bn a year, the FAO said.
Around 25 per cent of all marine catches around Africa are still by non-African countries. The sector as a whole employs 12.3mn people as full-time fishers or full-time and part-time processors, representing more than two per cent of 15-64 years old in Africa.
The fisheries sector employs 12.3mn people as full-time fishers or full-time and part-time processors, the FAO stated.
“The value of African fisheries” study was carried out in the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)-FAO Fisheries Programme (NFFP), financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
