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| African Fisheries Society | |
|---|---|
| Name | African Fisheries Society |
| Formation | 1960s |
| Type | Professional society |
| Headquarters | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Region served | Africa |
| Language | English, French |
| Leader title | President |
African Fisheries Society is a professional association dedicated to advancing fisheries science, management, and aquaculture across the African continent. It brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and institutions to address issues in inland fisheries, marine fisheries, aquaculture and fisheries policy. The Society promotes capacity building, knowledge exchange, and collaboration with regional bodies, universities, research institutes and international organizations.
The Society traces its roots to post‑colonial initiatives that aligned with pan‑African movements such as Organisation of African Unity and development programs supported by United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and bilateral donors from United Kingdom, France, and United States. Early meetings involved stakeholders from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Sudan and drew on expertise from institutions like University of Dar es Salaam, University of Ibadan, Makerere University, Cairo University and University of Cape Town. Milestones included regional symposia linked to projects by International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Bank fisheries loans, and collaborative research with Smithsonian Institution and Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. The Society evolved through interactions with continental frameworks such as African Union and continental scientific networks including African Academy of Sciences and was shaped by events like the Conference on Biological Diversity and policy fora such as meetings of the Nairobi Convention and Indian Ocean Commission.
The Society’s mission synthesizes goals found in declarations from bodies like Aquaculture Europe and goals set by Global Environment Facility projects: to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, improve livelihoods, and enhance food security across African nations. Objectives reflect priorities in regional strategies such as those advanced by African Union Commission, New Partnership for Africa's Development, and national fisheries ministries in Mozambique, Senegal, Madagascar and Egypt. Specific aims include strengthening capacity at universities and research centers like University of Ghana, supporting policy uptake consistent with agreements such as the Port State Measures Agreement, and fostering interdisciplinary links with institutes like International Water Management Institute and WorldFish.
Membership comprises academics from University of Lagos, Stellenbosch University, Rhodes University, and University of Nairobi; managers from agencies such as Kenya Fisheries Service, South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mauritius Fisheries Research and Development Institute; and representatives from NGOs like Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF. The governance model mirrors professional bodies such as International Society of Limnology with elected executive committees, regional chapters in West, East, Central, Southern and North Africa, and advisory panels involving organizations like African Development Bank and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. Honorary members have included scientists associated with CIFOR and recipients of awards similar to those given by Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation.
Programs address topics covered by networks such as COFI and initiatives funded by European Union development instruments: training workshops for fisheries observers, aquaculture extension for smallholder producers, stock assessment training linked to methods from International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and community fisheries management projects modeled on successes in Lake Victoria and Lake Chad. Capacity building engages institutions such as Sokoine University of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Zambia Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, and technical partners including FAO, USAID, and NORAD. The Society runs mentoring schemes for early career researchers and collaborates on internships with research centers like IITA and CIRAD.
The Society organizes biennial congresses analogous to meetings of World Aquaculture Society and hosts regional workshops alongside conferences such as the African Water Association congress and thematic symposia linked to Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation initiatives. Proceedings and journals are produced in collaboration with publishers and scholarly outlets connected to Elsevier, Springer, and open access platforms used by PLOS and Frontiers. Publications feature peer‑reviewed articles, technical reports for agencies like ICES, policy briefs for African Union bodies, and newsletters distributed to member institutions including National Research Foundation (South Africa) and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.
Collaborations span continental partnerships with African Union Development Agency and regional fisheries bodies such as Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States fisheries programs. International links include memoranda and joint projects with FAO, World Bank, European Commission, UNEP, and research consortia featuring Wageningen University, James Cook University, University of British Columbia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. The Society contributes to policy dialogues within forums like Committee on Fisheries and bilateral cooperation with agencies from Norway, China, Japan and Germany.
Through training, research synthesis, and policy engagement, the Society has influenced stock assessment methods used in management of resources in Gulf of Guinea, Benguela Current, Seychelles and Mauritanian Bank. Contributions include applied studies on artisanal fisheries in Senegal River Basin, aquaculture innovation in Egyptian Nile Delta, trophic ecology research in Lake Tanganyika and bycatch reduction work relevant to West African Coastal Zone. Its networks have supported career trajectories of scholars affiliated with Royal Society fellowships and facilitated data sharing between national agencies and global initiatives such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and Ocean Biogeographic Information System. The Society’s outputs inform national plans, regional strategies and multilateral projects addressing sustainability, resilience and blue economy goals promoted by African Union and partners.