On Thursday October 10, the President of the African Confederation of Artisanal Fishing Organizations (CAOPA), Mr Gaoussou Gueye, visited an innovative fish farm in Kilifi County, Mombasa, Kenya. The visit enabled him to discover a project run by young entrepreneurs, demonstrating a modern and sustainable approach to fish farming, from production to processing.
A farm run by young people
On arrival, Mr. Gueye was warmly welcomed by the farm managers, accompanied by CAOPA members Mercy Mcghanga and Dorcas Malhogo. During the visit, one of the farm managers presented the production process, explaining how the farm integrates modern techniques for purifying seawater and producing fish meals from local crops. He emphasized: “Here, we use modern saltwater purification methods to grow our fish. We also produce fishmeal from grains we grow ourselves, such as corn, soy, moringa and cassava.”
This model relies entirely on the commitment of young people. In this way, they are creating an ecosystem where responsibility is shared with the next generation. The manager also pointed out that their aim is to involve mainly young people who haven’t had the chance to go to school or who find themselves unemployed, offering them an opportunity to integrate professionally. They train these young people in fish farm management, from the breeding process to fish processing.
Innovation at the heart of fish farming
The manager also shared their innovative method for improving production quality: “We obtain our broodstock from different regions of the country to guarantee a very high quality breed. We then subject the stock to higher temperatures to collect high-quality eggs in large quantities. In addition to this, we also train other young people to set up this kind of project and, if necessary, adapt aquaculture systems to enable them to succeed.”
These innovative techniques, combined with a sustainable approach and responsible management of local resources, enable this farm to position itself as a model for fish farming in Africa.
An inspiring project for Africa
Mr. Gaoussou Gueye was impressed by this youth-led fish farming project. What particularly impressed him was the ability of these young entrepreneurs to produce their own fish feed, using local crops such as beans, millet and moringa. “This is an inspiring example for the whole African continent. This project shows how young people can play a key role in Africa’s quest for food self-sufficiency,” he said.
He also encouraged African leaders to follow this example by supporting youth and forming a representative core of young people capable of innovating and driving the development of their communities. According to Mr. Gueye, projects like Kilifi’s are essential if Africa is to meet the growing food security needs of its population.
This visit demonstrates that fish farming can not only contribute to the continent’s food security, but also provide economic opportunities for young people. The Kilifi fish farm, with its innovative and sustainable practices, is an example to follow for the future of artisanal fishing in Africa.
Mamadou Aliou DIALLO