This report aims at assisting countries in sub-Saharan Africa in developing a legal, regulatory and institutional framework that is required to enable sustainable commercial aquaculture to occur, if other conditions for the development of the industry are met, or to develop while ensuring that the necessary control mechanisms are in place. Besides discussion of elements that are required in successful aquaculture legislation, the report outlines case studies of the existing legislative, institutional and regulatory regimes that apply to aquaculture in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia. In each country, the study examines the extent to which the legal framework contributes to the development of a sustainable commercial aquaculture industry and recommends the changes that are necessary to provide a secure legal foundation for future development.
The conclusions of the study are specific to each country, but they deal with issues that are important to all sub-Saharan Africa. Also, the adoption of a workable legal regime is no guarantee that commercial aquaculture will emerge or develop. Nevertheless, such a regime provides an essential first step in the process; this paper aims at serving this purpose. I would like to acknowledge the inestimable efforts of Professor David R. Percy, a visiting scientist of the University of Alberta, Canada, and Nathanael Hishamunda of the FAO Fishery Development Planning Service, who prepared the report. FAO staff members: Annick Van Houtte, John Moehl, Mathias Halwart, Audun Lem, and Alhaji Jallow are also acknowledged for their precious advice and comments.
Ulf Wijkström
Chief, Fishery Development Planning Service
FAO Fisheries Department
Distribution:
FAO Members
Other interested nations and national and international
organizations
FAO Fisheries Department
FAO Regional and Sub-regional offices
