The fisheries and aquaculture sector in Côte d'Ivoire is set to benefit from substantial financial backing from the African Development Bank over the period 2025-2029.
African Development Bank
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a loan of €24.63 million to promote Côte d'Ivoire fisheries and aquaculture development.
According to the financial entity, at least 700,000 people will benefit directly or indirectly from the program, which will be rolled out over five years (2025-2029).
Moreover, the Project to Develop Competitive Aquaculture and Fisheries Value Chains will contribute to the country's blue economy, which is constantly growing and developing.
It is worth noting that the 5th annual Ocean Innovation Africa Summit, which took place in Cape Town from the 20th to the 22nd of February 2024, focused on the African Blue Economy.
"The Bank's involvement in this project will facilitate the establishment of aquaculture and fisheries-related infrastructure, improve skills within the fisheries sector, contribute to improved governance of sea, lagoon, and inland fisheries, and promote the development of commercial aquaculture through training and the implementation of a reliable system for the production of high-quality fry and feed," detailed Joseph Ribeiro, the African Development Bank's Deputy Director General for West Africa.
The Project includes post-secondary education, incubation programs, and social entrepreneurship for start-ups. Also, integrated and participatory management plans will be implemented for marine, lagoon, and inland fisheries, prioritizing small-scale commercial fishing species.
Furthermore, it plans to improve fishing methods by supporting public and private fish farms in Loka, Dompleu, and Jacqueville, in the west and south of the country.
The coastal areas that will benefit from the funding include Abidjan, Jacqueville, and Assinie in the south, as well as the departments of San Pedro, Tabou, Grand Béréby, and Sassandra in the southwest.
Inland water bodies and rivers, low-lying areas, artesian wells, and floodplains scattered across the catchment areas in the center of the country (departments of Man, Bouaké, Toumodi, Yamoussoukro, Soubré, and Béoumi), as well as the Kossou and Buyo dam lakes, will also be key focus areas.
