Aquaculture
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/2
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- This report presents a practical, data-driven framework for assessing climate risks in fisheries and aquaculture, with a focus on Bangladesh, Kenya, and Zambia, where aquatic food systems are critical to food security, livelihoods, and economic development but increasingly exposed to climate stressors. It consolidates and evaluates available climate, hydrological, ecological, production, and socioeconomic datasets, and compares predictive, statistical, and integrated risk-based analytical approaches to identify those most viable under current data constraints. The report adopts an IPCC AR6–aligned integrated risk framework that combines climate hazards, exposure, and vulnerability to generate comparative insights without relying on precise outcome predictions. These methods provide the analytical foundation for developing country-level climate-risk profiles to inform adaptation planning, sectoral strategies, and climate investment in aquatic food systems.
- Climate change poses growing risks to aquatic food systems, particularly in vulnerable regions. At the same time, aquatic foods offer potential for climate adaptation and mitigation because of their relatively low environmental footprints and contributions to livelihoods and nutrition. Despite this dual role, however, the extent to which climate policies and aquatic foods policies are aligned is seldomly considered. This report assesses the coherence between climate policy and aquatic foods policy in Kenya and Zambia. The analysis focuses on sectoral fisheries and aquaculture policies and national-level climate frameworks, specifically Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and climate action strategies. Using a structured analytical framework, coherence was assessed across objectives, measures, policy instruments, implementation arrangements, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and horizontal and vertical coordination. Thirteen national-level policy documents were analyzed: seven from Kenya and six from Zambia. Documents were systematically coded using keyword searches and a deductive codebook, and each was scored using a coherence index (scale 1–10) that weighted objectives, instruments, implementation, M&E, coordination, and aquatic foods specificity. Overall, the results show a fragmented but evolving policy landscape in both countries. Climate frameworks tend to integrate aquatic food systems more consistently than fisheries and aquaculture policies integrate climate considerations. In Kenya, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAPIII) and the country’s NAP demonstrate strong coherence, with clear objectives, multiple instruments, quantified targets, budget allocations, and defined institutional responsibilities. In Zambia, coherence is strongest in the National Aquaculture Trade Development Strategy, which operationalizes climate-smart aquaculture as part of an economic growth and diversification agenda. In contrast, older fisheries legislation and sectoral implementation plans in both countries show little or no reference to climate risks, adaptation, or mitigation. These documents score lowest on coherence, highlighting a lag between rapidly evolving climate policy agendas and slower sectoral and legal reform processes. A key finding is that alignment at the level of objectives alone is insufficient. High coherence is associated with concrete instruments, implementation pathways, budget lines, and M&E frameworks. Where climate–aquatic foods linkages remain largely aspirational, such as in some NDCs and high- level policies, coherence is considerably weaker. Common gaps across both countries include limited M&E systems, weak vertical coherence between national and subnational levels, and a lack of formal cross-referencing between climate and aquatic foods policies. The findings suggest that strengthening coherence requires aligning and updating existing policies rather than creating and layering new ones. Key entry points include revising fisheries and aquaculture policies to embed climate resilience, strengthening M&E systems, and improving coordination across climate, fisheries, and planning institutions. The analytical framework used in this study is lightweight and replicable, offering potential for broader application to support climate-responsive governance of aquatic food systems in other countries.
- Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) constitute a foundational element of Cambodia’s inland fisheries, food security, and climate resilience. Evidence from six CFRs in Kampong Thom and Prey Veng provinces demonstrates that CFRs serve as ecological refugia during the dry season, facilitate seasonal fish migration across ricefield, floodplain, and river systems, and contribute to integrated, decentralized governance of water, fisheries, and agriculture. The findings confirm that CFRs significantly enhance aquatic biodiversity, ricefield fisheries productivity, and household nutrition. However, systemic challenges remain, including weak hydrological coordination with irrigation systems, inconsistent institutional recognition across governance levels, insufficient gender inclusion in management structures, and chronic under-financing. Most CFRs rely on short-term external donor support, with no direct allocation from Commune Development Funds or provincial budgets. This policy brief recommends: (1) embedding CFRs in formal water and irrigation planning; (2) upgrading their legal and institutional status at provincial levels; (3) establishing sustainable public financing mechanisms; (4) strengthening gender responsive governance; and (5) scaling integrated district-level governance models through District Technical Working Groups (DTWGs). With strategic investment and coordination, CFRs can serve as scalable landscape models for climate adaptive food system governance throughout Cambodia.
- This study examines the role of CFRs in promoting the integration of water, land, and aquatic food systems, with particular emphasis on their function as landscape-level connectors linking rivers, floodplains, irrigation systems, and rice fields. Moving beyond a narrow focus on fish conservation, the study conceptualizes CFRs as multi-use, community-governed socio-ecological systems that contribute simultaneously to fisheries productivity, agricultural water management, and local food and nutrition security. The research addresses three overarching questions: how different governance models influence CFR effectiveness and scalability; how CFRs can be demonstrated as landscape models for integrated resource management; and how integrated governance differs from conventional, sector-specific approaches. The study draws on six CFR case studies located in Prey Veng Province in the Mekong Delta and Kampong Thom Province in the Tonle Sap floodplain. These sites were selected to capture variation in hydrological conditions, institutional arrangements, and livelihood contexts, including CFRs connected to large lakes (Boeng Sneh and Boeng Ream) and to irrigation systems such as the Taing Krasaing Irrigation System. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining secondary data review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory mapping. Analysis focused on CFR physical characteristics, hydrological and ecological connectivity, institutional recognition, management structures, community participation, and links with district-level governance mechanisms such as District Technical Working Groups (DTWGs).
- The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) is working together with our development partners to build on the unique assets and strengths of rural people. We focus on learning through researching, actions, peer-to-peer learning, and enriching their knowledge and skills. Under funding support from International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Scaling for Impact Science Program under Pathway to Scale in Agrifood systems, Area of Work 2 (Aow2) “Enhance productivity, resilience, and nutrition-sensitive outcomes in Cambodia’s integrated fisheries and agriculture systems through improved management of rice-field fisheries (RFF), Community Fish Refuges (CFRs), and integrated pond-dike cropping systems to support sustainable practices and scaling out.” The project aims to integrate homestead aquaculture and vegetable gardening at households and schools, establish market links, and integrate fish powder into the School Meal Program as part of the next scaling initiative.
- A team of Indian delegates led by Dr. J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR, along with Dr. Bikash Mandal, Assistant Director General (International Relations), Dr. P. K. Sahoo, Director, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, and Dr. Arun Padiyar P., Country Representative, WorldFish–India, visited Sierra Leone and Nigeria from 04 to 15 October 2025 under the South–South Collaboration component of the ICAR–WorldFish Window 3 project and with additional funding support from the OneCGIAR accelerator on capacity sharing. The visit aimed to facilitate capacity sharing and explore opportunities for research and development collaboration between India and African nations. The delegation held high-level meetings with government representatives, academicians and researchers, visited aquaculture farms, hatcheries, feed mills, and fish-processing facilities, and interacted with farming communities in both countries. Authorities, researchers, and entrepreneurs expressed strong interest in India’s aquaculture experience and technologies and sought technical assistance and investment partnerships. The Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. Mr. B. C. Pradhan, played a key role in facilitating the mission and requested preparation of a joint proposal for possible funding through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
- Malaysia’s aquaculture sector is undergoing a sustainability transition, driven by farmers experimenting with nature‑positive, climate‑smart and inclusive practices. The CAINA project, in partnership with Malaysian universities and supported by IDRC and the Government of Canada, is identifying what nature‑based aquaculture (NBA) looks like in practice, developing standards and tools to assess environmental, social, and economic impacts. By working directly with entrepreneurial farmers and conducting field case studies, the project highlights innovators advancing regenerative, low-impact approaches—from seaweed and shellfish systems to integrated multitrophic aquaculture—while mapping pathways to scale these models across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
- The Government of Bangladesh, private industry, research institutions, and CGIAR programs have emphasized the need for coordinated action to modernize the feed sector. Against this backdrop, a national consultative workshop was convened to identify practical solutions, partnership opportunities, and priority actions that can be initiated from 2026 onward. The workshop, supported by CGIAR’s Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) and Scaling for Impact (S4I) programs, brought together 39 participants from government agencies, research institutions, universities, private feed companies, laboratories, advisory actors, and development partners. The workshop was designed as a solution-oriented platform rather than a general sector review. Its primary objectives were to: (i) develop a shared understanding of the key constraints shaping feed quality, safety, and market performance;(ii) identify existing and emerging innovations in feed ingredients, formulation, processing, and digital tools;(iii) explore practical collaboration opportunities among government, research institutions, industry, and development partners; and (iv) outline evidence needs and investment priorities to guide coordinated actions in the near and medium term.
- Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector has grown rapidly, driven by hatcheries and nurseries that supply seed nationwide. This growth has supported nutrition, livelihoods, and economic progress but faces challenges in genetic quality, broodstock management, seed standards, nursery coordination, and farmer advisory services. Government agencies and research institutions are prioritizing quality assurance, governance, and coordination, while CGIAR science programs (SAAF and S4I) complement these efforts by advancing genetic improvement and delivery models. Building on recent consultations, the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) program will launch new activities in 2026 to expand farmer access to high-quality seed. The workshop convened stakeholders to agree on practical standards, traceability measures, delivery pathways, and monitoring indicators to guide implementation and support evidence-based decisions.
- At the National Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (NARDC) in Kitwe, Zambia, the Genetic Improvement Program (GIP) has made significant progress, achieving a 12.6% improvement in fish growth from the original breeding stock (first generation) to the next generation (G0 to G1), far exceeding the initial target of 7.5%. This breakthrough means faster-growing fish, higher yields for farmers, and greater profitability, ultimately strengthening Zambia’s aquaculture sector.
- Considering all the challenges and importance with potential for further promotion of aquaculture especially the smallholder aquaculture, the current study on ‘Integrated dairy-duckweeds and aquaculture system (IDAS) research has been designed and conducted as farmers’ participatory action research involving farming households in four communities of Rangpur and Kurigram District in Rangpur Divion in the northwest region of Bangladesh. The system mostly followed the bio-circular economic model in promotion of sustainable aquaculture and dairy farming practices.
- The scoping study on the Integrated Dairy–Duckweeds and Aquaculture System (IDAS), conducted in Rangpur and Kurigram districts under the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Food Systems (SAAF) program, explored the feasibility of linking dairy cattle, duckweed cultivation, pond aquaculture, and fodder production into a closed-loop nutrient cycle. This integrated model addresses three interconnected challenges: high feed costs, underutilized dairy cattle urine, and rising greenhouse gas emissions. In the proposed system, liquid manure from dairy cattle urine fertilize ponds for duckweed cultivation; duckweed serves as a protein-rich feed for fish; and nutrient-rich pond sludge is recycled into fodder plots, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. Such integration strengthens household food security, lowers production costs, and contributes to climate-smart aquaculture.
- AquaIndex is an interactive Aquaculture Sustainability Explorer designed to help stakeholders evaluate and enhance the sustainability of aquatic food systems. The platform integrates multidimensional indicators—environmental, economic, social, and governance—to benchmark aquaculture performance and guide data-driven decision-making. By visualizing key metrics and trends, AquaIndex supports producers, researchers, policymakers, and investors in identifying strengths, trade-offs, and opportunities for sustainable growth. It facilitates transparent comparison across systems and regions, fostering evidence-based strategies that balance productivity with ecological stewardship and social equity. AquaIndex empowers sustainable aquaculture transformation through accessible analytics and actionable insights.
- This report summarizes the national workshop “Carp Genetic Improvement and Dissemination: Progress and Future Pathways,” held on 24–25 September 2025 in Khulna, Bangladesh. The workshop brought together stakeholders from government, research institutions, academia, private hatcheries, and farming communities to review progress of the Carp Genetic Improvement and Dissemination Program. The report documents key presentations, panel discussions, field visits to a G5 rohu trial site and the WorldFish Carp Breeding and Research Platform, and the major insights and recommendations shared by participants.
- Digital and data systems are increasingly essential for strengthening decision-making, coordination, and sustainability across aquatic food systems. However, in many low- and middle-income contexts, these systems remain fragmented, under-resourced, or inaccessible to the very actors who depend on them. Fish farmers, fisherfolk, traders, processors, extension officers, regulators, and private-sector partners often face significant challenges in accessing timely, accurate, and interoperable information. Data is frequently incomplete, delayed, siloed across institutions, or locked behind systems that are difficult to use. Weak infrastructure, uneven digital literacy, and gender- and age-based disparities further limit the ability of women, youth, and small-scale producers to benefit from emerging digital innovations. This protocol provides a structured, participatory methodology for diagnosing and addressing digital and data needs within aquaculture and capture fisheries value chains. Building on systems thinking principles, it integrates focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and feedback and reflection workshops to capture both lived experiences at community level and institutional perspectives at system level. The approach moves beyond isolated analysis of tools or datasets, instead examining how people, technologies, and institutions interact, and where breakdowns occur across the aquatic food ecosystem. The protocol is organized around eight core stages: (i) setting systems boundaries, including the development of research tools, participant selection, and facilitator training; (ii) understanding digital and data needs including related infrastructure at each value chain stage; (iii) identifying existing tools and access pathways and assessing their usefulness, reliability, and accessibility; (iv) documenting missing data and digital tools, and understanding how these gaps constrain productivity, safety, coordination, and sustainability; (v) uncovering system-level barriers such as inadequate connectivity, weak interoperability, institutional fragmentation, and governance challenges; (vi) collective envisioning of solutions, enabling participants to articulate realistic innovations and enabling conditions; (vii) in-depth KIIs, which provide policy, governance, and institutional insights that complement FGD findings; and (viii) synthesis, visualization, and participatory validation, where results are integrated into analytic narratives, simple system maps, and presented back to stakeholders through workshops for accuracy and collective ownership. Across FGDs, participants are grouped by value chain stage, including fish farmers, fisherfolk, small-scale processors, traders, input providers, and local aquaculture/fisheries officers to ensure focused discussions that reflect shared roles and experiences. 108–144 FGD participants and 33 key informants will be engaged, with a minimum inclusion target of 40% women and youth (<35 years). The expected outcome is a comprehensive, stakeholder-validated understanding of existing digital and data practices, key operational and institutional constraints, and priority opportunities for innovation. The findings will inform the development of actionable recommendations for policy. By rooting the assessment process in participatory systems thinking, this protocol supports the co-design of context-specific, inclusive, and sustainable digital solutions capable of strengthening resilience and performance across aquatic food systems.
- IAAS promotes an integrated approach where wastes from one of the enterprises, (fish, crops and small livestock), can be used as inputs in another enterprise. The approach links fish, crops, and animals in a circular production system. The approach links fish, crops, and livestock so that each part supports the other, so that if one enterprise fails another can carry the household through, promoting resilience to the impacts of climate change.
- Aquaculture plays a vital role in Egypt’s food and nutrition security, producing more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish annually and accounting for approximately 80% of national fish production. Despite its importance, the sector is increasingly exposed to risks arising from climate change and socio-economic pressures, including population growth, rising food demand, land-use change, and evolving governance systems. In this study, we adapt the GOMAP model for land-based aquaculture systems to project aquaculture production potential (APP) under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, and SSP5–8.5) across five key governorates: Behera, Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, Ismailia, and Port Said. The analysis integrates species distribution models for major farmed fish species in Egypt, machine learning–based projections of pond water temperature, and dietary requirements of cultured species. The results show that under SSP1–2.6, most regions are able to maintain or enhance their APP throughout the 21st century, with Ismailia and Port Said preserving nearly 100% of their production potential relative to the 2020s. Under SSP2–4.5, APP becomes increasingly uneven across regions; Behera and Kafr El-Sheikh experience declines of up to 79% and 74%, respectively, by the 2090s, while Port Said and Ismailia remain comparatively resilient. Under the SSP5–8.5 scenario, declines in APP are most severe and widespread, particularly for tilapia, with production potential falling below 50% in several regions by the end of the century. In contrast, mullet and catfish exhibit greater resilience to climatic stress across all scenarios. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted adaptation strategies, including selective breeding, shading and aeration technologies, and spatial reallocation of aquaculture activities to climatically stable areas. The proposed modelling framework provides a valuable decision-support tool for promoting sustainable and climate-resilient aquaculture development in Egypt.
- The training was designed in response to the capacity assessment conducted with producers in September 2025, which identified business planning and marketing as one of the most critical needs. The training also highlights the importance of strengthening linkages among various actors, including aquaculture farmers, rice–fish farmers, vegetable growers, other crop producers, and business-oriented farmers representing five agricultural cooperatives. The training aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in agricultural cost analysis by introducing essential financial concepts, tools, and methods. Specifically, it sought to build participants’ capacity to accurately assess production costs, analyze financial performance, and apply cost-analysis techniques to improve decision-making in agricultural production planning and implementation.
- Aquaculture plays an important role in fostering economic growth and addressing rural poverty in numerous regions worldwide. The AQUADMC (Optimising AQUAculture Development and Market Connectivity) project focuses on integrating diverse datasets, including EO-derived information and socio-economic data, to support the development of freshwater and coastal aquaculture in various parts of Bangladesh and Kenya. Using satellite imagery, socio-economic insights, and logistical analysis, the project seeks to optimise site selection, enhance market connectivity, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. The methodology employs advanced satellite technologies to monitor water quality parameters in rivers, lakes and coastal areas. Indicators such as turbidity, chlorophyll-a concentrations, salinity and surface temperature are analysed to evaluate environmental suitability for aquaculture activities. Water quality data obtained through the application of algorithms on satellite imagery are complemented by historical, socio-economic data tracing the evolution of aquaculture practices in the analysed regions. The integration of socio-economic and logistical data in the identification of aquaculture trends seems to demonstrate a strong alignment with water quality data derived from satellites for the monitoring of existing aquaculture sites and the possible location of new ponds. The project is an interactive decision support tool, providing policymakers and stakeholders with a comprehensive resource for making informed decisions. The AQUADMC project represents an exemplary case of international cooperation in Earth observation. These efforts highlight the critical role of collaborative approaches in promoting sustainable aquaculture development in Bangladesh, Kenya and beyond.
- This report forms a key deliverable of the AQUADMC project and provides a comprehensive overview of the Mapping Tool and Final Platform developed as part of the project. This document aims to detail the implementation and functionality of the geospatial web platform designed to facilitate the consultation of geospatial and socio-economic datasets. It provides a detailed account of the consolidated methodologies employed in the two project activities, along with the results of their integration into the platform. The project leverages advanced remote sensing and satellite technologies to evaluate and map potential aquaculture sites. The methodology incorporates environmental, socio-economic, and logistical factors to ensure the suitability and sustainability of each site. The primary output is a mapping tool that integrates data from suitability analyses, socio-economic impact assessments, and logistical evaluations. This tool delivers clear, actionable insights to support the selection of aquaculture sites that optimise operational efficiency, market accessibility, and environmental sustainability. The present report presents the Mapping Tool and Platform in Bangladesh and Kenya.