Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (FASA): Market assessment of fish production and feed in Zambia

Abstract

Aquaculture in Zambia is still in its early stages, yet it holds significant potential for expanding the country’s fish production capacity. Over the past four decades, there has been a steady increase in fish production, with the total reaching 168,480 t in 2021 (Figure 1). Notably, the past decade witnessed accelerated growth, averaging a 6.7% annual increase in production (Department of Fisheries 2021). Despite this growth, however, a recent government estimate indicates a deficit of 74,000 t in fish supply, prompting Zambia to become a net fish importer to meet demand. The Zambia Statistical Agency reports that fish imports have been on the rise over the past 40 years, peaking at 126,886 t in 2016 before gradually declining to 79,941 t in 2020. This decline is attributed to the burgeoning aquaculture sector and the steady increase in production from capture fisheries within the country (Zhang et al. 2024). During this period, major import sources included Namibia, China, South Africa and Poland. Conversely, Zambia also engages in fish exports, albeit at a modest scale. Despite fluctuations, exports remained below 10,000 t annually, with a notable increase from 532 t in 2018 to 6725 t in 2021. Key export destinations include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Hong Kong, the United States and Malawi. This dynamic reflects both the evolving landscape of Zambia’s fisheries sector and its growing participation in international trade networks.