Africa could add $17 billion, 3.3 million jobs by doubling seafood production

Africa has an opportunity to turn one of its most underdeveloped food sectors into a major engine for economic growth, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The study, Investing in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for Impact, finds that doubling Africa’s production of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and aquatic plants could generate $17 billion in additional GDP and create up to 3.3 million jobs, while reducing the continent’s protein gap with the rest of the world by 25 percent.

Boosting seafood productivity requires investment

Currently, Africa produces 13.1 million tonnes of blue foods annually, yet the sector faces steep challenges. Post-harvest losses account for up to one-third of output, feed makes up 70–80 percent of production costs, well above the global average of 60 percent, and disease outbreaks threaten entire harvests. Without key investment and coordination, per capita consumption of blue foods may decline by 2032, leaving Africa as the only continent lagging behind.

Tolu Oyekan, managing director and partner at BCG West Africa, emphasized the continent’s potential: “Africa has the resources, talent, and demand to expand its blue foods sector, but fragmented value chains and underinvestment continue to constrain growth. This report outlines strategies to improve productivity, scale, and competitiveness through innovation and coordinated action across public and private sectors.”

Women-led aquaculture thrives with new tech

The report identifies five areas where innovation could drive growth. In inputs, alternatives like black soldier fly larvae and methane-fermented protein could reduce reliance on imported feed. Ghana is turning organic waste into protein-rich aquafeed, while Egypt and Kenya are improving hatcheries and oral vaccines to reduce disease losses.

In production, AI-powered monitoring and precision feeding help smallholder farmers reduce waste and increase survival rates, with Egypt and Bangladesh reporting 30–50 percent higher fingerling survival through enhanced hatchery systems. 

Processing innovations like solar dryers in Uganda and AI grading in Morocco and Nigeria are improving shelf life and product quality, supporting women-led businesses. In supply chains, solar-powered cold rooms in Nigeria and digital control towers in East Africa reduce spoilage and open premium markets. Circular initiatives, including insect-based waste conversion in Ghana and gear recovery for fisheries, add value and cut pollution.

Partnerships key to Africa’s blue economy

The report also stresses the need for policy coordination and partnerships to attract long-term capital. Tania Strauss of the World Economic Forum highlighted Ghana’s Blue Food Innovation Hub as a model, bringing together government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Lessons from Indonesia, China, and New Zealand show that large-scale transformation is possible when innovation, finance, and policy are aligned.

“To realize the full potential of Africa’s blue food economy, we must treat it as core infrastructure, not a niche,” Oyekan said. Investment in cold chains, rural logistics, and private-sector partnerships will be critical to scale solutions, enabling Africa to harness its natural resources while creating millions of jobs and billions in GDP.