Regions
With many of its member states bordering the coast, the SADC region is extremely rich in its diversity of fish species. It is an important source for food, livelihoods and economic activity. However, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a big threat – as much as USD 11 billion in revenues is lost annually. Cooperation between national agencies and neighbouring countries is the key to tackling IUU fishing.
Click on the map below to see key fisheries statistics for each country.
Botswana
The Republic of Botswana (581 760 km2) is a land-locked country bordered by Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Botswana is semi-arid, with limited surface water resources, and limited, variable rainfall. Fisheries and aquaculture play a minor role in Botswana’s economy. However, although annual per capita fish consumption in Botswana is very low in comparison to the SADC average, the demand for fish exceeds the supply, based on the relatively high imports of fish and other seafood. With annual population growth of around 2%, the demand for fish is expected to rise.
fisheries GDP
employed in fisheries and aquaculture
of fish imported in 2018, mostly from South Africa, Namibia & Zimbabwe
of total annual fish production practiced in the Okavango Delta
South Africa
Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
The Republic of South Africa (1.22 million km2) is Africa’s southernmost country, with a coastline of 3 623 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.5 million km. South Africa is traditionally and culturally not a major fish-eating country but the fisheries sector is extremely important in terms of employment, income and food security.
employed in fisheries and aquaculture
account for more than 99%
of South Africa’s annual fisheries catches
Mozambique
Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries
The Republic of Mozambique is the 36th largest country with 309,475 sq mi (801,537 Km2).
With 1500 miles, Mozambique holds the 4th largest coastline in Africa. The Exclusive Economic Zone amounts to 200 Nautical Miles. Small-scale fisheries is a valuable source of income for many residents living close to the shore.
of Mozambicans live along the coast
lost each year due to IUU fishing
of Mozambique’s fish is caught by small-scale fisheries
total estimated value of Mozambique’s small scale coastal fisheries
Namibia
The Republic of Namibia (824 290 km2) is located on southern Africa’s west coast. It has a coastline of 1 572 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 564 700 km.
Namibia’s marine fisheries sector is a cornerstone of the economy, and the third largest industry after mining and tourism. While small-scale marine fisheries are minor in comparison to Namibia’s industrial-scale fisheries, they play a critical role in supporting the livelihoods of, and providing food and nutrition security to, disadvantaged groups and poor coastal communities.
fisheries GDP
employed in fisheries and aquaculture
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a land-locked country bordered by Mozambique, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.
It has a total area of 118 484 km2 of which over 20 percent (24 405 km2) is covered by water. Fishing is an important socio-economic activity in Malawi that and provides significant livelihood and food security benefits, particularly to the rural population.
fisheries GDP
employed in fisheries and aquaculture
is sourced from Lake Malawi, “the world´s richest, multispecies freshwater fishery”
fishing vessels were operational on Lake Malawi in 2017
Tanzania
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries of Zanzibar (MANRLF).
The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) (947 300 km2) consists of the Tanzanian mainland and Zanzibar, which is made up of the islands Unguja and Pemba. URT has a coastline of 1 424 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 223 000 km2.
fisheries GDP
employed in fisheries and aquaculture
engaged in fish processing, trade, boat building and other fisheries related activities
production, in 2018, was contributed by the inland fisheries sub-sector
Angola
Angola was a leading fish exporter during the colonial era until the mid-1970s. But its fisheries capacity and expertise was lost during the prolonged civil war that ended in 2002.
Today, the Angolan government, local private sector and international entities are heavily focused on fisheries development to advance the country’s economic diversification, generate employment opportunities and expand food production capacity both for national consumption and for export.
of coastline
of production volume (2017)
fisheries GDP
earn their living in the fisheries sector
Comoros
The Comoros archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, to the north of the Mozambique Channel, 350 km northwest of Madagascar and 250 km from the coast of Mozambique.
As a small island nation, the coastal population depends heavily on fishing for income and food security.
Exclusive Economic Zone, 100 times larger than its land area
and tuna-like species compose most of Comoros’ fisheries sector
tonnes of fish caught annually
to the ocean economy of Comoros
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has significant potential for fishing, estimated at more than 707,000 tonnes of annual production.
The fisheries sector includes marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture. Marine production comes from a small coastline about 40 km long wedged between Angola and the Republic of Congo, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering an estimated area of 1,150 km²
of coastline
of fisheries and aquaculture production
Eswatini
Eswatini is a land locked country covering an area of 17 360 km2. The country does not have natural lakes, swamps or floodplains. It has 5 big rivers where some are not developed within the country. Fisheries and Aquaculture in the country is controlled by the Fisheries section in the Ministry of Agriculture within Government Departments.
production of fish in aquaculture
fish imports in 2022
Lesotho
The Republic of Malawi is a land-locked country located in southeastern Africa with a total area of 30,335 km².
Fisheries have little socio-economic importance. Maize, sorghum and wheat farming are the primary means of ensuring food security.
fisheries GDP
of fish available for consumption
of fisheries and aquaculture production
Madagascar
Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island with a total surface area of approximately 590,000 km² and a coastline 5,603 km long.
Geographical isolation and an arid climate mean that the coastal communities are highly reliant on the ocean for their survival.
to 11,000 tonnes of fish caught per year
Mauritius
As a remote island economy, Mauritius has long depended on fishing as an important source of both income and food.
The two main forms of fish production are marine capture and aquaculture.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
fisheries GDP
employed in the fisheries sector
Seychelles
The Seychelles is comprised of 115 islands, 41 of which are primarily made of granite rocks (i.e. granitic islands) and 74 are low-lying islands with dry, infertile soils (coralline islands).
The fisheries sector in Seychelles has three main components: artisanal fishery, semi-industrial fisheries and industrial fisheries.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
are the main islands
of coastline
Zambia
Zambia is an entirely land-locked country spanning an area of 752,612 km², 9,220 km² of which is covered by water.
The country has abundant water resources, the Zambezi River valley and Luangwa valley with interfluves in the main drainage systems consisting of the Zambezi, Luangwa, Luapula/Chambeshi and Kafue rivers.
of fish is produced annually
are employed in the fisheries sector
fisheries GDP
consumption of fish
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country with its fishing sector based on major lakes, dams and reservoirs. It has over 10000 small to medium sized waterbodies which cover 3 910 km2. Fish production in Zimbabwe is based on aquaculture and capture fisheries.
capture fisheries
aquaculture production
fish consumption per capita
employed in aquaculture and inland fisheries