Africa is entering the high-end fish game, with Namibia’s salmon farms aiming to disrupt a market long dominated by Norway and Chile.
Second Eye Africa
Morning arrives on the Atlantic breeze, gently stirring the fishing boats moored at the docks in Lüderitz, a hardy settlement along Namibia’s coast, where the sea has shaped daily life for generations.
For years, this windblown harbour town has survived on the Atlantic’s seasonal offerings—hake, mackerel, and the occasional haul of lobster—feeding local livelihoods.
But now, on a concrete jetty watched by seabirds, workers are unloading crates carrying an unexpected addition: shimmering smolts, no longer than a palm, bound for ocean pens riding the Benguela Current.
In these cold, oxygen-rich waters off Namibia’s coast, a new chapter in aquaculture is taking shape as the country ventures into the global high-end seafood trade.
Just last week, the African Aquaculture Company (AAC) secured an initial Sh292 million in equity funding, drawing backing from investors in Norway, South Africa and China. The deal includes a path to raise total equity investment to Sh876 million.
Based just offshore from Lüderitz, the venture aims to farm premium salmon at commercial scale—a notable pivot for a continent that has long depended on seafood imports.
AAC plans to leverage international know-how and Africa’s natural advantages. Juvenile salmon are being reared at Fizantakraal near Cape Town, then transported to Lüderitz, where the Benguela’s nutrient-rich waters offer ideal rearing conditions.
Initial output will be 1,000 tonnes annually, with ambitions to scale to 51,000 tonnes across three marine sites. The company secured licensing approvals from the Namibian authorities last year.
AAC expects the project to generate over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs—from offshore cage operators to factory workers—alongside training led by Norwegian aquaculture experts.
“This initiative is a game-changer for Namibia. Beyond job creation, it will build local expertise for participation in the fast-growing global fish farming economy,” said Clement Kaukuetu, AAC’s Namibia director.
With no salmon lice detected in the Benguela and robust environmental monitoring protocols in place, AAC aims to meet top-tier international standards such as Global GAP and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
Export planning is already underway, with markets in South Africa, the Middle East and Europe in sight.
The first harvest is targeted for 2026, with full-scale production expected by late 2025.
On a global scale, the salmon industry is set to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%, reaching $39.61 billion by 2029—fuelled by rising interest in protein-rich and sustainable food sources.
Norway remains the world leader, exporting 285,163 tonnes in Q1 2025 alone—a 16% increase over the previous year. While Africa’s ventures are still small, they hope to carve out a foothold in this booming market.
Still, environmentalists have raised red flags. The 2024 report Blue Empire revealed that roughly 2 million tonnes of wild fish are used annually to create feed for farmed salmon—some of it drawn from food-insecure areas such as Northwest Africa.
In response, AAC said it is working with Skretting, a Norwegian firm committed to ethical and transparent sourcing of marine feed ingredients.
UN FAO data shows that Africa’s aquaculture output rose by 12% in 2023, though salmon farming remains a relatively new player in the mix.
A growing number of projects now signal Africa’s desire to challenge the $30 billion global salmon industry, long led by Norway, Chile and Scotland.
With extensive coastlines and largely untapped aquatic resources, the continent is drawing investor interest aimed at diversifying supply chains.
Namibia’s salmon ambitions form part of a broader continental shift, as investors explore high-value aquaculture opportunities with strong returns.
In South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Wild Coast Salmon has been raising organic-style Atlantic salmon since 2016, marking the continent’s first major attempt at commercial salmon farming.
Analysts say the infrastructure springing up across the continent—from hatcheries and fishmeal plants to ocean cages—could pave the way for a broader export mix, including trout from upland streams and yellowtail kingfish from temperate waters.
Between 2000 and 2022, Africa’s aquaculture sector expanded over fivefold, making it the fastest-growing globally.
And in Lüderitz, construction cranes, chilled trucks and offshore vessels are fast becoming a common part of the seascape.
