About EARAC – EAST AFRICA REGIONAL AQUACULTURE

EAST AFRICAN REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE

Home
About EARAC

THE THIRD EAST AFRICAN REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE – 2024

13 – 15 August, 2024. @Malaika Beach Resort, Mwanza

Mainstreaming Small-Scale Aquaculture.

Aquaculture in East Africa is advancing rapidly, especially for large-scale producers that are well-connected to technology, science, capital and opportunity. These large-scale producers are key to the growth of the sector, but in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, mainstream participation of subsistence, small and medium scale farmers, is essential.

To mainstream these farmers, the value chain that makes aquaculture business possible and profitable, requires support. In this, small farmers need access to quality feed, seed, goods, services, technology, research and capital in a competitive manner. This will not only allow these farmers to contribute to household food security and local fish supply, but will also allow for greater profitability and expansion into full-fledged commercial entities that are capable of creating jobs, supporting market demands and transforming East African aquaculture into a vibrant private-sector led business sector.

Mainstreaming of subsistence, small and medium scale farmers, will require greater formalization. For this to happen, farmers will need to register their businesses, pay taxes and comply with other formal sector business conventions and regulations. This in turn, relies on better business planning, as well as production and financial record keeping. Adoption of these practices will allow for greater access to credit and capital, while opening up the potential for supply of fish into formal and export markets.

Traditionally, aquaculture conferences are predominantly attended by government officials, policy makers, academia and some large-scale producers. In the 2024 Mwanza conference the aim will be to attract and cater for smaller producers, by running practical training programs in parallel with academic and governance sessions.

The planning and hosting of the conference is largely driven by the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania, who will be collaborating closely with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. The EU funded TRUEFISH project, through its Component 1, will provide technical support and funding and will lead the Steering Committee. Regional cooperation with several aquaculture associations and societies is foreseen, while the newly formed East African Regional Aquaculture Association will play a key role in coordinating planning and participation. An in-principal partnership agreement has been reached with the East African Division of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society to partner in the hosting of the event, while several regional organisation will be approached for support and participation. Moreover, a range of aquaculture goods and service providers will be encouraged to support the event, and exhibit. Corporate participants such as banks and mines will be approached for their involvement.

From successful previous events, it can now be said that the East African Regional Aquaculture Conference offers a platform for information exchange, the building of partnerships and networking among the region’s public and private sector stakeholders, to foster equitable sustainable commercial aquaculture development.

The 2024 conference under the theme “Promoting Aquaculture Investment in East Africa” aims to:-

Showcase the East African aquaculture sector as investor ready.
Highlight the positive role aquaculture producers and enterprises have played in transforming the regions’ aquaculture sector.
Serve as an information dissemination platform for sector research, governance tools and practical aquaculture business skills.
Unify the aquaculture sector in East Africa at all scales of production.
Foster the gains the industry has achieved and promote sustainable commercial aquaculture development by whole value-chain support.

We look forward to inviting and hosting all of the region’s aquaculture stakeholders in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Objectives of the Conference:-

Provide an information gathering and sharing platform for all aquaculture sector players.
Consolidate and share best practices and the experiences of East Africa’s emerging aquaculture industry by emphasizing the roles and contributions of different actors across the value-chain, elaborating alternatives and demonstrating sustainable commercial aquaculture practices.
Establish regional linkages among the sector stakeholders and between sector participants and investors.
Showcase the work of East Africa’s aquaculture entrepreneurs, researchers and governing bodies.

EAST AFRICAN REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE

The 2024 conference under the theme “Promoting Aquaculture Investment in East Africa” aims to:-

Showcase the East African aquaculture sector as investor ready.

Highlight the positive role aquaculture producers and enterprises have played in transforming the regions’ aquaculture sector.

Serve as an information dissemination platform for sector research, governance tools and practical aquaculture business skills.

Unify the aquaculture sector in East Africa at all scales of production.

Foster the gains the industry has achieved and promote sustainable commercial aquaculture development by whole value-chain support.

We look forward to inviting and hosting all of the region’s aquaculture stakeholders in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Objectives of the Conference:-

Provide an information gathering and sharing platform for all aquaculture sector players.

Consolidate and share best practices and the experiences of East Africa’s emerging aquaculture industry by emphasizing the roles and contributions of different actors across the value-chain, elaborating alternatives and demonstrating sustainable commercial aquaculture practices.

Establish regional linkages among the sector stakeholders and between sector participants and investors.

Showcase the work of East Africa’s aquaculture entrepreneurs, researchers and governing bodies.