Zimbabwe Advances Fisheries and Aquaculture Sustainability through AU Strategy Alignment

Harare, May 16, 2025

The Stakeholders' Consultative and Validation Workshop, held in Harare from May 13th to the 16th, 2025, was a major milestone in Zimbabwe's progress towards sustainable aquaculture and fisheries development. The event was organised by the AU-IBAR in conjunction with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

The workshop's primary objective was to help Zimbabwe's agricultural investment plans and national fisheries and aquaculture policies become more in line with the PFRS for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa. In line with the continental frameworks of the African Union and global sustainability goals, it also dealt with the domestication of pertinent global mechanisms and the integration of adaptation measures to climate change.

AU-IBAR’s Support and Vision
Mr. Rafik Nouaili, speaking on behalf of Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, stressed the need to align national frameworks with the PFRS and the Africa Blue Economy Strategy in his opening remarks. Deputy Minister Hon. Davis Marapira's presence and dedication were complimented, and he thanked the Zimbabwean government for its leadership, especially Hon. Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka's assistance.
“We share a collective responsibility to accelerate reforms, protect aquatic ecosystems, and ensure sustainability for future generations,” stated Mr. Nouaili. “This workshop marked a key milestone in the implementation of the FishGov2 Project, reinforcing our joint commitment to Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.”
He further commended the technical contributions of Dr. Crispen Phiri, who facilitated the policy development process, and expressed gratitude to the European Union for its continued support through the EU-funded FishGov2 initiative.

Joint Efforts and Key Discussions
The four-day meeting brought together representatives from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Participants discussed:
•    Climate change adaptation in fisheries and aquaculture
•    Alignment of national strategies with the AU-PFRS
•    Integration of resilience measures in agricultural investment plans
•    Domestication of global legal and policy frameworks

These discussions led to the development of concrete, actionable recommendations, which were validated during working group sessions and consolidated in endorsed technical reports.

“Our success depended on proposing practical and implementable solutions,” added Mr. Nouaili. “AU-IBAR remains committed to supporting Member States in their reform processes, while promoting collaboration across governments, RECs, and stakeholders to unlock the potential of Africa’s fisheries sector.”

Paving the Way for Zimbabwe’s Blue Economy
Reiterating Zimbabwe's proactive involvement in regional fisheries governance, the workshop expanded upon themes covered in an earlier national dialogue in October 2023. Stakeholders are prepared to proceed with aligning Zimbabwe's national strategies to continental and global benchmarks after endorsing critical reports and a roadmap for execution.

At the end of the workshop, participants reaffirmed their intention to implement changes based on the workshop's recommendations in order to enhance Zimbabwe's role in Africa's blue economy, which is vital for the continent's food security, livelihoods, and environmental future.
To promote inclusive, climate-resilient fisheries systems across the continent, AU-IBAR will continue to work with Zimbabwe and other Member States.