The Policy Monitoring and Research Center (PMRC) says Zambia’s fisheries sector has the potential to produce about 150,000 metric tonnes of fish annually.

Zambia currently produces about 100,000 metric tonnes of fish annually which 87% of the production comes from capture fisheries.

At national level, the fisheries sub-sector contributes approximately 3.2% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Given the abundant water resources that Zambia has, the fisheries sub-sector has been identified as one of the avenues for agriculture and general economic diversification through enhanced and efficient capture fisheries and fish farming.

PMRC Executive Director Bernadette Deka says the current fish production in the country has failed to meet the country’s domestic demand for fish.

Ms Deka says this has led the country to become a net importer of fish.

She recalls that in 2015 Zambia’s fish imports volume was 77,199 metric tonnes which increased to 126,345 metric tonnes in 2016.

“In terms of net worth of the fish that the country imports, the Seventh National Development plan indicates that in 2011, fish imports were valued at US$ 32,118,412 which increased by
253% to US$113,434,446 in 2015 while the value of fish exports decreased from
US$1,081,964 to US$503,649 between 2011 and 2015,” she indicated.

Ms Deka contends that aquaculture has been recognised as an avenue through which the unmet fish demand can be addressed.

She further adds that aquaculture has been recognised in the country’s development agenda as a means to promote employment and a source of livelihood for small scale farmers.