New AfDB report reveals inland fishing remains a major food source across the Sahel

AFRCA – West Africa’s inland water systems continue to play a crucial role in food security, according to a new report by the African Development Bank.

The study, titled Review of African Inland Fisheries, draws on 2022 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and highlights the extent to which inland fishing supports livelihoods and local consumption across the region.

The report identifies Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, and Nigeria as the top five countries in West Africa most dependent on inland fisheries for their fish supply.

Niger leads with near-total reliance

In Niger, where there is no coastline, the country depends entirely on inland fisheries and a developing aquaculture sector for local fish production.

FAO figures show that fish caught from inland waters totaled 47,670 tonnes in 2022, representing about 99 percent of the national fish supply.

Niger’s freshwater resources cover roughly 410,000 hectares across the Niger River, its tributaries, and Lake Chad, providing livelihoods for an estimated 700,000 people.

Burkina Faso follows closely

Burkina Faso, another landlocked nation, depends almost entirely on inland fishing and aquaculture to meet its domestic demand.

The FAO estimates that the country produced 30,044 tonnes of fish in 2022, accounting for 97 percent of the total market supply of 30,938 tonnes.

Its network of freshwater bodies extends over 200,000 hectares, supported by major rivers such as the Mouhoun, Nakanbé, and Pendjari, along with over 2,000 reservoirs, employing around 22,000 people, 19 percent of them women.

Mali shows stronger production levels

Mali ranks third but records significantly higher fish output than its Sahelian neighbors, with inland waters producing 110,366 tonnes in 2022.

This figure represents 93 percent of its total fish supply of 119,000 tonnes, supported by the Senegal and Niger rivers, the Bani tributary, and numerous lakes.

The FAO estimates that 150,000 Malians work directly in fishing, while the wider sector sustains around half a million jobs.

Benin and Nigeria show mixed dependence

In Benin, inland fisheries produced 29,575 tonnes of fish in 2022, supplying about 36 percent of local consumption estimated at 80,655 tonnes.

With aquaculture still limited, most of the country’s fish comes from marine and artisanal sources, while inland activities employ about 200,000 people.

Nigeria, however, recorded the largest inland catch in the region at 354,531 tonnes, although this accounted for only 36 percent of its total fish supply of 1.04 million tonnes.

Its fisheries rely heavily on the Niger and Benue rivers, floodplains, and lakes such as Lake Chad, engaging over 613,000 people, 27 percent of whom are women.

The AfDB notes that despite limited external inputs, these mostly artisanal systems remain vital and resilient sources of food and income across West Africa.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.