Frequently Asked Questions
Why aquaculture?
Nearly 90% of global marine fish stocks are now either fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted—highlighting a major challenge for the sustainability of wild fisheries. For the first time, global aquaculture (farmed fish and seafood) production has surpassed the catch from wild fisheries—accounting for just over half of all aquatic animal output worldwide, and with rising global populations and shifting dietary preferences, demand is expected to continue to increase.
If we were to harvest this many fish solely from wild stocks, it would risk depleting important sea-life species and threaten ocean biodiversity essential for healthy ecosystems.
This marks a major transition in how humanity meets growing seafood demand.
Africa’s aquaculture sector, while still a relatively small player worldwide, has grown dramatically—expanding by 455% since 2000. Egypt is the clear continental leader, responsible for about 62–67% of Africa’s total aquaculture output. However, Africa as a whole lag far behind Asia, which produces over 90% of the world’s aquaculture products, particularly in countries like China, India, and Vietnam.
In 2022, Africa produced roughly 2.5 million tonnes of aquatic animals and algae, representing about 1.9% of the world’s aquaculture production.
The salmon aquaculture industry alone is valued at around $19–24 billion for 2024–2025, with farmed salmon output exceeding 2.8 million metric tons per year and strong growth expected over the next decade.
African Aquaculture Company, plans to produce 51,000 metric tons of Atlantic salmon in Namibia are significant for the region, yet still modest compared to the world’s largest producers. For instance, Norway exported 285,163 metric tons of salmon in the first quarter of 2025 alone
While Africa’s scale is small relative to global leaders, these salmon farming initiatives are a noteworthy advance for aquaculture in sub-Saharan Africa and represent a step toward greater diversity and self-sufficiency in the continent’s seafood industry.
What are the benefits for the local community?
Job Creation
Namibia possesses advanced infrastructure for international seafood exports, featuring established processing facilities, distribution systems, and dependable telecommunications and transportation networks. These assets support efficient export to major global markets.
As of mid-2025, Namibia’s official unemployment rate stood at 36.9%, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency.
The fish processing industry has weathered significant job losses over the past decade, driven by factors such as the Fishrot corruption scandal, adjustments in fishing quotas, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the early 2010s, fishing and fish processing directly employed between 14,000 and 18,000 people, with some sources suggesting numbers as high as 25,000; approximately half of these positions were based in onshore processing plants.
Promising new investments, including a salmon farming project, are expected to generate 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across construction, logistics, and fish processing, bolstering local economic development.
Salmon farming is known for its strong employment multiplier: for every 1,000 metric tons of farmed salmon produced, leading producers in Norway, Scotland, and Canada typically generate 20 to 40 direct farming jobs, together with 40 to 60 additional jobs in supporting industries like processing, packaging, logistics, and distribution. Around half of the overall employment benefit occurs in these downstream sectors.
Skill transfer and development
Collaboration with Norwegian experts ensures knowledge sharing, empowering Namibian workers with sustainable aquaculture techniques. Norwegian expertise is being leveraged for sustainable aquaculture practices. This knowledge transfer will enhance local capabilities in advanced aquaculture technologies.
AAC are in process to sign a MOU with Namibia University of Science and Technology to develop training courses for aquaculture support. A MOU already exist with Stellenbosch University which have current courses in aquaculture and these will be altered in collaboration to serve the needs of a developing salmon industry.
Industry Collaboration
AAC is establishing a Salmon Farming Association to promote industry-wide sustainability standards and attract further investment in aquaculture development.
Economic Diversification and Boosting Related Industries
Namibia’s economy, traditionally reliant on mining and tourism, is positioning aquaculture as a strategic growth sector.
Salmon farming is expected to generate significant revenue through exports to Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia while reducing reliance on imports.
The production of salmon feed, which includes plant-based proteins, will stimulate Namibia’s agricultural sector. This aligns with the country’s broader Blue Economy policy aimed at integrating fishing with other industries like logistics and renewable energy.
Regional and International Markets
While export to affluent overseas markets will become a primary focus in the future, salmon from Namibia is also expected to become increasingly important within Southern Africa (currently importing 5000 – 8000 t) as infrastructure develops and awareness of its health benefits rises. AAC are poised to drive growth in both export and domestic markets while contributing to continental food production and economic development.
The global salmon aquaculture industry is experiencing strong growth, valued at about $19.1 billion in 2024 and projected to rise to $23.7 billion by 2025. If current expansion continues, it could reach more than $44 billion by 2034.
In terms of output, global farmed salmon production exceeded 2.8 million metric tons in 2023, with farmed salmon accounting for around 70% of the total salmon supply. Norway, Chile, the UK, and Canada currently lead production, with Norway at the forefront. Industry growth is being driven by increasing demand for healthy protein options, advances in aquaculture technology, and greater emphasis on sustainability. The market’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the next decade is estimated between 8% and 9%.
Initial salmon production in these countries is expected to prioritize regional and continental markets for several reasons:
Serving Africa’s expanding urban middle class, where demand for quality seafood is rising.
Reducing Africa’s reliance on imported salmon, which helps strengthen food security and keeps foreign currency within the region.
Boosting trade within Africa as logistics and refrigeration infrastructure improve.
Once local and regional demand has been satisfied, targeting specialty export markets outside Africa, especially with sustainably branded products.
AAC has formed international partnerships to connect with leading expertise, promote sector development, and uphold sustainability as a core value. These collaborations will be crucial for expanding into new markets and ensuring African salmon can compete globally.
What is the risk of diseases being brought in to Namibia and spread to other fish?
Atlantic salmon are farmed in a process that mimics their natural life cycle, beginning in freshwater hatcheries and then moving to large sea cages in coastal waters where they are grown to harvest size.
1. African Aquaculture will source fertilized ova from an approved supplier.
2. The ova will be hatched and reared to approximately 100g smolts at the freshwater facility in Fizantakraal, Paarl, South Africa.
3. After undergoing smoltification, the smolts will be transported by truck to Namibia.
4. At Luderitz Port, the smolts will be loaded onto boats and moved to net-pens at the AAC sites.
5. The salmon will be grown to a harvest weight of 3–5 kg before being processed (Head on Gutted) in Luderitz.
Rigorous Biosecurity Protocols
AAC enforces strict biosecurity, including quarantine for new arrivals and ongoing health checks at its Lüderitz salmon farm, as mandated by environmental regulations and Namibian aquaculture laws.
Adherence to International Standards
Disease management aligns with internationally recognized protocols and Namibia’s commitments as a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the WTO, ensuring global credibility of its health practices.
Health Certification and Quarantine
National laws require quarantine inspections and official health certification for all aquatic animal movements, especially for imports and exports, safeguarding against the introduction of foreign diseases and ensuring only healthy fish are farmed or traded.
Disease Surveilance
The company must continuously monitor for diseases, particularly for exported products. Any suspected outbreaks must be reported at once, and the use of any medications requires prior approval from the responsible Namibian ministry.
Technology Integration
AAC utilizes advanced Norwegian aquaculture technology to bolster biosecurity, minimize environmental impact, and control disease by maintaining superior water quality on both offshore and onshore sites.
Local Stock
To reduce disease risk from overseas imports, the company favours locally produced juvenile fish (smolts) whenever possible, lowering reliance on possibly unreliable foreign health certifications and avoiding the import of new diseases.
Emplyee Training and Capacity Building
Ongoing staff training in biosecurity and aquatic health ensures a high standard of vigilance and preparedness for disease prevention. Nationwide Strategic Support: Namibia’s national aquaculture strategy underpins these efforts, emphasizing continuous health management, capacity building for diagnostics, and long-term disease control planning across the sector.
No Salmon Lice
There are no cold rivers near Lüderitz suitable for salmon to spawn. The only perennial river in the area, the Gariep/Orange River to the south, has water that is too warm and of unsuitable quality for salmon to live or reproduce. As a result, wild salmon colonies cannot establish themselves in this region. This means that any escaped farmed salmon will not be able to spawn or populate the area.
Sea lice are naturalyoccuring tiny copepods which affect both wild and farmed salmon, but like in any farming conditions when animals are held together in a group there is a higher chance for numbers t increase and lead to higher densities. Which is why it is it is our goal to effectively manage their existence and reduce their occurrence. Firstly, all companies transparently report on sea lice numbers, and abide by strict local regulations to monitor and manage numbers as required.
In their natural habitat, salmon lice are found on wild salmon. However, farmed salmon are hatched from certified disease-free eggs and raised in closed, recirculating hatcheries under near-sterile conditions, isolated from other fish except those within the same batch. In regions where wild and farmed salmon overlap, salmon lice can transfer from wild to farmed populations. In our case, there are no wild salmon in the South Atlantic Benguela Current—even though ocean conditions are nearly ideal.
Do farmed and wild salmon offer similar health benefits?
If you see "Atlantic salmon" for sale, it’s almost always farmed. Nearly all Atlantic salmon available in stores is raised in aquaculture operations—mainly in countries like Norway, Scotland, and Chile. Wild Atlantic salmon are endangered, and their populations have declined drastically due to overfishing and habitat loss. As a result, catching or selling wild Atlantic salmon is generally illegal or extremely restricted across most of their native range, including the United States and the United Kingdom
You generally can’t buy wild Atlantic salmon in supermarkets or from most fishmongers. Conservation organizations and experts note that wild Atlantic salmon is not offered to regular consumers, and if you do see it for sale, it’s best to avoid it to support sustainability. Most wild-caught salmon available on the market is Pacific salmon species—such as sockeye, king (chinook), or coho—all caught in Alaska or Canadian waters and not Atlantic salmon.
Both farmed Atlantic salmon and wild Pacific salmon are excellent sources of protein and important nutrients, but there are notable nutritional differences:
Farmed Atlantic salmon is higher in fat, calories, and omega-3 fatty acids; it tends to be more buttery and softer in texture. However, it is lower in vitamin D and vitamin A compared to its wild counterpart.
Wild Pacific salmon is leaner, lower in calories and fat, and offers more vitamin D and vitamin A. The flavour is typically more pronounced, and its flesh is firmer. It contains slightly less omega-3 than farmed salmon.
Ultimately, both types are highly nutritious and deliver significant health benefits. The decision between farmed Atlantic and wild Pacific salmon often comes down to personal preference, nutritional priorities, and sustainability concerns.
Are farmed salmon dyed with toxic compounds?
Both wild and farmed salmon owe their distinctive colour to their diet, specifically to an antioxidant called astaxanthin. This compound is even available as a health supplement for people. In the wild, salmon obtain astaxanthin by consuming krill and other small crustaceans. Farmed salmon, on the other hand, receive astaxanthin through their feed, which is supplemented to mimic a natural diet. In both cases, astaxanthin is vital for the salmon's overall health.
Including astaxanthin-rich foods like salmon in your diet can offer numerous health advantages, largely because of astaxanthin’s powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Is it a concern that farmed salmon may have contaminants such as mercury, PCBs, and dioxins?
Farmed salmon is a safe and healthy choice. Research shows farmed salmon is low in dioxins and has far less exposure to PCBs and dioxins than wild salmon. “Monitoring program for pharmaceuticals, illegal substances, and contaminants in farmed fish” by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
Experts widely recommend low-mercury seafood options, including salmon (Wild or Farmed), because the health benefits far outweigh the risk. Farmed Salmon is recommended as a “best choice” seafood by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because it’s low in mercury and high in health benefits.
Are Salmon over-crowded in small net pens?
Farmed salmon are very sociable, so they often swim fin to fin and school together. This may give the appearance that they have small pens. However, in reality, a salmon pen is made up of 2-4% salmon and 96-98% water. Keeping the stocking density of the salmon pens to this level ensures that the fish are kept healthy and limits their risk of illness. Maximum Fish Density in Norwegian Salmon Cage Culture 25 kg of fish per cubic meter of water (25 kg/m³) and AAC will follow this standard.
Are Farmed Salmon full of antibiotics?
Many media reports perpetuate outdated views about fish farming, particularly concerning the use of feed and antibiotics. In reality, no growth hormones or any form of hormones are added during fish farming. Fish feed is formulated without antibiotics as a preventative measure.
Over the years, Norwegian aquaculture has dramatically reduced its use of antibiotics. Today, the average use stands at just 0.069 milligrams per kilogram of salmon produced, which is only 2% of the total antibiotics used in Norwegian meat production. In fact, in 2018, 98.6% of Norwegian farmed salmon were never treated with antibiotics.
Ensuring fish health and food safety is paramount. The prevailing philosophy focuses on "prevention before cure," emphasizing vaccination as the primary protective measure. Like in human health, antibiotics are reserved for use only when strictly necessary—when diseases arise that cannot be controlled preventively. All antibiotic usage follows stringent regulations.
Regarding the environmental impact of salmon cage farming and its monitoring: Salmon cage farms, if poorly managed, can impact local ecosystems through nutrient loading (from waste and uneaten feed), disease transmission, and escape of farmed fish. However, Norwegian authorities closely regulate these farms. Regular monitoring includes tracking water quality, benthic (seafloor) conditions, and disease incidence to minimize environmental harm and ensure sustainable operations. Technologies like remote sensors, underwater cameras, and strict reporting requirements enable real-time assessment and early intervention to protect surrounding marine environments.
How does salmon farming affect the environment?
The ocean is central to our lives—we depend on it for our livelihoods, build our homes along its shores, and hold it in the highest regard. This deep connection drives our commitment to preserving the purity of the waters where we farm. Maintaining clean, healthy marine environments is crucial—not only for producing premium-quality farmed salmon, but also for protecting the health of ocean ecosystems. Like all types of agriculture, aquaculture has some environmental impact, but salmon farming is recognized as one of the most sustainable ways to produce animal protein. It uses feed efficiently, has a low carbon footprint, and requires far less fresh water and land than other forms of animal agriculture.
Optimal Sites for Aquaculture
The Optimal Offshore Location farms are located in the cold, nutrient-rich waters (10–15°C) of the Benguela Current, which naturally reduces the need for artificial temperature control and lowers energy consumption. This environment fosters healthy salmon growth and reduces ecological stress. The exposed offshore setting experiences strong water movement, promoting the dispersal of biological nutrients, unlike more sheltered areas where nutrients may accumulate. Positioning the cages offshore also helps reduce the risk of coastal pollution and the need for disease control. Additionally, advanced health monitoring systems are used to track salmon welfare and help prevent disease outbreaks.
Water Quality Measurements
AAC has submitted a real-time and advanced monitoring plan for approval.6.2.3 Use technology like underwater cameras to check feed dispersion and monitor seabed conditions
Advanced Cage Technology: Net pens and cages with seal- and bird-protection mechanisms prevent wildlife interactions and reduce disease transmission risks. The cage systems designed for harsh ocean conditions, enhances resilience to weather extremes.
AAC will follow strict regulatory guidance and the latest science
Drawing on Norway’s aquaculture expertise and Norwegian best practices, AAC implements strict protocols for feed efficiency, advanced waste management systems, and comprehensive water quality monitoring to prevent over-fertilization and preserve ecosystem balance. Beginning with an initial 1,000-tonne phase, AAC will gradually increase production levels, enabling ongoing environmental impact assessments and adaptive management.
What makes Lüderitz so ideal for salmon farming?
Ocean Temperature
The Benguela Current, a cold, nutrient-rich ocean current along the west coast of southern Africa, provides ideal conditions for salmon farming. Its characteristics are comparable to the Humboldt Current in Chile, which supports a thriving aquaculture industry. The cold waters are optimal for high-quality Atlantic salmon production while maintaining a natural environment conducive to sustainable farming practices.
Ocean temperature play a crucial role in determining where farmed salmon can be raised efficiently and safely.
As sea temperatures increase, traditional farming regions face growing challenges, which can reduce exports from major producers and create greater instability in the global salmon trade. This trend is expected to accelerate in the coming years, making adaptation and innovation essential for both producers and importers to maintain reliable supply and market stability.
The location, productivity, and international trade of farmed salmon are closely tied to these temperature zones.
Because Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a cold-water species, it is mainly farmed in higher-latitude areas with suitable water temperatures. However, ongoing climate change and warming oceans are disrupting these patterns, with significant effects on the global import and export of farmed salmon.
Sea Conditions
Wave and wind data were obtained from the NCEP reanalysis, which closely matches wave buoy observations along Southern Africa’s west coast. To capture local wave patterns with greater detail, the SWAN model was applied at the study location using a 100-meter grid resolution.
Global ocean current patterns were derived from the EU Copernicus Earth Observation Program, revealing typical total horizontal water velocities ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 m/s.
All Metocean measurements collected to date remain comfortably within the tolerances required for cage and mooring design; this dataset is currently being validated with in situ readings provided by a satellite-connected monitoring buoy.
Furthermore, environmental conditions at the AAC sites are either equivalent to or more favorable than those found at established operations in regions such as the Faroe Islands, Scotland, and Norway.
Phytoplankton
Lüderitz stands out as a favourable location for salmon farming compared to both north (Walvis Bay, northern Benguela) and south (southern Benguela) due to its lower and more stable phytoplankton densities, dominance of less harmful diatoms, and reduced risk of harmful algal blooms. These factors contribute to safer, more predictable conditions for aquaculture, making Lüderitz particularly well-suited for salmon farming
Namibia’s coastal waters are largely unpolluted and highly productive, offering an excellent environment for marine aquaculture. This pristine marine ecosystem ensures the health and quality of farmed salmon while minimizing risks associated with water contamination.
Namibian Government and Norwegian aquaculture experts
The Namibian government has prioritized aquaculture development as part of its Vision 2030 strategy. Policies such as the Aquaculture Act provide a legal framework for sustainable fish farming. Additionally, Namibia’s commitment to a Blue Economy policy integrates aquaculture with other industries like logistics and renewable energy, creating a favourable environment for investment.
The involvement of Norwegian aquaculture experts ensures that the project adheres to international best practices. Norway’s experience in salmon farming brings advanced technologies and sustainable methods to the region, enhancing the project’s viability.
Who is African Aquaculture Company and how will the projected be funded?
African Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd is a company focused on developing a sustainable salmon farming industry along the coast of Namibia. The company is using advanced Norwegian aquaculture technology to farm North Atlantic salmon, targeting a production volume of around 51,000 tonnes of salmon annually off the coast of Lüderitz, Namibia. Main focus includes salmon welfare, minimizing environmental impact, and utilizing the cold Benguela Ocean Current for optimal growth conditions.
The funding of the operation is through a combination of Namibian and Norwegian private and industrial owners. The company is also seeking partnerships with the existing Namibian fishing industry to utilize excess processing and distribution capacity, due to the overall reduction of fishing quotas in Namibia.