10 MARCH 2026 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG CHAPTER REPORTS African Chapter This is my first column piece as the newly inaugurated President of the African Chapter! I want to start by thanking everyone, especially the WAS membership for placing their confidence and trust in me to serve as the 4th President of the African Chapter for the next two years. I fully accept this important role, a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I will strive to represent the interests of the African Chapter both at home and on the global stage. A wonderful year has passed, and as we embark on another, my heartfelt gratitude goes to everyone I have worked with and who has helped me reach this position. Special thanks go to the outgoing President, Dr. Foluke Areola, and her entire Board of Directors. The current success of the Chapter would not have been possible without her leadership, contributions, and notable hard work during her tenure. I also acknowledge the strong support from our Past Presidents, Dr. Sherif Sadek and Dr. John Walakira, as well as our exceptional Executive Director, Blessing Mapfumo, and former President of the WAS and now African Chapter Special Advisor, Dr. Kevan Main, who have all laid a solid foundation for us over the years. As many of you know, Africa is the last frontier for aquaculture development, and significant progress is being made continentally in many fronts. I assumed the Presidency at a time when Africa’s aquaculture sector is experiencing significant growth, with production nearly doubling from 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2010 to a peak of 2.6 million metric tonnes in 2024, valued at approximately US$4.7 billion (according to FAO). The average annual growth rate hovers around 8%. Although Africa currently contributes only 2% to global aquaculture output, several countries have made noteworthy advancements, demonstrating that the sector can become one of the fastest-growing food sectors in the foreseeable future. This progress is supported by conducive government policies and reforms, along with an increased public understanding and interest in aquaculture, which has in turn spurred private investment The WAS-AC will continue to serve as the collective voice for the African aquaculture community, with its membership spanning professionals, producers, researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, development partners, students, and various stakeholders. Our goal is to facilitate networking, resource sharing, and technical support, all aimed at enhancing the resilience of the aquaculture sector. Everyone, regardless of their background, has the power to make meaningful contributions to the transformation of (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12) Following a successful election period in 2025, Dr. Khalid Salie from South Africa now takes over as President of the WAS African Chapter for a period of two years, effective January 2026. Other newly elected Board Members include Dr. Francisca Delgado (as President-Elect); Dr. Victoria Tarus (as Regional Director: Eastern Africa); Prof. Daniel Adjei-Boateng (as Regional Director: Western Africa); Prof. Maryam El Bakali (as Regional Director: North Africa). Dr. Khalid Salie is the Head of the Aquaculture Unit, Department of Animal Sciences, at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He was also the Founding WAS-AC Regional Director for Southern Africa 2018-2023 and an active Council Member of the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa. An ardent WAS member since 1999, Dr. Salie is renowned to have steered the formation of the African Chapter since the very beginning, prior to 2018. Dr. Salie takes on a vibrant chapter with a rapidly growing membership and active programme base which has been greatly advanced by his predecessor, Dr. Foluke Areola (Nigeria) — who now moves to the WAS Global Board as President-Elect. Madame Foluke will stay in the WAS AC Board/ Excom position, being its Immediate Past President. Dr. Francisca Delgado, an Angolan aquaculture professional and former National Director at Angolan Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is now the President-Elect of the Chapter. She has served in the WAS-AC Board of Directors in various capacities since 2018, recently as Chapter Secretary and also assumed positions of Regional Director for Central Africa (2018-2023). She is currently the Vice President of the African Women in Maritime (WIMAfrica) and coordinator of the nearly formed WAS-Portuguese Platform (PALOP/CPLP). Dr. Victoria Tarus, a Kenyan aquaculture professional and Deputy Director of Technical WAS African Chapter (WAS-AC) Welcomes Dr. Khalid Salie as its New President as Other New Members are Appointed to its Executive Board of Directors (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12) Top, Dr. Francisca Delgado. Bottom, Dr. Victoria Tarus.
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