Cameroon plans to improve domestic fish production to reduce its reliance on imports. The country is targeting 25,000 tons by 2029 under a new government-backed program.
The Project to Promote Inland Fish Farming (Profip), financed by Japan with CFA1.2 billion, was presented on April 1, 2026, to the minister of livestock, fisheries, and animal industries. The initiative aims to increase national fish output by about 10% annually and strengthen local aquaculture capacity.
The challenge is significant. According to ministry data, national consumption of fishery products exceeded 476,000 tons in 2024, with 48% of that volume supplied through imports. This leaves a production gap of about 225,000 tons. That same year, Cameroon spent nearly CFA95 billion on fish imports.
In this context, Profip is designed to support efforts toward greater food self-sufficiency, even if its contribution alone will not fully close the deficit. The project focuses on building a more structured and sustainable inland aquaculture sector, seen as a key lever for import substitution.
The program plans to organize about 700 fish farming units by 2029. It will improve access to fingerlings, quality feed, and appropriate farming techniques. Training will play a central role, relying on private trainers supported by the project to spread best practices across the sector. More than 70% of participants are expected to adopt improved aquaculture methods.
The training component includes 16 workshops across four regions—Center, Littoral, West, and South—with four sessions per region and 20 participants each, for a total of 320 beneficiaries.
Launched in July 2025, Profip reflects the government’s broader effort to develop a sector that remains understructured but is considered strategic for reducing import costs and improving local fish supply.
Ludovic Amara
