Salmon farming industry set to expand into Africa.
African Aquaculture has entered into a collaboration with Norway’s AKVA group to develop what is described as the first commercial sea-based salmon farming operation in Africa.
The project is planned off Lüderitz on Namibia’s south coast, where water temperatures range between 10–16°C and currents are considered suitable for salmon production. The company has been awarded licences totalling 51,000 tonnes of salmon, making it one of the largest aquaculture ventures in the southern hemisphere.
AKVA group will initially supply five floating pens with associated mooring, feeding systems, cameras and digital solutions. The companies have spent more than two years adapting the technology to local conditions, they said.
The first smolt are expected to be stocked in 2026, with harvest planned for 2027. Final investment decisions and supply agreements remain to be concluded.
African Aquaculture CEO Helge Krøgenes said aligning with an experienced technology partner was crucial to the project. AKVA group’s export director, Kjell Egil Riska, said the agreement “marks the beginning of a development process that can pave the way for future deliveries and a new industry in Africa.”
