By Prossy Nandudu
The African Union has designated the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute as the regional Center of excellence in areas of research and training in aquaculture, inland Capture Fisheries and climate change.
The pronouncement was made at a recent Aquaculture Network for Africa (ANAF) assembly, held in Naivasha, Kenya. The institute is one of the research institutions under the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO).
The endorsement follows a series of work in the fisheries sector since 2018. To formalize the Institute’s designation as an African Centre of Excellence and initiate operations, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the African Union and NARO-NaFIRRI in November 2020.
Areas of cooperation include strengthening the capacity of African institutions for high-quality research in aquaculture including feed and seed production, management of impacts of Climate Change on fisheries among others.
The collaboration also seeks to develop human capacities, and enhance knowledge and skills for effective fisheries management and aquaculture development in African Union Member States among other areas of focus.
Established in 1947, NaFIRRI’s mandate includes conducting basic and applied research of national and strategic importance in aquaculture, capture fisheries, water environment, socio-economics and marketing, information communication management, and addressing emerging issues in fisheries and aquaculture.
