• Côte d’Ivoire approves $46.9M animal and fisheries budget for 2026, up 24%
  
• 42% allocated to fisheries resource development under national policy targets
  
• Local fish output far below demand; over 732,000 tons imported in 2024

Côte d'Ivoire’s parliamentary committee has approved a 2026 budget of 26.7 billion CFA francs ($46.9 million) for the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MIRAH), a nearly 24 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.

The budget allocates the largest share of investment spending, 42 percent or about $19.5 million, to programs to develop and manage fisheries resources. The rest will go toward animal production programs and initiatives related to veterinary public health.

“This budget, aligned with the ministry’s mandate, is structured around four programs and aims to build on existing progress while stepping up the actions needed to achieve the objectives of the 2026–2030 National Development Plan,” according to a statement published on the MIRAH website.

The increase comes as MIRAH continues to struggle to meet some of its targets for fisheries and aquaculture. Under the National Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Policy (PONADEPA), launched for 2022–2026, the ministry is aiming for total fisheries and aquaculture production of 280,000 tons per year starting in 2026.

Official data shows that local output reached only around 92,700 tons in 2024, far below domestic demand. According to the Directorate General of Customs, Côte d'Ivoire imported nearly 732,400 tons of fish valued at 518.5 billion CFA francs ($910.8 million) in 2024 to fill the supply gap.

Stéphanas Assocle