• AfDB highlights inland fisheries' role in West African food security

• Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali most dependent on inland fish supply

• Nigeria leads in volume but relies more on marine and aquaculture

West Africa is home to the Sahel’s three major river basins, Lake Chad, the Niger River, and the Senegal River, as well as many coastal rivers and lakes that sustain vast inland fisheries. A study published on Sept. 22 by the African Development Bank (AfDB) highlights how these mostly artisanal ecosystems rely on smart, low-tech fishing methods that minimize dependence on imported technology and fuel, making them resilient and economically viable.

Drawing on 2022 FAO data, the AfDB’s Review of African Inland Fisheries identifies the five West African countries that depend most heavily on inland fishing for their national fish supply.

Niger: a landlocked Sahelian country that depends entirely on inland fisheries

A landlocked Sahelian country, Niger relies entirely on inland fisheries and emerging aquaculture for its fish production. FAO data show that inland catches totaled 47,670 tons in 2022, accounting for 99% of the national total.

The country’s freshwater potential exceeds 410,000 hectares, spread across the Niger River and Lake Chad systems. More than 700,000 people depend directly on fishing for their livelihoods.

Burkina Faso: an inland nation where fisheries provide nearly all local fish supply

Like Niger, Burkina Faso depends solely on inland fishing and aquaculture. According to the FAO, inland fisheries supplied 30,044 tons of fish in 2022, or 97% of total output, estimated at 30,938 tons.

 Its freshwater resources span more than 200,000 hectares, covering the Mouhoun, Nakanbé, and Nazinon rivers and over 2,000 reservoirs and dams. Around 22,000 people worked in the sector in 2018, with women accounting for 19% of the total.

Mali: the leading inland fisheries producer among Sahelian states

The third landlocked country in this ranking, Mali has much higher fish output than its neighbors in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Inland catches reached 110,366 tons in 2022, or 93% of total national production (119,000 tons).

Fishing is concentrated along the Senegal and Niger rivers and their tributaries, notably the Bani, as well as numerous lakes and ponds. The FAO estimates 150,000 active fishers, and the entire value chain supports about 500,000 jobs.

Benin: a coastal country with a moderate dependence on inland fisheries

Ranked fourth, coastal Benin is less dependent on inland fishing. FAO figures show 29,575 tons of inland catches in 2022, making up about 36% of the total fish supply (80,655 tons).

 With aquaculture still in its infancy, the country’s fish supply is dominated by artisanal and industrial marine fishing. Inland fisheries rely on 130,000 hectares of waterways, including the Ouémé, Niger, Mono, and Couffo rivers, as well as a network of lakes, marshes, and lagoons. The FAO estimates more than 200,000 people depend on the sector, directly or indirectly.

Nigeria: the region’s top producer, though less dependent on inland catches

With about 354,531 tons of inland fish caught in 2022, Nigeria has the largest production both on this list and across West Africa.

However, that figure represents only 36% of the country’s total fish supply (1.04 million tons), reflecting a diverse mix of sources: marine catches totaled 429,773 tons, and aquaculture contributed 259,106 tons.

Nigeria’s inland fisheries are supported by the Niger and Benue rivers, their floodplains and tributaries, and natural and artificial reservoirs such as Lake Chad. The FAO reports about 613,800 people engaged in the activity in 2022, 27% of them women.

Stéphanas Assocle