Cameroon is focusing on developing inland fish farming to reduce its dependence on seafood imports. The Project for the Promotion of Continental Fish Farming in Cameroon (Profip), financed by Japanese cooperation to the tune of 1.2 billion FCFA, aims to increase national production to 25,000 tons of fish by 2029.
This project was presented on April 1, 2026, to the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries. The main objective is to increase national fish production by 10% each year. According to Japanese aid workers, Profip aims to sustainably structure the continental fish farming sector, considered an essential lever for substituting imports.
In 2024, national consumption of seafood products exceeded 476,000 tons, 48% of which came from imports. The country spent nearly 95 billion FCFA on fish imports, highlighting a local production deficit of around 225,000 tons. Profip, although insufficient to fully cover this deficit, aims to strengthen Cameroon's food sovereignty.
The project plans to structure approximately 700 fish farming units by its completion. This involves improving access to fingerlings, quality feed and adapted breeding techniques. Training is an important component, with 16 workshops planned in the Center, Littoral, West and South regions. Each region will host four training sessions for 20 participants, for a total of 320 beneficiaries.
Launched in July 2025, Profip reflects the authorities' desire to consolidate a sector considered strategic for controlling imports and improving the local supply of fish. In parallel, other government initiatives, such as the Livestock and Fish Farming Value Chain Development Project (PDCVEP), are financing and training young entrepreneurs in the fish farming sector. Despite these efforts, Cameroon remains dependent on imports to meet its domestic fish demand.
