Climate-smart aquaculture and fisheries in West and Central Africa: Assessment, adoption gaps, and implications for resilient aquatic food systems

Introduction:
Climate change is intensifying pressures on aquaculture and fisheries in West and Central Africa, threatening the sustainability of aquatic food systems that underpin food and nutrition security, and livelihoods. Although climate-smart approaches have gained increasing attention, evidence on which practices and technologies are most effective - and why their uptake is limited - remains fragmented.
Methods: In this study, we systematically reviewed 90 studies and synthesized current knowledge on Climate-Smart Aquaculture and Fisheries (CSAF) practices and technologies in West and Central Africa. We assessed the performance of the identified CSAF practices and technologies against the three pillars of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) - productivity, adaptation and mitigation.
Results:
Results highlight recirculating aquaculture systems, Biofloc technology, water reuse and treatment systems, and integrated models such as aquaponics and integrated aquaculture-agriculture as the most promising climate-smart aquaculture systems. In fisheries, ecosystem-based fisheries management and Marine Protected Areas management were identified as promising climate-smart approaches. A key finding is the stark contrast between the technical potential of these practices and technologies and their real-world application.
Discussion:
This widespread adoption gap is primarily attributed to systemic barriers, including financing constraints, weak institutions, and fragmented policy frameworks. These findings suggest that advancing climate-resilient aquatic food systems in the region requires not only technological innovation but also strategic investments, integrated policies, and strengthened governance to overcome systemic barriers and enable scalable implementation.