Adolf Kaure
Namibia is set to pioneer Africa’s first salmon farming industry with an aquaculture farm worth N$41 million at Lüderitz.
The investment was made possible through the Norwegian company African Aquaculture Company (AAC).
Speaking at the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) investment conference in Windhoek on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruth Masake stated that industrialisation must be accompanied by sustainability to ensure the project’s success.
“Sustainable salmon farming must, however, be rooted in responsible environmental management. We must ensure adherence to international standards on water quality, waste management, biodiversity protection and energy efficiency,” said Masake.
“Namibia has an opportunity to build Africa’s first large-scale salmon farming industry based on green energy integration, environmental safeguards, and scientific research partnerships. If we get this right, we will not only produce salmon, we will produce a model of sustainable blue economy development for the continent.”
The deputy minister also emphasised that all policies and financial mechanisms of the project must ensure that all members of society are included.
“Women and youth must not stand on the margins of this transformation, but they must stand at its centre,” she added. “There must be technical training in marine science and aquaculture management provided and women’s participation across the value chain should be encouraged. We must facilitate access to capital and incubation programmes and promote research and innovation led by young Namibians,” she added. Industrial salmon farming will require engineers, marine biologists, environmental specialists, logistics experts, quality controllers, marketers and entrepreneurs, close unemployment gaps and build a new generation of skilled professionals.
Despite Namibia’s commitment to economic diversification and industrial growth, the deputy minister further stated that the country must now move beyond traditional harvest-base fishing toward farming-based fishing of high-value aquaculture and agro-processing industries. “Industrial salmon farming presents Namibia with an extraordinary opportunity to expand aquaculture into a high-value export industry.
By harnessing salmon farming as a strategic national value chain, we can stimulate foreign direct investment, create skilled and semi-skilled employment, strengthen agro-processing and cold-chain infrastructure, increase export revenues and position Namibia as a pioneer in Africa’s aquaculture innovation.
Speaking on behalf of the NIDA acting CEO, Phillip Namundjebo, said that the project aligns with NIDA’s mandate.
“This initiative also carries regional development implications. Coastal towns such as Lüderitz stand to benefit from expanded industrial activity, infrastructure development and employment opportunities.
Skills transfer programmes, technical training and SME participation will form part of the ecosystem that grows around this sector.
It requires coordination across ministries — industrial policy, fisheries regulation, environmental oversight and national development strategy,” said Namundjebo.
Background
AAC announced in 2025 and formalised the successful completion of financing for the first phase of its groundbreaking salmon farming project located off the coast of Lüderitz.
This significant milestone was achieved through a collaboration involving both Norwegian and Namibian investors.
The AAC highlighted that this international partnership aims to set new benchmarks for sustainable aquaculture practices in the region. The completion of financing allows the project to move forward with its initial development stages.
The first phase of the project secured €2 million in equity, complemented by further options for a total of €6 million. This amounts to funding to the tune of N$41 million.
The AAC aims to leverage advanced Norwegian aquaculture technology to develop environmentally sustainable fish farming practices. The first phase will focus on producing 1 000 tonnes of high-quality Atlantic salmon annually, with plans to scale up to an annual production capacity of 51 000 tonnes across three licensed offshore sites.
The project carries immense potential for Namibia’s economy, with projections suggesting the creation of over 5 000 direct and indirect jobs once full production capacity is achieved.
The initiative marks a critical step in transforming Lüderitz into a hub for salmon farming and processing, with infrastructure development and market-ready logistics systems already underway.
Namibia’s cold Benguela current system, stable governance, and investor-friendly policies provide a competitive advantage. If properly structured, salmon aquaculture can become a catalyst for the expansion of Namibia’s industrial base, driving manufacturing, feed production, logistics, packaging, research, and technology development. Salmon aquaculture goes beyond fish farming as it is also about building an industrial ecosystem.
As climate change and overfishing place pressure on wild fish stocks, aquaculture is increasingly becoming the sustainable solution to global seafood demand.
The fish produced during the pilot phase will cater to both local and international markets, with Southern Africa, the Middle East and Europe identified as strategic destinations.