First Steering Committee Meetings of the Regional Aquatic Animal Health Networks for North Africa and Southern Africa: 24th June, 2025, World Aquaculture Safari Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

The First Steering Committee Meetings of the Regional Aquatic Animal Health Networks for North Africa and Southern Africa were held on 24 June 2025 during the World Aquaculture Safari in Kampala, Uganda.

The meetings brought together representatives and stakeholders involved in aquatic animal health, fisheries and aquaculture to establish a framework for strengthening regional collaboration and coordination.

Discussions focused on the establishment and operationalization of the regional networks, priority aquatic animal health challenges, disease surveillance and reporting, biosecurity, capacity development, information and knowledge sharing, and mechanisms for effective regional cooperation.

The meetings provided an important platform for identifying common priorities, strengthening linkages among national aquatic animal health systems, and promoting coordinated approaches to the prevention, detection and management of aquatic animal diseases.

The Steering Committees also considered areas for joint action and future activities to support sustainable aquaculture development and improve aquatic animal health management in the two regions.

The outcomes of these inaugural meetings provide a foundation for continued collaboration among countries and partners and for the development of resilient regional aquatic animal health systems in North and Southern Africa.