A week later, we are still unpacking one of the strongest conversations we joined at #OOC11: Investing in African Women Scaling Africa’s Seafood and Aquaculture.

Hosted by SHE Changes Ocean, The Ocean and Us, Fair Carbon, Gallifrey Foundation, Blue Women Africa, Centre for Blue Governance and Hatch Blue, the session brought together entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem builders around a very practical question: what does it actually take for women-led seafood and aquaculture businesses in Africa to scale?

The keynote by Astrid Bergmål , State Secretary for International Development, Kingdom of Norway, set an important tone on inclusive blue economy growth. The panel, moderated by Shamim Wasii Nyanda, Community Manager Africa at Hatch Blue and a strong voice in Africa’s blue foods space, brought the conversation closer to real businesses, finance and operating realities.

The discussion featured women founders and ocean leaders including Stella Paul Kileo, Daniela Nairita and Antoinette Vermilye (she/her), with examples touching on seaweed value addition, fish waste circularity, impact accounting, ocean protection and women’s leadership.

Across our ecosystem, women are not only participants in aquaculture; they are part of the operating system. At Vemric Fish Processors, women are involved in fish handling, processing, inventory, quality control and capacity building. Through Char Freshy, value addition is helping reposition omena through better handling, drying, packaging and market readiness. Across our wider work, women and youth are part of farmer engagement, processing, product development, digital traceability and the everyday work of making aquatic food value chains more organised and investable.

This session was not only about recognising women’s contribution. It was about the structures that make women-led businesses stronger: access to finance, mentorship, technical support, markets, data, investment readiness and the confidence to scale.

For Africa’s seafood and aquaculture sector to grow seriously, women cannot remain at the edges of the conversation. They must be supported as operators, founders, processors, producers, innovators and decision-makers.

We would like to keep this conversation going: what is one support system you believe would make the biggest difference for women-led seafood and aquaculture businesses in Africa?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/the-aquaculture-consortium_ooc11-ouroceankenya-ooc11-ugcPost-7476266617203576832-E5gU

#OurOceanKenya #OOC11 #WomenInOceanFoodAfrica #WomenInBlueEconomy #BlueEconomy #Aquaculture #Seafood #FoodSecurity #TheAquacultureConsortium