Madagascar’s Blue economy in the spotlight

The fifth edition of the Fisheries Products Fair began on July 2, 2025, at the Mahamasina Sports Palace in Antananarivo.

The event will last four days and is organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, with the support of AMPA (Malagasy Fisheries and Aquaculture Agency). Approximately 70 stalls are participating in this edition. These include fishermen, fish farmers, vendors, cooperatives, and companies specializing in fishing and livestock equipment. All these exhibitors come from different regions of Madagascar. Fresh and dried products are available at affordable prices for the general public.

The aim of this fair is to bring producers and consumers together to encourage the population to eat more fish. “Today, each Malagasy person consumes an average of more than 7 kilos of fish per year, compared to 4.26 kilos previously. The government wants to reach 11 kilos per person, like the African average,” declared Mahatante Paubert, Minister of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, during his speech.

For comparison, the global average is 24 kilos, and in the Maldives, it exceeds 140 kilos. This increase in consumption is mainly due to the development of fish farming. “Thanks to the Ministry’s free training, the number of fish farmers has increased from 2,300 to more than 55,000 in just a few years,” he said. Mahatante Paubert also spoke about progress in the management of the sector.

The number of fishing licenses was reduced from 255 to 116 to better protect resources. In 2024, these licenses generated 35.3 billion ariary (8.21 million USD) for the state. Exports of fishery products, meanwhile, generated 700 billion ariary.