FAO puts Cameroon’s annual artisanal shrimp harvest at 6,002 tonnes.

The event was to announce the publishing of the result of a baseline and socio-economic survey conducted on artisanal marine shrimp fishing in Cameroon. 

The quantity officials stated, is for Cameroonian coastal area excluding fresh water species. The result of the survey which the body says was published in partnership with the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, was carried out from May 15 to 31 last year. It was funded by the European Union, EU, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ.

The FAO said the study was carried out as part of the second workshop dedicated to updating the management plan for industrial and artisanal shrimp fisheries in Cameroon.

It detailed that the project was executed under the FISH4ACP scheme, an FAO initiative designed to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of fishery value chains in African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. 

Shrimp fishing booming in Cameroon

Per the FAO, the recent survey also features challenges and opportunities in the sector in Cameroon. Officials said, it has further confirmed shrimping as a key income generating activity in the country.

FAO indicated in the report that the survey touched some 154 camps along the maritime coastline in Cameroon from Bakassi to Campo with the Ndian Division in the South West Region. In the area, it said, has 49 out of 77 fishing camps identified.

The institution detailed that some 11,174 actors are identified to be involved in the chain with 89% of them established as master fishers and assistants who use some 22,922 pieces of gear.

The organization said the massive involvement of fishermen in the field and huge amount of production leaves the sector producing an estimated total of 6,002 tons annually.

Increasing opportunities despite challenges

The report established that the majority of fishers involved in the shrimping sector in Cameroon are Nigerians. The difficulty was established as one of the key challenges that are still faced in the sector in Cameroon.

The body however went further to indicate that the number of Cameroonians in the sector keeps growing steadily despite the setback. It said the improvement is the result of settlement policies that have been put in place in Bakassi Peninsula.

Other challenges highlighted by the survey includes high fuel and gear costs. The report also cited the lack of storage infrastructure and conflicts involving fishermen in the shrimping field and those engaged in industrial fishing.

Key recommendations

In a bid to promote the smooth functioning of the sector, FAO said the study recommends the promotion of entrepreneurships and investments in youth training for fishing-related professions.

The survey equally pushes for the extension of the framework surveys to all artisanal fishing activities to obtain reliable and comprehensive data.

It equally advocates the reduction of what it describes as untracked sales to Nigeria. It recommends the structuring of the sector to integrate products into the formal export circuit principally through the Cameroon Shrimp Platform, PLACRECAM.

Survey anchor to guiding public policies, investments 

Reacting to the outcome of the survey, the representative of the FAO in Cameroon, Dr Antonio Querido said the findings offer a strong basis for guiding public policies and investments. This, he said, will further cement the role of shrimping as a strategic sector for the Blue Economy. 

“These unprecedented data are essential for structuring the shrimp sector and enhancing its competitiveness in national and international markets,” Dr Querido stated.

For the European Union, EU Representative in Cameroon, Raymond Lataste, said: “By supporting this survey, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting sustainable fishing and strengthening food security and livelihoods for coastal communities in Cameroon”. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3645 of Thursday December 04, 2025