A wind off Lüderitz carries a promise: the Atlantic water there has temperatures and currents that match what salmon need to thrive. Put another way, Namibia has a patch of ocean that looks, chemically and physically, a lot like the cold waters of the North Atlantic. That is why African Aquaculture Company and Norway’s AKVA group have teamed up to create Africa’s first commercial sea-based salmon farm off the coast of Lüderitz, in a project licensed for a total annual capacity of 51,000 tonnes of salmon.
This is not a small pilot project. The licences cover 51,000 tonnes making the initiative one of the largest aquaculture ventures in the southern hemisphere. The first build phase centers on five floating pens equipped with automated feeders, underwater cameras and digital monitoring tools. Development has been underway for more than two years, and the plan is to stock the first smolt in 2026 and begin harvesting in 2027. Those timelines, if met, would mark an unusually fast move from development to production for a project of this scale.
Why Namibia and why Lüderitz
The choice of Lüderitz is practical, not romantic. The site benefits from stable ocean currents and water temperatures that range roughly between 10 and 16 degrees Celsius, conditions that support Atlantic salmon growth and are unusual in the Southern Hemisphere. Lüderitz already has port and processing infrastructure, which reduces the startup burden for handling, processing and exporting salmon. In short, Namibia offers the rare combination of ocean physics, logistics and political stability that investors look for when starting a new industry.
Norwegian technology meets local scale
AKVA group’s involvement matters beyond a name on the side of a pen. AKVA brings decades of experience in equipment supply, feed systems and digital monitoring. The partnership will see AKVA supply the first five pens and the technical systems needed to operate them. That kind of transfer of know how and hardware reduces operational risk and helps translate Norwegian sea farming methods into local practice. The approach is to adapt proven technology to Namibia’s environmental conditions rather than import a one-size-fits-all model.
Jobs, skills and a new export line
Local authorities and company leaders point to employment and skills development as core outcomes. A project of this scale will need technicians, boat crews, processing staff, logistics managers and people trained in aquaculture biology and animal health. The hope is that the venture will not only create direct jobs but also stimulate ancillary services such as cold chain providers, feed suppliers and maintenance contractors. Using Lüderitz’ existing port and processing facilities is designed to channel value into local businesses from day one.
A test case for the region
Introducing salmon farming in Southern Africa is a technical and commercial test. Most global salmon production takes place in the North Atlantic or in temperate waters with long-established supply chains. Namibia’s experiment will be closely watched across Africa. If the operation reaches commercial scale while maintaining environmental safeguards and animal health standards, it could open the door for similar sites in other cool current systems. If problems arise, regulators and investors will study what went wrong and why. Either way, the project will produce lessons fast.
Environmental care and social license
Large aquaculture projects evoke strong reactions and for good reason. To win public trust the company must show rigorous environmental monitoring, clear plans for disease control and strategies to avoid negative impacts on wild fish stocks. The stated plan to use digital monitoring, cameras and other controls is a step in that direction. Transparent reporting, independent environmental assessments and local engagement will determine whether the project earns its social license to operate. Stakeholder confidence will be as important as technical performance.
What success looks like
A successful launch would mean smolt survival and growth that meet expected timelines, reliable local processing and steady exports to regional and international buyers. It would also mean trained Namibian crews managing pens and processing lines, a growing pool of local suppliers, and a transparent record on environmental performance. Commercial success would likely prompt discussions about expansion beyond the initial licences, though no further production stages have yet been confirmed.
Why the world should watch
This is a convergence story: technology from Norway, a cold coastal current off southwestern Africa, and local ports ready for use. If it works the project could diversify Namibian exports and create an aquaculture industry with ripple benefits across the region. If it struggles, it will still provide critical evidence about the limits and possibilities of farming cold water species in the Southern Hemisphere. For fisheries managers, investors and coastal communities in Africa, those outcomes are worth paying attention to.
Quick facts at a glance
- Project: Africa’s first commercial sea-based salmon farm, off Lüderitz, Namibia.
- Licensed capacity: 51,000 tonnes annually, across multiple sites.
- Partners: African Aquaculture Company and AKVA group, with AKVA supplying the first five pens and technical systems.
- Infrastructure: planned use of Lüderitz port and processing facilities for handling and exports.
- Timeline: smolt stocking expected in 2026, first harvest projected in 2027.
Big projects change expectations. This salmon farm asks a simple question: can a cold patch of the Atlantic off Namibia become the seedbed for a new industry in Africa? The answer will come in the water, in the pens and in the hands of local workers who will translate plans into daily operations. If the pieces come together, Namibia will not only grow salmon, it will help write a new chapter for African aquaculture.
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