Although fish is culturally acceptable and considered ‘Halaal’, Somalia’s per capita consumption of fish is one of the lowest in the world. Fish is a relatively easy to access for large sections of the population.

Despite having the second longest coastline in Africa, Somalia’s fishing industry remains largely underdeveloped and its fisheries unexploited. This is partly due to decades of conflict and piracy on the high seas – but also because fish does not form part of the traditional Somali diet.

The country is still emerging from a food security crisis following the drought and famine of 2011 that left many thousands dead.
The main reasons for low consumption are limited availability, high cost and general lack of knowledge, skills and equipment’s for preservation and storage.

SMDC, with the support of the German international development agency GIZ, organised a one-day roadshow on Wednesday, 24 October 2018, in Kismayo, Somalia, to encourage families living in and around the coastal city to start including fish in their diets.