Asia-Africa Bluetech Superhighway

Delivering a triple win for nature, people, and climate

Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) is a seven-year project, from 2023 to 2030, implemented by WorldFish with a host of partners to sustainably transform aquatic food systems in Asia and Africa. Funded by UK International Development under the Blue Planet Fund, AABS aims to leverage South–South collaboration to deliver a triple win for nature, people and climate.

Global aquatic food system challenges

Aquatic food systems are essential to providing a growing global population with sustainable and climate-resilient sources of food, nutrition and livelihoods. Aquatic foods supply nutrition to over 3.2 billion people and support the livelihoods of over 600 million people, the majority of whom work in small-scale systems. However, the coastal communities and habitats at the heart of these food systems are under serious threat. Climate change is undermining the productivity and sustainability of aquatic food systems in various ways, including ocean warming and acidification, rising sea levels and saline incursion. The ocean is also under assault from over exploitation and pollution, causing a loss in marine biodiversity. Amid these challenges, countries are keen to unlock their blue economy as a rapid growth path. Enabling the development of sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems is, therefore, critical to ensure a food- and nutrition-secure future for coastal communities and to equitably improve livelihoods, while restoring our marine resources.

Leveraging South–South cooperation for a nature-positive impact

In response to these challenges, AABS harnesses South–South collaboration to assess, adapt and scale evidence-based innovations and models for delivering nature-positive impact through aquatic food systems. Implemented by WorldFish in collaboration with a host of partners, AABS aims to transform the livelihoods of coastal communities across Asian and African countries, particularly for women and youth, and help restore marine and coastal ecosystems by developing sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems. AABS is being implemented in two phases over seven years. Phase 1 will be implemented over four years in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania, aiming to reach over 300,000 primary beneficiaries, at least 50% of them women and youth, and over 400,000 secondary beneficiaries.

Expected project outcomes by 2030

An increase in aquatic food production of up to 500,000 metric tons in target countries, sustainably increasing incomes of 300,000 people.
At least 150,000 women and youth benefiting from increased income.
Up to 1.4 million hectares of the coastal zone brought under sustainable management.

women working