Jonah Kondowe
Peerzadi Rumana Hossain
On May 20 and 22, 2025, Malawi and Zambia respectively launched the Digital Fisheries Information System (FIS) under the PROFISHBLUE program, a landmark move toward building climate-resilient aquatic food systems in Southern Africa. Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and coordinated by the SADC Secretariat, the initiative is being technically implemented by WorldFish in both countries.
The Malawi launch in Lilongwe was graced by Dr. Hastings Zidana, Director of Fisheries, who highlighted the growing climate pressures on the sector - rising temperatures, droughts, and floods that have devastated key ecosystems and small-scale livelihoods.
“This digital system is not just a tool,” said Dr. Zidana. “It is an enabler of resilience. It empowers our fishers and aquaculture farmers to make smarter, climate-informed decisions and strengthens our ability to respond to shocks. Malawi is proud to be part of this transformative journey alongside Zambia, setting a benchmark for innovation and sustainability in the SADC region’s aquatic food systems.”
Two days later, Zambia hosted its event in Lusaka. Mr. Danny Sinyiza, representing the Director of Fisheries, introduced the system’s two components: the Aquaculture Climate Information System (CIS), delivering real-time, hyperlocal advisories on pond management, and the Fisheries Information System, focused on data-driven resource management for capture fisheries.
“Today, we are not just launching a digital tool,” said Mr. Sinyiza. “We are reaffirming our national and regional commitment to climate resilience in aquatic food systems. The Digital Fisheries Information System empowers our fishers and farmers with real-time, data-driven insights, ensuring that Zambia’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors can thrive despite the growing threats of climate change.”
WorldFish Country Director for Zambia, Dr. Victor Siamudala, reinforced this point:
“This platform empowers value chain actors with localised information to mitigate real-time risks. The investment provided by AfDB to develop digital tools is timely—helping fisheries and aquaculture enterprises thrive in a changing climate by delivering real-time climate information services for informed decision-making.”
The innovative platform is built on two pillars:
- Aquaculture Climate Information System (CIS): Offers real-time, climate-smart advisories on pond management, feeding, stocking, and harvesting based on hyperlocal weather data.
- Fisheries Information System: Supports sustainable capture fisheries through enhanced data collection, analytics, and monitoring.
A Collaborative Effort for Regional Impact
Both events featured technical demonstrations, from live advisory message broadcasts tailored to individual farm locations to presentations on climate data modelling and air–water temperature algorithms. Experts from WorldFish, Stellenbosch University, and Crea² Solutions showcased how the platform integrates with national meteorological systems and highlighted plans for expanding field data collection using solar-powered devices.
“Farmers are now receiving mobile advisories tailored to their pond locations,” noted one of the presenters during the Lusaka demo, signalling a tangible shift from reactive to proactive risk management.
Dr. Motseki Hlatshwayo, Project Manager at the SADC Secretariat, emphasised the regional implications:
“This work is linked to aquaculture climate information systems which aim to de-risk aquaculture from the impacts of climate change and promote data-driven decision-making in the fisheries sector.”
He noted that lessons from Zambia and Malawi will guide scaling the platform to the other 14 SADC member states, transforming regional fisheries governance and enhancing blue economy trade corridors.
Looking Forward
As stakeholders agree on next steps, priority actions include provincial testing, integration with national climate systems, expanding field gadget distribution, and capacity building for all value chain actors. This launch marks a significant milestone in harnessing digital innovation to secure food security, livelihoods, and a sustainable blue economy in the face of climate change.
Together, Zambia and Malawi are leading by example, demonstrating that timely, data-driven solutions are essential for a resilient future in aquatic food systems across the SADC region.