Shem Oirere

Shem Oirere

Contributing Editor

Shem Oirere is a Kenyan journalist who previously worked for daily newspapers as a general news correspondent, business reporter and sub-editor before turning to full-time freelancing. For the more than 20 years, he has covered various sectors of Africa’s economy including agriculture, food processing, and maritime industries. A graduate of the University of South Africa, he has traveled within and outside Africa covering various industry events that have a bearing on the continent’s economy on behalf of different international consumer and trade publications. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.


Author Archive

Published on
October 5, 2021

The E.U. General Court, a constituent court of the Court of Justice of the European Union, has invalidated a decision by the European Council to approve a deal to amend the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the E.U. and Morocco to include territory under the contested Western Sahara region.

The invalidation of the revised fish trade deal was the culmination of a 2019 suit filed in the court by Polisario Front, a rebel national

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Published on
October 5, 2021

Madagascar has, through its Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, announced its commitment to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) in a boost to the ongoing global effort to achieve transparency in marine fisheries management.

In a letter to FiTI International Board Chair Valeria Merino, Madagascar Minister for Fisheries and Blue Economy Paubert Mahatante said the commitment to join the initiative is “part of a growth

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Published on
September 29, 2021

At least 25 aquaculture enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa are set to benefit from an initial USD 50 million (EUR 42.6 million) of seed money that global investment firm Aqua-Spark has set aside for the planned launch of its new African Fund in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The fund, which will help address some of the challenges related to investing in aquaculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, will be scaled to USD 300 million (EUR 255.9 million), with

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Published on
September 23, 2021

Mauritania’s artisanal fishing industry will receive a major boost after its government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) …

Photo courtesy of the Abu Dhabi Fund for

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Published on
September 22, 2021

Ghana has begun drafting a new law to replace its current Fisheries Act, with the aim of revitalizing and enhancing the productivity of the country’s fishery ecosystem – which, according to Ghanaian Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson, has been under siege from illegal fishing operations.

Hawa Koomson told local media her ministry has commenced the process of developing a new national

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Published on
September 16, 2021

Africa’s population could double from the current one billion to two billion people by 2050, with its demand for fish projected to increase to between 16 and 29 million metric tons (MT) in the same period from the current 10 million MT, according to a report by Netherlands-based global investment fund Aqua-Spark.

The report, part of Aqua-Spark’s Aqua Insights Report series, projects additional investment is needed in farmed tilapia

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Published on
September 15, 2021

Namibia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has called off an investigation into a foreign bank account it earlier claimed to be one of those linked to so-called "Fishrot" scandal, saying the probe turned out to be "a wild-goose chase."

ACC Director General Paulus Noa told The Namibian the investigation into allegations of nearly NAD 1 billion (USD 69.8. million, EUR 59.1 million) from the infamous “Fishrot” corruption

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Published on
September 13, 2021

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed pollution that has killed huge numbers of fish beginning in July 2021 in the Kasai River Basin, particularly along the Tshikapa River, is due to a leakage of a tailings dam at one of the biggest diamond mines in neighboring Angola, the BBC reported.

DRC Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said the leakage, which has been traced to the Catoca Mine which produces up to 75 percent of

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Published on
September 10, 2021

The South Africa Cabinet has endorsed the timelines for the roll-out of the Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP) ... 

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Seafood

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Published on
September 10, 2021

Multiple fisheries in West Africa are currently implementing two key projects that could, in the short-term, reverse declining seafood resources to pave the way for building up stocks, improving fishery management measures, reducing bycatch, and achieving effective control and monitoring of the region’s fishing activities.

The two projects, which also focus on empowering fishers and other seafood value chain operators through training and

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