This review paper provides an in‐depth analysis of the current status, challenges, and strategies for improvement within the fish feed industry in East Africa, focusing on Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Aquaculture production in these countries is experiencing steady growth, driven by increasing demand for fish and fish products for both nutritional and economic purposes. Despite the market facilitating the transition from extensive to semi‐intensive and moderately intensive farming systems across the four countries, the sector’s progress is hampered by a lack of sustainable, locally produced, high‐quality, and cost‐effective fish feeds tailored to different developmental stages of fish. Despite the evident need, there is a notable scarcity of comprehensive reviews addressing the regional perspective of fish feed due to heightened cross‐border trade driven by the soaring demand and increased installation of cages in Lake Victoria, as well as in inland dams and reservoirs. This paper addresses critical challenges, such as regional scarcity and limited access to quality feed ingredients, regulatory obstacles, insufficient quality control measures, infrastructure constraints, and a lack of awareness and understanding of feed management and formulation. To overcome these challenges, the paper recommends fostering collaboration to establish a robust regional fish feed supply chain, investing in research and development initiatives, advocating for policy reforms and regulatory support, and compliance with East African Community quality standards for fish feed. Moreover, there is an urgent need to enhance human resource capacity through training and extension services, promote public investment support, strengthen sector institutions and industry associations, conduct training and awareness programs for feed providers, and improve storage facilities to maintain feed quality. The paper provides policymakers with valuable insights to inform targeted interventions that will catalyze positive transformation within the fish feed industry in East Africa.

Aquaculture is the world's fastest‐growing food‐producing sector, making it a significant contributor to food and nutrition security for the globally growing human population. Nevertheless, its long‐term growth is limited by the effects of climate change. Aquaculture in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), which is dominated by small‐scale fish farming, is increasingly threatened by climate change, which has a substantial influence on its productivity and scalability. In this context, the present research looks at the socio‐economic consequences of climate change on small‐scale fish producers in SSA, as well as potential adaptation techniques to the effects of climate change. A clear understanding of these socio‐economic repercussions of climate change is critical for developing effective strategies to reduce future impacts and safeguard aquaculture‐based livelihoods. Furthermore, understanding the socio‐economic consequences of climate change on communities dependent on aquaculture is important for advising policymakers and decision‐makers on formulating and implementing policies that sustain aquaculture production amidst the climate change crisis. This article suggests various adaptation strategies to increase resilience to climate change, including diversification of livelihoods and species, use and incorporation of local and indigenous knowledge, shifting to aquaculture species less vulnerable to changing climatic conditions, capacity building through aquaculture insurance schemes, continued fish supply from capture fisheries, and consolidation of equity and human rights concerns. These adaptive methods, when combined, have the potential to enhance outcomes for populations who are more susceptible owing to their unstable socio‐economic conditions.

Introduction: Insects such as the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) are increasingly recognized for their potential to convert organic waste into high-quality protein and fertilizer inputs, contributing to circular bioeconomy models. However, the type of substrate used significantly affects BSF production performance.Methods: This study investigated the influence of five organic waste substrates—market vegetable/fruit waste, brewery waste, fish processing waste, poultry manure, and a mixed organic waste blend—on the production performance indicators of Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly, BSF). The BSF larvae were evaluated under controlled conditions for hatchability, survival, growth, nutrient composition, reproductive output, and frass quality.Results: Substrate type significantly affected BSF performance, with the mixed organic waste yielding the highest hatchability (98.7 ± 1.1%) and survival (98.2 ± 1.3%) and the shortest hatching time (3.1 ± 0.6 days). The Survival Activity Index (SAI) peaked in mixed organic waste (88.4 ± 6.8%), indicating superior larval resilience. Larvae reared on mixed waste also recorded the highest specific growth rate (SGR: 28.0 ± 1.5%) and the most efficient feed conversion ratio (FCR: 1.1 ± 0.1). Nutritionally, the fish waste produced protein-rich larvae (53.5 ± 2.1%), while brewery waste generated the highest fat content (35.6 ± 3.1%). Mixed waste achieved a balanced profile (protein: 45.9 ± 3.3%, fat: 32.3 ± 1.4%) and elevated mineral content (Ca: 10,500 mg/kg, K: 11,500 mg/kg). Reproductively, mixed organic waste supported the highest fecundity (1408.9 ± 65.4 eggs/female), egg clutch size (679.4 ± 40.3), and oviposition preference (95.9 ± 6%). Frass quality mirrored substrate composition: vegetable waste produced the highest organic matter (75.4 ± 3.9%), while poultry and fish waste frass showed superior nitrogen and phosphorus content, with low C:N ratios (16.9–17.8) favorable for composting.Discussion: The mixed organic waste emerged as the most effective substrate, optimizing BSF biomass production, nutritional value, reproductive output, and fertilizer potential. These findings highlight the importance of substrate blending in insect farming and its role in advancing circular bioeconomy models for sustainable aquafeed production. The results offer actionable insights for large-scale BSF rearing and waste valorization systems.

This review evaluates regenerative aquaculture (RA) technologies and practices as viable pathways to foster resilient, ecologically restorative aquaculture systems. The key RA technologies examined include modern periphyton technology (PPT), biofloc technology (BFT), integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA), and alternative feed sources like microalgae and insect-based diets. PPT and BFT leverage microbial pathways to enhance water quality, nutrient cycling, and fish growth while reducing environmental pollutants and reliance on conventional feed. IMTA integrates species from various trophic levels, such as seaweeds and bivalves, to recycle waste and improve ecosystem health, contributing to nutrient balance and reducing environmental impact. Microalgae and insect-based feeds present sustainable alternatives to fishmeal, promoting circular resource use and alleviating pressure on wild fish stocks. Beyond these technologies, RA emphasizes sustainable practices to maintain fish health without antibiotics or hormones. Improved disease monitoring programs, avoidance of unprocessed animal by-products, and the use of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances, such as essential oils, are highlighted for their role in disease prevention and immune support. Probiotics are also discussed as beneficial microbial supplements that enhance fish health by promoting gut microbiota balance and inhibiting harmful pathogens. This review, therefore, marks an important and essential step in examining the interconnectedness between technology, agroecology, and sustainable aquaculture. This review was based on an extensive search of scientific databases to retrieve relevant literature.

Aquaculture plays a critical role in global food security, with Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) recognized for its adaptability and robust growth. However, traditional feeds, heavily reliant on fishmeal (FM) and soybean meal, face economic and environmental challenges. In response, black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) has emerged as a promising, nutrient‐dense alternative. This review synthesizes existing literature on BSFLM’s nutritional profile and its suitability for Nile tilapia diets, while acknowledging that the data come from diverse independent studies conducted under varying environmental conditions and husbandry practices. BSFLM consistently provides high‐quality protein (29.9%–48.2%), aligning with tilapia’s requirements, and is rich in essential minerals and fatty acids. While its lipid content (25.69%–28.43%) may require processing adjustments, the overall profile supports tilapia health and growth. Trends from case studies suggest that certain systems, such as hapas placed in ponds, have reported favorable growth and feed conversion efficiencies at 50% FM replacement levels. However, these findings cannot be directly compared across all studies due to differences in methodologies, culture conditions, and inclusion rates. Instead, they collectively indicate that BSFLM can effectively replace traditional protein sources and enhance sustainability. As research and production scale up, careful consideration of context, system design, and feed formulations will be essential. Collaborative efforts among researchers, industry, and policymakers will further refine the use of BSFLM, ultimately advancing the environmental and economic sustainability of Nile tilapia aquaculture.

Cage fish farming, a recent development in aquaculture, has enhanced fisheries production due to its higher stocking densities than traditional pond and open-water systems. Although it can enhance production, the system can pose biodiversity threats when there is an unintentional or intentional release of stocked fish into the wild. In this review, we examine the expansion of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) cage aquaculture in Africa and the potential threats that this may have on congeneric Oreochromis species. Threats such as interspecific competition, disease transmission and hybridisation, which are drivers of genetic diversity loss among native fish populations, have been reported. However, most studies have focused on investigating cage fish production, water quality and the associated economics, but research assessing the genetic and ecological impacts imposed by the escaped fish from cages on native species is still limited across African countries. While direct evidence of hybridisation due to cage fish farming is lacking, genetic mixing of Nile tilapia with native Oreochromis species has been reported in some African water bodies. Further, only Egypt, Kenya and Uganda have functional Fisheries and Aquaculture regulations for guiding the aquaculture activities. Thus, there is an urgent need to institute regulatory frameworks that not only provide clear guidelines on aquaculture production but also balance between environmental conservation and economic sustainability