World Aquaculture Society appoints new Africa president

Dr Salie is the Head of the Aquaculture Unit, Department of Animal Sciences, at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He was also the founding WAS-AC Regional Director for Southern Africa (2018-2023) and an active council member of the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa.

A WAS member since 1999, Dr Salie helped set up the African Chapter, which is now growing rapidly and has an active programme for members. His predecessor, Dr Foluke Areola (Nigeria), who was instrumental in the growth, moves on to the WAS Global Board as President-Elect. Madame Foluke will stay in the WAS AC Board/Excom position, being its Immediate Past President.

Dr Francisca Delgado, an Angolan aquaculture professional and former National Director at Angolan Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is now the Ppresident-elect of the Chapter. She has served in the WAS-AC Board of Directors in various capacities since 2018, recently as Chapter Secretary. She was also Regional Director for Central Africa (2018-2023). She is currently the Vice President of the African Women in Maritime (WIMAfrica) and coordinator of the nearly formed WAS-Portuguese Platform (PALOP/CPLP).

Dr Victoria Tarus, a Kenyan aquaculture professional and Deputy Director of Technical Capacity Building at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), has retained her position as Regional Director: Eastern Africa, having been re-election to a second term. Dr Tarus has served within the WAS structures for a number of years, including being a director in the WAS Global Board. She was instrumental in steering the organisation of the World Aquaculture Safari 2025 Uganda. Being an Eastern African lead director, she will be strongly involved in the organisation of World Aquaculture 2026 in Tanzania.

Prof Daniel Adjei-Boateng, from the Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, is now the Regional Director: West Africa. A long serving, passionate member of the WAS and renowned aquaculture professional in Ghana and West Africa, Prof Adjei-Boateng takes over one of the most vibrant regions of the WAS-AC, containing the largest membership base.  He is presently the coordinator for the upcoming World Aquaculture Ghana 2027, as well as Programme Committee Member for World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026. Prof Adjei-Boateng replaces Mr Lanre Badmus (Nigeria), who has been the Regional Director since 2018.

Prof Maryam ElBakali, the Associate Professor of Biology-Aquaculture at Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Morocco, now takes over as regional Director: North Africa. With over a decade’s experience in research and international collaborations, amongst other educational roles, Prof El Bakali is expected to bring a wealth of energy and professionalism to a region that is very active on aquaculture research. A President and Founder of RAISEAqua Foundation, Prof El Bakali takes over the North African regional leadership from Dr Nevine Shabana (Egypt), who held that position since 2018. She desires to motivate the bringing of an AFRAQ to Morocco in few years to come.

These newly elected leaders bring extensive experience in aquaculture across the regions of Africa –  further strengthening the Chapter’s cross-regional approach to advancing the long-term sustainable aquaculture development in Africa.