Title: Aquaculture Development in Sierra Leone: A Case Study of Bo District

Freshwater aquaculture in Sierra Leone began in 1977 with the introduction of tilapia and catfish production at the Makali and Bo fisheries outstations. Despite this long history, the sector’s contribution to national food security and economic growth remains relatively low. This study aimed to collect comprehensive data on aquaculture operations in the Bo district, including seed and feed production, farm management practices, processing methods, and marketing strategies. A total of 24 fish farms were surveyed, and data from 21 were included in the final analysis. These comprised ten subsistence farms, six semi-commercial farms, and five commercial farms. Most respondents (52%) were between 51 and 60 years old, 86% were men, and 90% held a university degree or higher in various fields. Earthen ponds were the predominant production system (90%), and 38% of farmers sourced fingerlings from other fish farms. A majority (71%) relied on self-compounded feed for their production. Semi-commercial farmers reported an average annual production of 1,167 kg, while commercial farmers achieved a higher average of 2,480 kg. Commercial farms generated greater annual revenue (NLe252,000 or USD 11,195) than semi-commercial farms (NLe95,667 or USD 4,250). However, semi-commercial farmers sold fish at slightly lower prices per kilogram (NLe92 or USD 4.09) than commercial farmers (NLe96 or USD 4.26). Despite higher revenue, commercial farms reported lower profit margins (less than 25% or none) due to increased labour costs and dependence on commercial feeds, whereas semi-commercial farms achieved profit margins of 25–49%. The findings indicate that aquaculture in Sierra Leone remains in an early development phase, with significant potential for expansion. Realising this potential will require improving the profitability of commercial farms and providing targeted training to enhance farmer productivity and management skills. Support from government agencies, donor partners, FAO, NGOs, and private investors will be essential to advance sustainable aquaculture development in the country.