Togo Launches Review of Aquaculture Legislation

Agriculture

Monday, 23 February 2026 13:48

Togo Launches Review of Aquaculture Legislation

(Togo First) - Togo is seeking to revise the institutional and regulatory framework governing its aquaculture sector. On Feb. 20, national stakeholders in aquaculture and biosecurity met in Lomé to formally adopt the findings of a study on the existing legal framework.

The initiative is led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources and Food Sovereignty, represented by its chief of staff, Dindiogue Konlani. It is being implemented with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), through the Fishery Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, with technical assistance from the NGO Oceans Friends International.

The study aims to align legislation with national realities and regional standards. It recommends drafting or revising legislation to incorporate biosecurity measures, which are absent from the current fishing and aquaculture law.

Current output approaches 3,500 tonnes

The review comes as the sector has expanded rapidly in recent years. “Output is currently approaching 3,500 tonnes, compared with about 120 tonnes in the 2010s. Significant investments backed by our strategic partner JICA have supported this progress,” Konlani said.

Growth has been driven in part by the Agricultural Sector Support Project and the Togo Aquaculture Development Project, which promote cage fish farming and the distribution of “super male” tilapia. The long-term objective is to reduce fish imports and strengthen food security.

Authorities have nonetheless warned of health risks linked to trade in live fish and imported feed. Diseases such as tilapia lake virus and certain bacterial infections can affect both farms and surrounding ecosystems, including at Nangbéto Dam. The regulatory revision is intended to support sector growth while safeguarding national aquatic resources.

R.E.D

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.