Aqua-Spark Africa Fund has officially reached its first financial close at $48 million, marking a key step toward building a sustainable aquaculture industry across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The open-ended fund is designed to support companies, infrastructure, and innovations that produce sustainable, accessible, and nutritious protein for the region’s rapidly growing populations. With demand for fish rising and wild fisheries under pressure, sustainable aquaculture is seen as a critical solution for Africa’s food systems while also boosting jobs and livelihoods.

The fund aims to grow into a $250 million platform over the next decade, supporting entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of African aquaculture.

Aqua-Spark expressed gratitude to its cornerstone investors and partners, including KfW, AgriFI – The Agriculture Financing Initiative, Gatsby Africa, and the Livelihood Impact Fund, whose support was instrumental in reaching this milestone.

“The real work starts now,” the firm noted on LinkedIn, emphasizing that the first close is just the beginning of a long-term effort to scale sustainable aquaculture across the continent.