Welcome to Aquaculture Development Solutions

Welcome to the Aquaculture Development Solutions podcast, where science meets practical action in African aquaculture.In this opening episode, hosts Bas de Vos and Siyabonga Mdletshe introduce themselves and the series. Bas is a marine biologist and aquaculture researcher (PhD, UCT) specialising in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, emerging species like sea cucumbers and sea urchins, and aquaculture systems modelling. Siya is a Master's student in Aquaculture at Rhodes University, where his research focuses on abalone anaesthesia and the effects of low pH and CO2.Together, they explore why African aquaculture is at a critical turning point: the gap between its potential and current production, the key structural and practical challenges holding the sector back, and why evidence-based, locally grounded solutions matter more than ever.