Climate-Smart Aquaculture Zoning in Sierra Leone: Development of a GIS-Based Decision-Support Tool to Enhance Resilience and Sustainable Fish Farming

Sierra Leone’s aquaculture sector faces mounting threats from climate change, including erratic rainfall, flooding, and rising temperatures that undermine fish production and livelihoods. This CTCN technical assistance will develop a climate-smart, GIS-based decision-support tool to guide aquaculture zoning and investment. By integrating environmental, hydrological, and socio-economic data with climate projections, the tool will identify suitable and climate-resilient sites for fish farming. Key outputs in this TA include a national aquaculture baseline map, environmental and climate layers, a multi-criteria suitability index, and an interactive web-based GIS portal. The project will also strengthen institutional capacity through training and establish data-sharing frameworks to improve cross-agency coordination. This initiative supports Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone Strategy and NDCs, promoting food security, inclusive growth, and gender-responsive climate adaptation in the aquaculture sector.