World Fisheries Day is observed annually on November 21st to highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries management and to draw attention to the critical role of small-scale fishers in ensuring food security and livelihoods for millions around the world. This year's theme was “Celebrating the Wealth of Fisheries and Aquaculture.”

In Rwanda, the Fish Gastronomic Event was held on November 30, 2023 in recognition of the World Fisheries Day.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev) and the Belgian development agency (Enabel), to showcase the culinary abilities of Rwandan and international chefs in preparation of fish dishes as part of a campaign to encourage fish consumption in Rwanda. 

The event provided a platform for exchange of contacts, knowledge, and skills among chefs, restaurant and hotel managers, culinary art instructors and TVET students. It also brought together chefs exhibiting different fish cooking skills with different recipes made with fish found in Rwandan waters or easily available from the region.

During the event, the EU Head of Delegation, Ambassador Belén Calvo Uyarra together with Enabel’s Resident Representative, Dirk Deprez welcomed the guests and pointed out that Kwihaza project as a joint effort with the government of Rwanda contributing towards the transformation of Rwanda’s food systems, focusing on the fisheries, aquaculture production as well as improving consumption of nutritious and healthy diet. 

​In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of MINAGRI commended the efforts of Team Europe Initiative in increasing awareness on fish cooking and consumption and promoting the fisheries and aquaculture sector support by the Rwandan government and stakeholders.

Rwanda’s per capita fish consumption is presently at 2.3 kilograms per person per year, the average sub-Sahara per capita consumption of 6.6 kilograms per person per annum, and the global average of 16.6 kilos.