An Approach for the Assessment of Climate Smart Technologies for Fisheries and Aquaculture in an Afrotropical System

ABSTRACT Climate variability and environmental stressors increasingly undermine the productivity and stability of fisheries and aquaculture systems across regions. Although technologies, such as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), integrated aquaculture–agriculture (IAA), Biofloc systems and solar powered hatcheries, have been promoted as climate smart solutions, limited evidence exists on their assessment approaches and comparative performance across the core dimensions of climate smart technologies (CSTs). This limits evidence‐based investment and policy formulation for sustainable blue economy growth. This study developed and applied an integrated framework for assessing CSTs, drawing from global models and regional policy instruments. A climate smart technology index (CSTI) was formulated, integrating four weighted performance pillars: productivity (30%), resilience/adaptation (35%), mitigation/environmental performance (20%) and socio economic inclusivity (15%). Further case studies for climate smart assessment using primary and secondary data and environmental parameters were analysed using multi criteria scoring and normalization to generate comparative indices for climate smart representative technologies. The results showed that RAS recorded the highest composite CSTI score (0.76), followed by Biofloc systems (0.73), IAA (0.71), solar powered hatcheries (0.72) and cage culture (0.67). Productivity indices ranged from 0.65 to 0.85; whereas resilience from 0.58 to 0.82, and mitigation and inclusivity from 0.61 to 0.83 and 0.42 to 0.76, respectively. The analysis revealed a clear productivity–inclusivity trade off, emphasizing the need for balanced climate smart approaches that combine efficiency, resilience and equity. The study concludes that the CSTI framework developed herein is a robust, adaptable tool for evaluating and guiding CSTs in Afrotropical systems as it bridges technical, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. The CSTI approach could be integrated in national and regional monitoring systems, promoting hybrid and renewable powered technologies and strengthening capacity development and financing mechanisms to accelerate the transition toward resilient, inclusive and low carbon aquaculture.