Mozambique is committed to the development of small scale fishing and aquaculture because it considers this to be a strategic vector for developing food security and contributing to improving the balance of payments.
According to the Minister of Fisheries, Victor Borges, the fishing sector in Mozambique plays a strategic role in food and nutritional security, raising foreign exchange and generating jobs with an annual catch of 200,000 tonnes.
Speaking in Maputo on 22 April during a regional meeting on the effects of climate change and natural disasters on the fisheries sector, the Minister pointed out that last year the country had to cope with a serious outbreak of white spot disease that affected about 600 tonnes of production.
Borges stated that “about ninety per cent of the fisheries sector in Mozambique is in the form of artisanal fisheries”.
According to Borges, fisheries lies in fifth place in Mozambique’s exports, contributing two per cent to Gross National Product through exports worth $75 million per year.
Mozambicans each consume on average ten kilogrammes of fish per year, which represents about half of all animal protein consumed in the country. However, Borges pointed out that this is still below the internationally recommended level.
Currently the Mozambican government is encouraging private initiatives to develop fish processing on land, especially with tuna fish.
The Minster added that the government is consolidating the national inspection system for the control of quality in fish produce to protect the consumer and export markets.
However, the Minster warned that natural disasters and climate change are adding to recent problems of overfishing, pollution, coastal erosion and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems.
The meeting is organised by the Ministry of Fisheries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
2013 Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique