Minister advocates more sophisticated means to stop illegal fishing in Mozambique – Watch

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Minister advocates more sophisticated means to stop illegal fishing in Mozambique – Watch

2:33 CAT | 16 Aug 2022

Photo: Ministério do Mar, Águas Interiores e Pescas

Mozambique’s Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso, on Monday urged the adoption of more sophisticated means to stop illegal fishing, warning of networks which engage in this illegal activity on the high seas.

“The country needs more sophisticated means,” Lídia Cardoso told the media just after delivering a boat to reinforce surveillance in Maputo Bay.

The vessel is one of five which will be distributed throughout the country – to Maputo, Sofala, Zambézia, Nampula and Niassa – as part of strategies to strengthen control over the Mozambican coast and curb illegal fishing.

Minister Cardoso pointed out that, although the new vessels can make a difference in the fight against illegal fishing, Mozambique needs more far-reaching means.

“Illegal fishing is not done only in bays. This vessel, for example, can cover as far as 20 miles from the coastline, but beyond 20 miles we have challenges with surveillance, and this is where the largest number of cases occur,” the minister explained.

Mozambique loses US$60 million annually to illegal fishing, according to the most recent figures from the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries.

Watch the TVM report.