Government and partners invest US$2.2M on artisanal fisheries and aquaculture census – Watch

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Government and partners invest US$2.2M on artisanal fisheries and aquaculture census – Watch

9:23 CAT | 05 Oct 2022

Screen grab: TVM

The Mozambican government and partners are investing 2.2 million US dollars to carry out the Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture Census (CEPAA), an exercise aimed at updating and improving the existing statistics, in order to make government action more incisive in what are the current challenges of this subsector.

The Census, launched officially this Monday will be carried out over the next 40 days nationwide and will pave the way for better planning, design of better strategies to boost Mozambique’s development.

Speaking this Monday in the Ka Tembe municipal district, in Maputo, the Minister for the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso said that the sum would be used to carry out a wide range of activities, including training census takers to data collection, purchase of electronic equipment such as tablets and smartphones, among others.

“The census require a lot of resources since we have to train all those who will work throughout the process. We need adequate equipment to keep records, provide vehicles and fuel to reach fishermen and our community fishing centres,” she explained.

Cardoso recalled that the last Census of Artisanal Fisheries was conducted 10 years ago. Hence, it’s outdated because in recent years new players have come up. Also this is the first time that Mozambique will carry out an aquaculture census, which was long overdue.

“Fisheries and aquaculture being priority activities for the government our concern is quite natural to know how we are doing taking into account that the last census was taken 10 years ago. We need these data for better planning for the future with statistical data as close to reality,” she stressed.

She added that once completed the government will produce data showing the number and location of fishing centres across the country, fishermen and aquaculturists directly or indirectly involved in fishing and aquaculture activities as well as the number and specifications of fishing gear and vessels.

Concerning the northern province of Cabo Delgado which, since 2017, is targeted by terrorist attacks, training of census takers will start next Monday in the districts free of extremist violence.

Speaking briefly to AIM, a couple of fishermen praised the government’s initiative sating that it comes in good time, since the authorities will be able to update and draw development projects tailored to their needs and aspirations.

“I’m happy with the government’s initiative in wanting to know how many we are and how we work. Should there be any problems or concerns they will know how to support and protect us” said António Dengo.

There are 164 trained census officers to carry out this exercise across the country.

Watch the TVM report.