Mozambique: Government cuts tuna fishing licence fees for foreign vessels by half

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Mozambique: Government cuts tuna fishing licence fees for foreign vessels by half

2:45 CAT | 08 Aug 2023

File photo: Lusa

The Mozambican government has reduced tuna fishing licence fees for the foreign vessels to less than half, according to the update to the 2018 rates, which came into force at the end of July.

At issue is Ministerial Diploma No.100/2023 of July 25th, which updates the fishing licence fees for tuna fishing applicable to Mozambican vessels with a base port abroad and to foreign vessels operating Mozambican waters, amending Diploma No.60/2018 of October 1st.

The Ministries of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries and of Economy and Finance diploma cuts the annual fees to be paid by tuna fishing vessels belonging to foreign fleets.

Purse seine fishing fees for vessels with a national port fell 55% to 4.038 million meticais (€57,500), and for vessels with a foreign port by 41%, to seven million meticais (€100,000).

For longline fishing, fees for foreign vessels with a national port drop 77% to 1.489 million meticais (€21,200), and for those from a foreign port by 62.5% to 3.150 million meticais (€44,900).

As for the national fleet, annual fees remain unchanged, with the exception of the longline fishing by vessels with a foreign port, which increased 100%, to 2.149 million meticais (€30,600).

According to the supporting documents for the State Budget for 2023, the Government forecasts a yearly catch of tuna at 3,748 tons, which, if fulfilled, will constitute an increase of 172.7% compared to the forecast for 2022.

However, according to budget execution data, only 183 tonnes of tuna were caught in the first quarter – still more than double the 67 tonnes caught in the same period in 2022.

Source: Lusa