MAPUTO: The Mozambican Minister for the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Agostinho Mondlane has said his country estimated annual revenue of $80 million from exporting fish, which has remained at an annual average of 250,000 tons.
The Minister was addressing the opening of the 7th Session of the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission SWIOFC in Maputo on Tuesday when he said Mozambican fisheries production had remained stable and that the role played by the government had been to promote strengthening of domestic supply without losing sight of international markets.
According to the official, the fishing industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) is currently around 1 percent but stressed that data was collected and processed by other institutions such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, through the National Statistics Institute (INE).
At the five-day meeting, organised in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the member countries aim to address issues such as regional fish stocks, over-fishing and sustainable management.
Established in 2004, the Commission is composed of 12 member states namely South Africa, Comoros, France, Yemen, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia and Tanzania.
