Luanda:Angola has achieved a substantial fish catch totaling 664,000 tons, with 411,000 tons from industrial and semi-industrial fleets and 253,000 tons from artisanal operations, as announced by Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Carmen dos Santos.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the announcement was made during the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (CIPAS'2026). Minister dos Santos highlighted that domestic production, technological science, and sustainability are key components of the government's policies and the 2022-2027 National Development Plan.
The two-day conference, themed "From Sustainability to Transformation Innovating to Protect, Producing to Prosper," includes participants from Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Zambia, and Norway. The Ministry of Fisheries has identified 215 fish landing sites, with 115 linked to artisanal fishing, and is enhancing efforts to track catch origin and distribution to improve traceability and inform policy decisions.
Emphasizing the importance of knowledge in artisanal production, dos Santos stressed the need for increased oversight and inspection in artisanal fisheries. She also announced upcoming integrated management councils to discuss Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for 2027, balancing biological preservation with fisheries value chain realities. The minister noted that external economic factors, like oil market volatility, impact vessel operating costs and fish prices.
In aquaculture, the minister called for increased inland production of tilapia to improve food security and consumer access. She advocated for leveraging the "blue economy" to harness marine resources across economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Luanda's deputy governor for the Economic Sector, Jorge Miguéns, emphasized the historical significance of fishing to the capital's identity and the importance of addressing the needs of families reliant on the fisheries sector.
