Luanda: Angolan minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Carmen do Sacramento Neto dos Santos, announced that the country will receive £30 million in funding to implement the "Initiative for a Sustainable and Strategic Blue Economy in Angola" project. In statements to the press, she highlighted the project's support from the European Union and collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aiming to promote sustainable fishing, ocean protection, and adaptation to climate change.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the initiative involves participation from European partners, including Portugal, Spain, and France, within a strategic cooperation framework for developing Angola's blue economy. The minister emphasized the project's focus on creating resilience mechanisms to climate change, empowering artisanal fishermen, coastal communities, public institutions, and other sectors connected to the sea. The aim is to provide tools to strengthen sustainable development.
The project intends to establish a platform for adapting to climate change, enhancing fisheries production, promoting sector sustainability, and protecting marine ecosystems. The program will be executed in a coordinated manner by development agencies from the participating European countries and FAO, targeting specific areas of action such as ocean governance, fishing value chain sustainability, and marine conservation.
The plan also includes initiatives for ocean literacy and sustainable marine resource use, focusing particularly on the Atlantic Ocean. Support for artisanal fishing is a key component, with measures targeting economic and social benefits, especially for fishermen and communities reliant on the activity. Carmen do Sacramento Neto dos Santos highlighted that artisanal fishing accounts for about 40% of fish consumption in Angola, and stressed the importance of reducing sector asymmetries, supporting approximately seven to eight thousand artisanal fishing boats, and ensuring economic viability contributing to food security.
In terms of regulation, the minister mentioned that legislation is being finalized to criminalize illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, reinforcing the sector's legal framework. Penalties will be incorporated into Law 6A and aligned with international conventions for biodiversity and marine ecosystem protection.
Ros¡rio Bento Pais, the European Union representative in Angola, explained that the project will span four years, extending to 2030, with actions focused on job creation, blue economy development, and marine biodiversity protection. Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are also integrated, addressing sea level rise impacts on biodiversity and coastal communities.
FAO representative in Angola, Jean-Baptiste Bahama, stated that the project aims to manage marine resources sustainably in Angola, utilizing communities and families to implement suitable technologies. With experience from similar projects, the team aims to increase response capacity and production.
The 1st Presentation Workshop of the Project Initiatives for a Sustainable Blue Economy and Strategy in Angola is ongoing in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, collaborating with the European Union, FIAP, FAO, Expertise France, and Camµes. This strategic cooperation focuses on sustainable marine resource development, economic diversification, and ocean governance promotion with the European Union in the Blue Economy context. The event continues until the 20th of this month.
