The government, through the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, has revealed that the fisheries sector reached a production of 372,200 tonnes of fish by the third quarter, a figure corresponding to 71% of the target planned for the whole of 2024.
According to the head of the sector, Lídia Cardoso, this represents a growth of around 6% compared to the same period last year, emphasising that 95% of the product comes from artisanal fishing, which involves more than 420,000 people.
She explained that aquaculture also offers opportunities and has contributed to generating income, especially in the provinces, employing more than 23,000 people.
Speaking on Monday 18 November during the launch ceremony for fishing week, she explained that the ban on fishing for surface shrimp, octopus and mangrove crab aims to encourage recovery and maintenance, as well as sustainable exploitation, allowing the females to spawn and reproduce naturally.
‘The surface shrimp are found on the Sofala bank, Maputo bay, the mouth of the Limpopo river and in the Govuro district. As a result, the closed season that began on 15 November will last until March 2025,’ she explained.
The minister also made it known that, during this closed season, fishermen are authorised to catch other types of fish, calling for intensified efforts to combat illegal fishing, which is still a challenge due to limitations related to the lack of resources to control it.
