The French government has provided about 600 thousand dollars for the training of magistrates in Mozambique, aiming at the operationalisation of the newly created maritime courts.
The action is considered important in the country’s legal system, as crimes related to fishing and maritime activities will be judged in a proper forum, strengthening the fight against illegal fishing and other violations related to biodiversity.
In a recent meeting with the Minister for the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso, the French ambassador to Mozambique, David Izzo, referred to the signing of a funding agreement with the company Aquapesca, located in Zambézia, whose main activity is shrimp farming.
According to Notícias, the diplomat also mentioned the implementation of the ECO-DDR project, which aims to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and communities in the face of climate change and also allow the capacity building of actors in disaster risk mitigation in the Zambezi delta hydrographic basin, protection, restoration and sustainable management of the mangrove ecosystem.
Through this project, it is also envisaged the creation of a climate disaster fund at the Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (BIOFUND), to enable conservation areas to access funding for the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by cyclones, floods and others.
Izzo also addressed the implementation of an international scientific plan whose purpose is to ensure the health and productivity of critical ecosystems in the Indian Ocean region, with special attention to sea turtles.
The French ambassador took the opportunity to draw attention to the lack of signage in the Mozambique Channel, a situation that could affect navigability, cause accidents and harm maritime safety.
In her turn, Lídia Cardoso praised the cooperation between the two countries and in particular with the sector she heads, stating that France was available to provide assistance in ocean governance, aquaculture, research and artisanal fishing.
Cardoso also asked for the intervention of the diplomat in the French multinational company, Total, to support the artisanal fishermen of Cabo Delgado with construction material and small boats, in order to start their activities paralysed due to the action of terrorists in that province.
