Luanda - The Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Carmen dos Santos, reaffirmed Tuesday in Luanda the government's commitment to sustainable management of the oceans to combat illegal fishing, using new technologies from the Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Inspection Centre (MCSCC) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the initial training of inspectors as part of the Stop Atlântico project to combat illegal fishing, the minister said the centre, which has already been set up with the support of the US Embassy, will improve the control of the illegal fishing activities.
"In real time, we'll be able to see exactly where the offence is being committed, as well as the inspector's approach," the minister said.
In addition to digitalization, the head of fisheries pointed to the added value of Stop Atlântico in terms of staff training, conservation of the oceans and seas and sustainability.
Regarding the sector's contribution to Angola's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the minister said it is still between 3.5 and 4 percent, but with the continued fight against illegal fishing there would be an improvement in labor and greater use of fishing activity.
"Using the oceans, maintaining sustainability, the ecosystem and biological species is another of the Executive's aims," the minister said.
The representative of the Embassy of the United States of America in Angola, Chistopher Hattayer, on his turn said he believes that the partnership in the field of the oceans has as its fundamental pillars support for security, good governance and economic prosperity.
"We must support the Angolan government and the other countries, Namibia and South Africa, in protecting the sea, and we therefore intend to contribute to the training and sensitization of staff," Hattayer said.
The Stop Atlântico project, which aims to combat illegal, unregulated and undeclared fishing, has the support of the US Embassy.
With this project, the SADC countries, namely those involved in the Benguela cold current (Angola, Namibia and South Africa) can take concerted action with the Mozambique based- Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre (MCSCC) of the SADC . ML/AC/TED/AMP
