Africa-Press – Angola. About 17,000 tonnes of diverse fish were caught in the second quarter of this year, in Benguela province, the director of the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Office, José Gomes, told on Wednesday.
According to the official, compared to the same period in 2021, there was an increase in capture, in the order of 25 percent.
José Gomes also announced that, in the period in question, 13,000 tonnes of frozen fish were processed, which allowed the production of 188 tonnes of dried fish.
Sardines, horse mackerel and mackerel, pelagic species, were the most caught, through the art of seine, representing 85 percent of the total fish that has helped to feed families in Benguela and other regions.
In the same vein, the official said that the capture of other species, such as grouper and croaker, fish more located in the depths, are usually captured by trawlers, whose art is very controlled due to the harmful consequences to the biomass. Asked about the presence of alleged large vessels in the practice of illegal trawlers on the coast of Benguela, José Gomes ruled out such a possibility, stating that all vessels are nationally flagged and duly licensed.
The capture of fish also resulted in the production of 22 tons of fishmeal and 1,240 liters of oil.
Salt Production
José Gomes also informed that, in the saline area, 34 thousand tons of raw salt were produced, of which 27 thousand tons are iodized.
The official is of the opinion that the Fisheries sector in the province of Benguela remains dynamic, as a result of the various investments that are being made.
“These investments involve the acquisition of new vessels by some companies, as well as the rehabilitation and expansion of fishing infrastructures and expansion of salt production areas”, he said.
The Fisheries sector controls, at provincial level, 25 semi-industrial fishing owners and 2,500 small artisanal vessels.
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