Africa-Press – Angola. The illegal capture of prohibited marine species, such as billfish, has taken on alarming proportions in recent years in Praia do Bebé commune, in Catumbela municipality, Benguela province.
Sailfish and swordfish, known for their long snouts, are among the billfish caught illegally using floating gill nets in the seas off Praia do Bebé, where artisanal fishermen, attracted by the value of these species on the market, insist on casting their nets to the waters.
To stop the cases of wild fishing of billfish, the provincial director of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, José Gomes da Silva, reveals that, during the year 2022, inspection fined more than fifty fishermen from Praia do Bebé.
In addition to fishing gear, boats and even motors, amounts of illegally captured billfish were seized from the artisanal fishermen, as the interviewee advances.
And he warns that, as they are species for sport fishing purposes in the world, the capture of billfish in Angola constitutes an offense and therefore the inspection carried out several operations in 2022, in an attempt to change the situation.
According to José Gomes da Silva, the processes of administrative transgression of the shipowners charged last year are under legal procedures, for the payment of the respective fines to the State.
As for the modus operandi, he said that fishermen take advantage of the night to capture these species and argues that, if inspection had more means and men, it would fully fulfill its mission wherever it went.
He realizes that, at the moment, there is great demand for these species, a situation that did not happen eight years ago, as the population of Benguela did not have the habit of consuming billfish.
For example, he points out that the price of a swordfish weighing between 30 and 40 kilos varies between 50 and 60 thousand kwanzas in the informal market, hence the stubbornness of many fishermen because fishing has become profitable.
foreigners behind
An investigation by the authorities in Benguela found that foreign nationals, mainly Chinese and Lebanese, allegedly smuggled the fishing gear known as floating gill nets into Praia do Bebé and taught local fishermen how to use it.
“He drops the floating gill net and sets baits. Billfish, such as swordfish, are attracted and caught”, he explains, assuming that, nowadays, this practice is already much more developed in Praia do Bebé.
Even the Minister of Agriculture, António Francisco de Assis, when he was still in charge of Fisheries, visited the location where he met with traditional authorities to sensitize shipowners who avoided capturing these species.
On the other hand, José Gomes da Silva regrets the violent reaction of the fishermen of Praia do Bebé, recalling that they had already held a demonstration with knives and machetes against a inspection brigade.
This behavior forced a change in strategy: “Our patrol goes to sea and then we pick up the fishing gear”, clarified the interlocutor.
He also took the opportunity to clarify that the fishermen of Praia do Bebé can catch large fish, such as grouper or corvina, as they already did, except for billfish because it is prohibited.
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