Africa-Press – Angola. Shipowners and artisanal fishing operators in the province of Benguela applaud the maintenance of fuel subsidies, to face the increase in the cost of supplying vessels.
Contacted this Thursday shipowners and fishermen are convinced that subsidies to the price of gasoline in artisanal fishing are important, in order to boost an activity that has ensured the livelihood of many citizens.
Therefore, they do not hide their expectations with the arrival in Benguela province, within days, of the first gasoline subsidy cards, so that they will no longer purchase gasoline at 300 kwanzas per liter and, thus, alleviate fuel costs.
The president of the Artesanal Fishing Cooperative Traz Bênção, on Lobito Velho beach, Miguel Domingos, says he is looking forward to the measure, but asks the Government to speed up the delivery of subsidy cards to facilitate artisanal fishing activity.
In his view, the difficulties in supplying small-scale fishing vessels are over, as there are expectations that in the next few days they will begin to feel the benefits of the gasoline subsidy.
According to him, siege vessels spend up to 150,000 kwanzas on fuel and lubricants daily, the equivalent of four or five 60-litre drums each, hence the need for greater speed in issuing the cards promised by the Government.
Miguel Domingos reports that catch levels at Cooperativa Traz Bênção range from 300 kilos to half a ton, ensuring that the price of fish is stable.
José Manuel, another fisherman in Lobito Velho, also hopes that the gasoline card will alleviate the shipowners’ difficulties with fishing on the high seas and stresses that there is no reason to change the price of fish.
Shipowners from Tombas highlight the benefits of the subsidy
On Praia das Tombas, on the outskirts of the city of Benguela, shipowners and fishermen’s expectations are also growing in terms of receiving fuel cards in the coming days.
Let André Colombo, accountant for the “Matepesca” Cooperative, say so, who points out that shipowners in Tombas have been waiting for the petrol card for more than three weeks.
Regretting that fuel expenses are already weighing on his pocket, Colombo highlights the benefits of the gasoline card, because it will allow to maintain the routine of the vessels.
Henriqueta Nawende, owner of an artisanal fishing vessel, predicts that the cards will help to recover incomes that are low these days, due to the increase in gasoline.
Francisco Tchingalule, administrator of the Tombas market, confirms that most of the 200 shipowners controlled have adhered to the registration and are now just waiting for the cards to maintain the activity of the vessels.
“Now they can only go out two or three times a week”, he said, recalling that each shipowner spends an average of around 200 liters of gasoline on each trip to sea.
Fearing that fish may become scarce on families’ tables, Francisco Tchingalule suggests that the authorities act more quickly in the allocation of cards.
Cards within days _
In response, the director of the Benguela Municipal Office for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Irineu Reis, assured that 134 artisanal fishing shipowners will be able to receive their gasoline subsidy cards later this week, as they are already registered.
According to the official, at the moment, the first 134 cards are expected to arrive for small artisanal fishing vessels, as the list has already been sent to the competent authorities in Luanda, where the cards are issued.
For this reason, he asks artisanal fishing operators in the municipality of Benguela to calm down, despite acknowledging the difficulties with expenses arising from the rise in the price of gasoline since the 2nd of June.
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