Africa-Press – Mauritius. A series of measures to boost activities in the fisheries sector and enhance its contribution to the country’s Blue Economy, were announced, this evening, by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, during his presentation of the Budget 2023-2024.
The Budget caters for the following key measures: A grant of Rs 2,500 for the purchase of hooks and fishing materials; Rs 5,000 for the purchase of materials to construct fish traps; and an increase of Rs 100 000 from Rs 200 000 to Rs 300,000 for the acquisition of canottes.
As for the safety of fishers, Government will provide for the installation of solar powered lights at jetties to facilitate navigation at night; replace eight fish aggregating devices around the island; upgrade Fisheries Posts at Poste Lafayette, La Preneuse, Mahebourg, Riambel and Grand River South East; as well as upgrade jetties and slipways at Trou d’Eau Douce, Grand Gaube, Poudre d’Or, Bain des Dames, Pointe aux Sables and Case Noyale.
As regard the provision of financial support to fishermen and their families, the key measures are: write-off long outstanding loans of more than 20 years and loans of deceased fishermen by the DBM Ltd; increase in the lump sum paid to fishermen aged 65 and above from Rs 52,500 to Rs 100,000 if they return their fishermen card or transfer it; increase in the compensation for associations returning their licenses from Rs 105,000 to Rs 200,000; and increase in the daily Bad Weather Allowance for fishers from Rs 575 to Rs 650.
Moreover, Government is also providing a grant of 50 percent for construction of hatchery for shrimp farming up to a maximum of Rs 500,000; and an increase in the grant for acquisition of semi-industrial fishing boats by registered cooperatives is from Rs 4 million to Rs 6 million.
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