ANGOLA – According to recent reports, Angola’s industrial fishing sector has seen a significant uptick in production volumes between 2018 and 2021, with a total output of 897,360 tonnes, constituting 50.7% of the country’s total production.

Artisanal maritime fishing follows closely behind, contributing 616,440 tonnes, equivalent to 34.8% of the total production.

Semi-industrial fishing and continental artisanal fishing make up the remaining portions, with 168,553 tonnes (9.5%) and 79,745 tonnes (4.5%) respectively, reflecting the diverse nature of Angola’s fishing industry.

This surge, reported in the recently published “Fisheries Statistical Yearbook 2021” by the National Statistics Institute (INE), underscores the sector’s pivotal role in the nation’s economy.

In terms of real-time production, the sector achieved a remarkable milestone during the period under review, reaching a total of 1,770,643 tonnes, with 2021 recording the highest production at 596,060 tonnes.

The fishing processing industry also experienced a surge, with dried fish production leading the pack at 111,526 tonnes. 

The aquaculture sector, operating across various provinces, contributed 8,545 tonnes to the overall production, with tilapia (cacusso) and catfish emerging as the dominant species.

Provinces like Uíge and Luanda emerged as key contributors, accounting for 77.8% of the total aquaculture output.

Additionally, salt production witnessed steady growth, with a total of 578,997 tonnes produced between 2018 and 2021 – the province of Benguela emerged as a prominent hub, contributing significantly to the overall production.

Furthermore, efforts to monitor fishing resources and assess production levels have been ongoing, with the Total Administrative Catches (TAC) authorized for 2021 reaching 380,046 tonnes, a notable increase from previous years.

The distribution of workers in artisanal fishing across provinces like Benguela, Luanda, and Moxico underscores the sector’s widespread socio-economic impact.

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