7 March 2008
Maputo — Fisheries Ministers from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) on Friday, at the end of a two day meeting in Maputo, stressed "the importance of the sustainable development of fishing and of aquaculture, and particularly the development of small scale fisheries in the fight against poverty and the improvement of diet".
The Ministers also declared their commitment to "the fight against illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing", and reaffirmed "the principles of sustainable management of fish resources in the terms of the FAO's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing".
They pledged to encourage partnerships between fishing companies of the various Portuguese speaking countries, and promised that the companies would be invited to participate in future events organised by the CPLP member states.
During the meeting, the Ministers discussed such matters as fisheries research, training of fisheries staff, fisheries inspection, institutional support and environmental protection. Angolan Fisheries Minister, Salomao Xirimbimbi, declared that he was pleased with the meeting, and confident that Mozambique and Angola can cooperate fruitfully in the fisheries area. "I think the space is open for Mozambican and Angolan businesses to invest and cooperate not only in the production of seafood, but also in its distribution", he said.
Host Minister Cadmiel Muthemba spoke of the need to promote the fisheries sector in a "sustainable and responsible" manner, so that fishing does not lose its position as an important part of the Mozambican economy.
The ministers agreed to maintain a human resource project in fishing and aquaculture, which is being coordinated by Brazil. Under this programme a seminar on fisheries inspection will be held in Cape Verde or in Mozambique some time later this year, and Portugal will host a seminar on processing, conservation and quality control of fisheries produce.
At the meeting Mozambique took the chair of the Conference of CPLP Fisheries Ministers, which it will hold until the next ministerial meeting, to be held in Guinea-Bissau in 2010.
Sam/pf (330)
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