Category: Editorial

News and views…

Posted on by — Leave a comment

MOZAMBIQUE TO INTRODUCE FISH PRODUCTION DEGREE

MOZAMBIQUE TO INTRODUCE FISH PRODUCTION DEGREE: by John Hughes (AIM)

Maputo, 3 Oct (AIM) – Mozambique’s Ministry of Fisheries has entered into a partnership with Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and Brazil’s Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) to develop a degree course in fish production.

UEM will run the course at the School of Rural Development (ESUDER) in Vilankulo in the southern province of Inhambane.

The Minister of Fisheries, Victor Borges, on Wednesday met with the Vice-Rector of UMAF Hedinaldo Lima. Following the meeting, Borges stressed that Mozambique urgently needs this course because it does not have a sufficient technical programme for the massification of aquaculture. He explained that fishing is currently promoted by biologists, veterinarians and agronomists who have knowledge of the subject but are not specialists.

Borges added that a partnership between Gaza Polytechnic (ISPG) and Brazil’s Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) is developing a course in aquaculture.

It is expected that both courses will be launched next year.

In Mozambique, fishing plays in important role in developing food security and contributing to the country’s balance of payments.

The annual catch is 200,000 tonnes, ninety per cent of which is carried out by artisanal fishermen.

According to figures from the Ministry of Fisheries, Mozambicans consume on average ten kilogrammes of fish per year, about half of all animal protein consumed.

(AIM)

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

FISHING MUSEUM RECEIVES OFFICIAL APPROVAL

Maputo (AIM) – The Mozambican government has approved a decree
creating a Fishing Museum to preserve the nation’s scientific and cultural
heritage. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Council of
Ministers (Cabinet) on Tuesday.

The government spokesperson, Deputy Justice Minister Alberto Nkutumula, told
reporters after the meeting that the Fishing Museum will safeguard cultural
heritage through researching, collecting, preserving, conserving and
disseminating the history of fishing in Mozambique.

The Fishing Museum will exhibit artefacts along with examples of the main
fish stocks in national waters. It will also be responsible for carrying out
studies to retrieve historical and socio-cultural data and for recovering
and disseminating knowledge about the technical evolution of fishing.

To further its educational role, the museum will hold art exhibitions and
talks or seminars on cultural issues and gastronomy.

The Fishing Museum will be based in a building recently constructed in the
fishing port in downtown Maputo. The building was purpose built at a cost of
three million US dollars, funded by the Mozambican government in partnership
with the Norwegian government.

(AIM)

dt/mz/jhu (187)

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

AUTHORITIES WARN OF INSECTICIDE RESISTANT MOSQUITOES

Maputo, 27 Jun (AIM) – Health officials in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane have warned of the threat from mosquitoes that have developed a resistance to insecticides.

The warning comes from a study carried out in Inhambane and Zambezia provinces by the Ministry of Health and a non-governmental organisation, reports Radio Mozambique.

The study found the insecticide used on protective nets in the districts of Panda and Jangamo in Inhambane province were ineffective in killing these mosquitoes.

According to the provincial head of public health, Rinques Cantilal, the insecticide resistant mosquitoes have been responsible for in an increase in the number of cases of malaria.

In the first quarter of this year there were 120,000 cases of malaria recorded in Inhambane province, compared with 105,000 cases during the same period last year.

Cantilal stated that studies are being conducted to see if different types of insecticide can be used to tackle the new threat.

According to the national director of medical services at the Ministry of Health, Antonio Jovo, another disease threatening the health of the nation is arterial hypertension (high blood pressure).

Jovo stated that this disease now affects young people, whilst in the past it only hit older people. He put this phenomenon down to excessive alcohol consumption, poor eating habits and a lack of exercise.

(AIM)

jhu/ (228)

Share