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)