Algeria. Fisheries Minister launches tuna fishing season – On Monday, Ahmed Bidani, the Algerian Minister for Fisheries and Fisheries Productions, officially launched the tuna fishing season from the fishing port of Gouraya (Tipasa). The campaign will involve 32 tuna vessels nationwide, including three Algerian-built vessels.
Thirteen tuna vessels set sail from the port of Tipasa to take part in the fishing campaign for Algeria’s bluefin tuna quota, which has been increased this year to 2,023 tonnes compared with 1,650 tonnes last year.
“The other vessels taking part in this campaign will gradually set sail from the ports of Oran, Annaba, Tlemcen, Mostaganem and Ain Temouchent, according to the set timetable”, Bidani indicated in a statement to the press.
The Minister stressed that
“Algeria’s efforts with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) have contributed to the increase in its annual bluefin tuna quota, which has risen to 2,023 tonnes this year”.
This tuna fishing campaign “is important and adds value to the national economy, while helping to ensure the country’s food security“, commented the Minister for Fisheries, who was accompanied by the Wali of Tipasa, Aboubakr Seddik Boucetta.
“The importance of this campaign is reflected in the increase in Algeria’s quota and in the number of tuna vessels, which has risen from 29 last year to 32 for this campaign, 3 of which were built in Algeria as part of the State’s efforts to promote shipbuilding activities”,
Bidani pointed out.
During his visit to Tipasa, the Minister for Fisheries and Fishery Products inaugurated a mussel farm on the Gouraya coast, with a production capacity of 100 tonnes/year.
He was also given a presentation on a project for a sea bream farm, as well as a micro-enterprise specialising in the manufacture of equipment for fishing boats, set up under the Entrepreneurship Support Fund (ESF).
A presentation was given on the work being done to improve the social and professional conditions of fishing professionals.
This operation is part of “the government’s strategy to support aquaculture, whose production is currently estimated at 13,000 tonnes/year, equivalent to 13% of fish production”, emphasised the Minister, noting that this “rate did not exceed 1% 10 years ago”.
The State’s efforts are also focused on strengthening continental aquaculture, he added.
Highlighting the existence of a tilapia processing industry, the Minister said that the sector’s strategy was based mainly on “creating an attractive climate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, with a view to supporting fishing activity and enhancing its economic value, with the aim of contributing to the creation of added value and employment”.
The ministerial delegation, which visited the town of Cherchell, enquired about training conditions at the Fishing and Aquaculture Technical Training School. They also visited the establishment, in particular the room housing a maritime navigation simulator and the fishing net splicing workshop.
A simulation exercise on maritime safety training, involving fire-fighting on board a fishing vessel, was carried out by the school’s teachers and students.
The exercise was part of the national maritime safety campaign organised by the Algerian Chamber of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAPA), in coordination with the Algerian Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
(CAPA), in coordination with training establishments in the sector, civil society and various partners.
Algeria. Fisheries Minister launches tuna fishing season
