Artisanal Fisheries in Angola

Areas of intervention

IPA’s main areas of intervention are as follows:

• To promote, organise and implement social campaigns aimed at the establishment and development of artisanal fishing communities.
• To prepare programmes for technical assistance in artisanal and subsistence fisheries in coastal and inland waters, as well as to promote aquaculture.
• To conduct socio-economic studies focused on artisanal and subsistence fisheries in coastal and inland waters, as well as the establishment of aquaculture.
• To collaborate with local authorities in the integrated development of fishing communities, through the creation of technical studies and the provision of national and external funds for the promotion of responsible aquaculture and artisanal fisheries.
• To create and edit technical and educational publications aimed at capacity building of artisanal fishers, and distribute them through extension workers.
• To launch awareness raising and information campaigns to encourage artisanal fishers to comply with laws and regulations that ensure the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources.
• To support and provide training aimed at protecting species and preserving the coastal and riparian environment, as well as the establishment of aquaculture.
• To control and monitor artisanal fisheries activities in coastal and inland waters, as well as support aquaculture.
• To collaborate with national organs in the inland aquatic and coastal living resources sector, within existing frameworks.
• To maintain technical scientific relationships with relevant international organisms.
• To execute all the tasks that are attributed to IPA by law or any other superior decisions.
• To promote actions that allow the maximisation of income from the utilisation of living marine and inland aquatic resources.

Activities

IPA’s activities are undertaken in the framework of the Programme for Promotion and Development of Artisanal Fisheries (Programa de Fomento e Desenvolvimento da Pesca Artesanal).  In some cases, IPA collaborates with partners such as local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). A short description of some of the activities in this overarching framework follows. 

Support to Fishers and Communities

Training and provision of information are at the centre of IPA’s activities in the communities. Training in leadership and the creation of cooperatives and micro-enterprises has been provided to a number of communities.  IPA also facilitates the fishers’ access to information and provides assistance in the legal process of establishing cooperatives.  Through the Fund for Support to the Development of Fishing Industries (FADEPA), IPA provides credit facilities for the acquisition of boats, outboard motors and fishing gear.

A programme is underway to create centres of support to artisanal fisheries in all coastal provinces. With funding from the African Development Bank (ADB), 10 centres will be implemented in the first phase, with a total of 14 centres (2 in each coastal province) planned. Each support centre will provide assistance to fishers and their families, including access to schools and health centres. Furthermore, reference and information centres are planned in the different regions, to store historical data on fishing methods and statistics, as well as to provide facilities for experiments.

Monitoring

With funding from the French Cooperation Fund, a framework study was undertaken in 1995 to determine the numbers of fishers, types of vessels and fishing gears used, processing facilities and the location of markets. The data from this study and yearly updates, as well as from catch assessment studies, are stored in IPA’s database.  The Artfish statistics system has been in operation in Benguela since 2002, with a total of 55 local people involved in counting in the communities along the coast.

IPA intends to implement the concept of community observers. Specific members of the community will be given the responsibility of monitoring and controlling fishing activities on the field, in order to guarantee compliance with fishing regulations and safety laws. The observers will receive proper training and equipment, such as binoculars, photographic equipment and communication systems, and will be remunerated by the cooperatives. A monitoring committee will include representatives of traditional authorities.

Projects

PESNORTE:  Programme for the Development of Fishing Communities in the Northern regions

The programme, which was initiated in2000, targets the coastal region of Zaire Province and Bengo Province, north of Ambriz municipality.  Programme activities include community development, financing and marketing, and the development of fisheries policy and management.

PROJECT ANG/03/009:  Support to Artisanal Fishing and Community Reinforcement of the Productive Sector in Ambriz and neighbourhood

Launched in October 2003, this project builds on a previous project supporting artisanal fisheries in Ambriz.  Prepared by UNDP and coordinated by UNDP and IPA, the project encompasses the revitalisation of fishing, agriculture and salt production activities; training of women and other inhabitants in sales management; support and capacity building in the cooperative; implementation of integrated projects in selected communities; and support and capacity building for IPA staff linked to the project.

PESCART:  Artisanal Fisheries Project in the Namibe Province

This project supports artisanal fishers in difficult situations in the Namibe Province, provided they are organised in cooperatives.  Support entails the provision of motorised boats, outboard engines and fishing gear through credit facilities.  In addition, the fishers are trained in the use and maintenance of boats and motors, and introduced to new technologies for fishing and product preservation.

PMEDP:  Programme of Sustainable Fishing Livelihoods

This programme is implemented in 25 countries of West Africa, in partnership with DFID and FAO.  It aims at the development of human capacity through seminars in the community.  IPA is the National Coordination Unit of the programme in Angola.

Top of page