The Minister of Fisheries and Fisheries Production, Ahmed Badani, affirmed, Thursday in Algiers, that the file for reopening the exploitation of red coral in Algeria, under study at the level of his ministerial department, was on track .
Chairing a meeting to evaluate the sector’s activity report during the first quarter of 2024, at the headquarters of the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the wilaya of Algiers, in the presence of central and local executives, the Minister specified that his department had made good progress in the study of the file for reopening the exploitation of red coral in Algeria, which will be debated at the Government level, highlighting the efforts made for “the effective launch of this activity at the beginning of the second half of this year.
Addressing the ongoing preparations for the 2024 tuna fishing campaign, which will begin at the end of next May, Mr. Badani reported the approval of a plan to increase the fishing capacity of five (5) additional vessels , recalling that the national quota of bluefin tuna had been set this year at 2,046 tonnes, or 23 tonnes more than the 2023 campaign, which will help boost national exports estimated at 27 million USD for this type of fish.
The first manager of the sector cited, in this context, the participation of 30 students from various training establishments as trainees on board tuna fishing vessels in the specialties of fishing and mechanics, as well as registration of the project for the first Algerian tuna fattening farm in the wilaya of Tlemcen, with an initial capacity of 950 tonnes.
In his presentation of the sector’s activity report, the Minister mentioned the creation of six (6) new marine aquaculture farms during the first three (3) months of the year 2024, bringing the total number of farms of this type, and three (3) freshwater aquaculture farms, bringing the total number of farms of this type nationally to 55, as well as the launch of 49 new projects.
He also reported the stocking, during the same period, of more than 23 million fry in floating cages, with the objective of stocking 30 million fry in 2024.
Regarding the construction of vessels intended for fishing on the high seas, 11 large vessels are currently under construction, including a 42-meter-long vessel, for the first time in Algeria, the minister said, adding that two ships had been received during the first quarter of 2024.
Regarding training and capacity building, the number of students trained at schools and institutes in the sector amounts to 15,522 students, an increase of 19% compared to 2023, according to figures provided by M . Badani, who specified that 1,682 farmers and young people had benefited from training in the field of aquaculture integrated into agriculture, including 108 prisoners.
The minister also reported the regularization of the files of nearly 2,000 professionals to benefit, initially, from the mechanism for recognition of acquired professional experience, while the number of registered professionals reached 4,068, adding that this operation “continues to reach all professionals”.
The minister also recalled the operation of direct sale of fishery products at competitive prices during the month of Ramadan, indicating that more than 150 tonnes of different types of fish had been marketed, particularly aquaculture fish.
He also recalled the exceptional authorization to import 200 tonnes of sardines and their marketing during the holy month at 500 DA per kilogram, contributing to the relative stabilization of prices.
In a statement, on the sidelines of the meeting, the minister announced the upcoming receipt of files from fishermen and professionals wishing to benefit from the incentives introduced by the finance law for the 2024 financial year.
These include the importation of used engines and vessels less than five years old, as well as tax and financial incentives for aquaculture activities, recalled the minister, inviting those interested to contact the services of fishing at the national level to obtain more information and submit their files.
He assured that these incentives will have a “positive impact on the development of the fishing and aquaculture sector”.
On the sidelines of the meeting, retirees from the sector were honored.
