China-Africa:Verónica Naquela, IPA’s director stated that out of the 440 vessels, 190 are from Spain and 250 from China.
Angola gets over 400 new fishing boats
Luanda - Angola has 440 small and large-sized boats, distributed in the major fishing provinces of Zaire, Bengo, Cabinda, Luanda, Kwanza Sul, Benguela and Namibe, informed last Friday, here, the director of the Artisan Fishing and Aquaculture Development Institute (IPA), Caholo Duarte.
In a joint interview to ANGOP, with the director of the Fund for Assistance to the Fisheries Industry and Agriculture (FADEPA), Verónica Naquela, IPA’s director stated that out of the 440 vessels, 190 are from Spain and 250 from China.
Referring to the Spanish vessels, 160 are 7.40 metres long, 20 (13.80 m), and 10 (12 m), while those from China, 100 measure 9.60m and 150 (7.40m), with Japanese electronic equipment (GPS, VHF system, radio), and as well as Norwegian-made fishing support equipment.
According to Caholo Duarte, the programme dubbed “Renewal of the Fleet” is a project aimed at replacing out of date boats, which are made of wood, with safer ones made of steel.
The intention is to replace, by 2010, about 3,000 boats out of the 6,000 existing in maritime artisan fishing sector.
The source also revealed that the 9.60-metre boats were delivered to the cooperatives at an amount of USD 100,000 each, which is refundable over a period of 10 years, the 7.40-metre vessels are estimated at USD 80,000, while the others measuring 7.40 metres cost 87,000 Euros.
On her turn, the director of FEDEPA, Verónica Naquela, said there are 26 semi-industrial, 08 industrial boats, which were distributed in the provinces of Luanda (6 semi-industrial and 7 industrial), Namibe (11 semi-industrial and 1 industrial), Kwanza Sul (3 semi-industrial) and Benguela (6 semi- -industrial).
The fleet renewal programme is an initiative of the Angolan government and will be implemented during a period of 10 years, and shall include an average supply of 600 vessels per year.
The programme is funded by the People’s Republic of China in an amount of USD 250 million, Poland USD 27.5 million and Spain 81 million Euros.
(portalangop.co.ao)
Tags: Angola