Angola’s government has spent $62 million (€44.4 million) on 10 new fishery and aquiculture monitoring boats to protect the country’s resources and to fight illegal fishing off the country''s coast.
The Chinese-made boats are 47 metres long, equipped with 4,000 HP engines and can reach speeds of 20-22 knots. Each vessel is operated by a 20-man crew.
They are being used in the surveillance of the coastal provinces of Cabinda, Zaire, Luanda, Benguela and Namibe.
Agriculture, rural development and fisheries minister Afonso Canga said the government would continue to invest in the construction and repair of terminals, quays and shipyards, as well as research in the areas of seafood processing, distribution and trade.
[Source: ANGOP]
