World Wildlife Fund
The World Wildlife Fund, an international environmental non-governmental organization, has expressed concern about what it calls “unsustainable fishing of prawns” in Mozambique, APA can report on Sunday.
Prawns are one of Mozambique’s top marine export products, mainly to European countries, including Spain and Portugal.
WWF said some fisheries exports to Europe are done illegally, and the European Union countries must avoid engaging in activities which pose a threat to the existence of prawns in Mozambique.
“It’s a serious problem affecting the fishing industry and Mozambique loses $38 million a year due to illegal fishing, but a plan has been drawn up to deal with the problem,” read a WWF media statement seen by APA on Sunday.
Fishing contributes about four percent of Mozambique’s gross domestic product.
According to the WWF, Mozambique is negotiating with international partners to provide $80 million to purchase surveillance vessels to monitor its 2500 km coastline and curb illegal fishing.
The international environmental non-governmental organization added that the sub-Saharan African region loses an estimated $1billion annually due to illegal fishing.
A WWF media release also stated that in addition to the unsustainable fishing of prawns, there is also a possibility of the prawn catch from Mozambique being smuggled into the EU market.
Reference: #Source: APA Club of Mozambique