Angola’s Confederation of Fishing and Aquaculture Operators (COPAA) has denounced the activities of groups of foreign nationals who are illegally trawling for marine species at night on beaches and in fish breeding grounds, in violation of the country’s closed fishing season, which runs until the end of this month.
Horse mackerel is a protected species subject to a fishing ban from 1 July to the last day of August. Despite this prohibition, fishermen have reported that the practice continues, with flat-bottomed boats and trawl nets operating under cover of darkness, sweeping up almost everything in their path — particularly along the beaches of Massangano and Cacuaco, and in known species breeding sites.
Mateus Azevedo, president of both COPAA and the Association of Industrial and Semi-Industrial Fishing of Luanda, said those carrying out the illegal fishing are employees of domestic entities, noting that Angolan law does not issue artisanal fishing licences to foreign nationals.
Source: O País / Original article: https://www.opais.ao/economia/copaa-denuncia-violacao-da-venda-do-carapau-proibida-por-cidadaos-estrangeiros/
