The bluefin tuna fishing campaign is an important activity for the fishing sector in Algeria. It guarantees a supply of fresh, quality fish. As the season will soon be launched, a monitoring unit to guarantee responsible and sustainable fishing has been set up.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Fishery Products has also made a point of setting up technical supervision measures for professionals in the sector (training, support on the high seas).
Algeria increases its bluefin tuna fishing fleet for 2023
Algeria’s Minister of Fisheries and Fish Production, Ahmed Badani, announced that this year’s bluefin tuna fishing campaign will start on May 26 with a total of 32 tuna boats. Thus, 3 new locally built vessels have been added to the fleet, already comprising 29 ships.
In addition, Algeria has increased its bluefin tuna fishing quota by 5%dropping from 1,650 tons to 2,023 tons this year.
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Mr. Badani, Minister of Fisheries, underlined that tuna fishing is of capital importance for Algeria. This is why a two-day training course was given to the staff taking part in the campaign on the high seas this year. Improving the performance of professionals who participate in this campaign will allow Algeria to access new fishing areas and will open up new horizons for the fisheries sector, the minister said.
The practical training of student trainees from institutes and training centers in the sector is also on the program. It will also focus on naval security, naval signals and the sending of messages. The Minister stressed that this fishing activity contributes to the development of the national economy, generating more than 27 million dollars in addition to the creation of jobs.
Organization, monitoring, inspections… bluefin tuna fishing finally supervised in 2023?
In addition, Badani also hailed the efforts of the executives of the sector who contributed to the fluidization of the administrative procedures necessary for the operation of exit of the boats from the ports and navigation in the international territorial waters.
The staff of the bluefin tuna fishing campaign are of course invited to comply with national and international deep sea fishing regulations and to give “a good image of Algeria“, adds the minister.
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As a reminder, Algeria respected the regulations during the bluefin tuna fishing campaign last year. Thus, no offense was noted against vessels flying the national flag.
Badani ends up encouraging tuna vessel staffs to facilitate the missions of national inspectors, as well as those of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), also calling on them to support student trainees in their learning.
A high seas fishing campaign under close surveillance in 2023
The bluefin tuna fishing campaign will be in full swing until the end of June. To monitor this campaign, a monitoring unit will be set up within the Ministry of Fisheries, Mr. Badani tells us.
Each vessel holding a bluefin tuna fishing license will be accompanied by a national inspector and another from ICCAT. The missions of these inspectors focus on monitoring fishing conditions in accordance with the regulations in force. This measure ensures responsible and sustainable fishing.
Algerian fishermen satisfied with the framework provided by the ministry
Fishing professionals also praised the quality of the technical support before and during last year’s campaign. These structuring mechanisms have made it possible to guarantee optimal safety conditions for fishermen and for catches.
Ali Laib, boat preparer from the wilaya of Skikda, is participating for the second consecutive year in the bluefin tuna fishing campaign in 2023. He testifies to the enrichment and the benefits he has drawn from it. The confidence that the 2022 campaign gave him led Ali and his crew to repeat the experience this year.
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Mohamed Gharbi, preparer of the locally made “Ouafid Zineddine” boat, who is taking part in this campaign for the first time, also showed his enthusiasm. He underlined the interest of the experience on the high seas for a fishing professional.
Bluefin tuna fishing is an activity that opens up new horizons for professionals in the sector. It significantly improves their performance and allows them to develop local business. The mechanisms put in place by the State could greatly benefit the players in the fisheries sector, and make this part of the national economy prosper.
