Tunisia vows to protect fisheries through stronger governance

Ministerial Council discusses policy solutions

TUNISIA: A limited Ministerial Council confirmed the importance of protecting the country’s fisheries as well as the need to stimulate investment in aquaculture through strengthened governance at a meeting held on Tuesday this week.

Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri stressed the importance of the marine fishing and fish farming sector in supporting the national economy. He also emphasised the need to solve the challenges that are currently hindering the development of the sector including illegal fishing.

Describing the phenomena of random bag fishing, he warned that this activity was contributing to the depletion of the national fish resources.

Speaking on behalf of the President, Maddouri said that the fishing sector, seen as a lever for social and economic development, needs to keep pace with various scientific and technological developments, enhance its ability to withstand climate change, and prepare the infrastructure of ports.

“Tunisia is capable, with the efforts of its sons, the fertility of its land and the extension of its coastal strip, of achieving its permanent food security.”

“Tunisia is capable, with the efforts of its sons, the fertility of its land and the extension of its coastal strip, of achieving its permanent food security,” he said.

A detailed presentation on the current status of the marine fishing and fish farming sector highlighted several statistics pointing to the real need to enhance the protection of fish wealth for the country.

Key objectives were emphasised including the need to develop the red tuna fishery as well as to invest in infrastructure such as additional fishing ports.

The Council approved resolutions that include the completion of the national plan to combat illegal fishing through the review of legal texts relating to the fisheries sector. The aim is to develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach that enhances legal protection, supports periodic monitoring on land and at sea, deters violations, contributes to enhancing the capabilities of this sector and ensures its sustainability.

The Council also committed to amending the decision of the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries in April last year to regulate the activity of fishing and fattening red tuna according to objective criteria based on the rules of transparency, fairness and equal opportunities, and to preserve the sustainability of the sector and avoid the technical problems that were recorded through its application.

By expanding the digitisation of port services, the Council further hopes to enhance partnerships between the public and private sectors. Other digitalisation projects include a programme to track the distribution channels of fishing products as well as the process to award fuel grants to the fishing sector.

Financial issues were also discussed, and the Council took the step to settle the dues owed to the Ports and Fisheries Equipment Agency by a number of public entities. The tax system will also be reviewed to help promote investment in the sector.

PHOTO: Boats in a fishing port in Mahdia, Tunisia. The Council also called on ministries and bodies to find the necessary solutions to resume the services of the contracting company for the Mahdia fishing port project. (Photo – Adobe Photostock).