In Sofala province, central Mozambique, captive fish production increased significantly in 2023, boosting the development of aquaculture in the region. The sector has generated jobs and contributed to economic growth, and is a viable alternative in the face of the fish crisis and restrictions on the closed season.
With the fish crisis and restrictions on the fishing season in Mozambique, aquaculture has been an alternative for supplying seafood to national and foreign markets. The scarcity of fish in Sofala province has prompted investment in the area, with a focus on the production of fingerlings and feed for poultry farmers and state projects.
With the implementation of the Small-Scale Aquaculture Development Project (PRODAPE) since 2021, there has been significant growth in the breeding of fish, shrimp, crabs and others in captivity in Sofala, explains DW.
In 2023, for example, the province produced 220.8 tons of fish in captivity – an increase of 67.6% compared to 2022. In the same period, Sofala saw an exponential increase in fish farmers, from 13 to 2041.
