Northwest Africa is among the most highly productive areas in the World Ocean with Russian fishermen catching more than 248,000 tonnes of fish in these waters
The first Global Fishery Forum will host guests from the African continent. Minister of Fisheries of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Orlando Mendes Viegas, Minister of Marine Resources and Fisheries of the Republic of Sierra Leone Elizabeth Mans, and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Republic of Namibia Samuel Ankama have all confirmed they will participate in the event. Delegations from Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Mauritania are also expected to attend.
The Russian Federation’s interaction with the countries of West Africa in the fishing industry is of key importance. Russia currently has intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the fisheries sector with virtually all coastal states of the region — the Kingdom of Morocco, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the Republics of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Namibia. Work is under way to conclude intergovernmental agreements with Angola, South Africa, and Guinea-Conakry.
Northwest Africa (the central-eastern Atlantic) is among the most highly productive regions in the World Ocean. The fishing resource base mainly includes stocks of pelagic fish — sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel, and sardinella. The economic zones of Morocco and Mauritania have the greatest importance to the Russian fishing industry. Large stocks of commercial fish are concentrated in the waters of these countries, and fishing is conducted practically year-round.
In 2016, Russian vessels off the coast of northwest Africa caught more than 248,000 tonnes of fish, including 116,000 tonnes in the exclusive economic zone of Morocco, more than 97,000 tonnes in Mauritania, about 24,000 tonnes in Guinea-Bissau, and 12,000 tonnes in Angola. According to fishing industry research, Russian fishermen can potentially catch more than 300,000 tonnes in the central-eastern and south-eastern Atlantic as a whole.
Leaders and representatives of the sectoral departments of the Faroe Islands, the Republic of Cyprus, the Kingdom of Norway, Australia, the United States, and the People’s Republic of China previously confirmed they will take part in the Global Fishery Forum. Delegations from Argentina, Chile, the Republic of Korea, Iceland, and Italy are also expected.
The Global Fishery Forum and International Exhibition for Fishery, Seafood, and Knowhow will be held on 14–16 September 2017 at Lenexpo Exhibition Centre in St. Petersburg.
