The Angolan government considers the development of the aquaculture sector to be one of its programme’s priorities, Angola’s fishing minister, Victoria de Barros Neto said Monday in Rome.

Speaking at the 31st session of the Fishing Commission of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, held in Rome from 9 to 13 June, the minister said that aquaculture was considered to be an economically viable and profitable way of producing social and economic benefits and contributing to food safety, particularly in rural and coastal areas.

According to Victoria de Barros Neto, around 85 percent of catches of over 300,000 tons per year and with potential to reach much higher levels, are sold on the domestic market and per capita consumption totals 19 kilos of fishing products per year.

The minister took advantage of the occasion to invite the countries present t take part in the first Angola International Fishing and Aquaculture Fair, held in Luanda from 27 to 30 November. (macauhub/AO)