Algeria aims to double its fish production by 2030, declared the Minister of Fisheries and Fisheries Production, Ahmed Bidani, during his appearance on Sunday on the program “L’invitรฉ du jour” on Channel 3 of Algerian Radio.
Currently, annual production stands at 100,000 tonnes of fish, a figure considered insufficient to meet growing market demand, especially since this level of production has not changed for more than 30 years.
The minister stressed that the problems encountered in this sector are not new. They are linked to the available fish resources, as well as to the development of the marketing channel.
“These problems are not new. They are linked to the fishery resources that Algeria has, but also to the development of the marketing channel,” explained Mr. Bidani, mentioning that the modernization of the cold chain and the availability of refrigerated trucks have expanded distribution to the entire country.
To increase production, the Ministry is implementing a strategy focused on the development of aquaculture. The objective is to produce 60,000 tonnes in marine aquaculture and 40,000 tonnes in freshwater and continental aquaculture.
“A group of experts has been in place for almost two years to update the strategy already in place,” he said while stressing that Algeria has significant potential with its dams and its projects in the field of aquaculture.
The minister said that this strategy should make it possible to increase production to 200,000 tonnes per year by 2030, with a positive effect on the prices and availability of fish products.
During his speech, Mr. Bidani also mentioned the campaign to assess demersal fishery resources, launched last August. He noted that average catches are decreasing along the coast, except for the areas of El Kala and Ghazaouet.
“We must sound the alarm about this situation,” he warned, calling for the development of a rigorous management plan to protect these resources, in collaboration with scientists and professionals.