[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1149, 206], "category": "Text", "text": "and infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced inequalities (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Climate action (SDG 13)."}, {"bbox": [85, 261, 323, 292], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 327, 234, 354], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 372, 1150, 586], "category": "Text", "text": "The social and political situation in Angola is relatively stable. Starting in 2017, the Government headed by President João Lourenço initiated a series of transformational reforms in the political-administrative, social and economic systems. In particular, to move away from its dependency on fossil fuels, the Government embarked in an ambitious programme to diversify the economy. Important legislation and programmes are in place in the areas of macroeconomic stabilisation, investment and privatisation agenda, economic and export diversification, modernised competition framework, simplified tax measures and asset recovery. However, the tangible impact on people's livelihoods has been limited and much remains to be done. Nonetheless, there are clear signals that reforms will remain high on the Government agenda and among the population's expectations in the years to come."}, {"bbox": [96, 611, 1149, 798], "category": "Text", "text": "Angola holds solid medium to long-term potential for the development of fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy. The country is endowed with 1 650 km of coast benefitting from a diverse and highly productive marine life that generates 2.7% of its GNP and 23% of its exports (excluding oil and diamonds) and supports 150 000 jobs in fishing activities only. This makes the sector central for the Government's aspiration to advance the country's economic diversification, generate employment opportunities and expand food production capacity both for national consumption and for export. It represents the third Government's priority among the identified value chains to be supported for those purposes."}, {"bbox": [96, 823, 1150, 1276], "category": "Text", "text": "A National Strategy for the Sea of Angola (Estratégia Nacional para o Mar de Angola - ENMA), to be implemented in the 2022-2030 period, was prepared in 2022 to promote and diversify the maritime economy, optimise the resources, adopt security and surveillance mechanisms in the country's EEZ and promote the sustainable use of biological resources. In addition, under the Government formed following the general elections in August 2022, a separate Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources was (re-) created (and the former Secretary of State for Fisheries became Vice-President of the Republic). Soon after the creation of the new ministry, the Government officially launched, in December 2022, the National Plan for the Promotion of Fisheries (Plano Nacional de Fomento das Pescas - PLANAPESCAS) with the aim to, among others, encourage the sustainable management of living aquatic resources and the diversification of sources of public revenue as well as promote competitiveness and employment in the sector. More recently, on 30 March 2023, the Government approved the Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) established with the financial assistance of the German Ministry of Environment through the Benguela Current Marine Spatial Management and Governance Project (MARISMA) project¹¹. In addition, Angola is part of global and continental efforts to develop the blue economy, as the UN Decade of Oceanic Science for Sustainable Development, the 2050 African Integrated maritime Strategy, the 2015-2025 Decade of African Seas and Oceans and the implementation of the African Union blue economy strategy. In addition, the European Commission carried out an ex-ante evaluation for a possible Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with Angola, as Angola has already expressed its interest."}, {"bbox": [96, 1300, 1150, 1487], "category": "Text", "text": "In 2022, fisheries amounted for 4.2% of the Angolan Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The private operators are categorised in three main groups according to the vessels the type of equipment and the type of targets (industrial fisheries, semi-industrial fisheries, and small-scale fisheries). In 2020 there were 156 industrial fisheries vessels and only 96 semi-industrial vessels, mainly in leasing and joint venture with Angolan nationals. The main species targeted by the industrial and semi-industrial sector are lobster, crabs, gamba (deep water shrimp), shallow water shrimp, crayfish and squid. Most of this catch (around 250 000 tonnes in 2018) is destined for exports (the value of fish exports from Angola to the international markets is around USD 12 000 000 per year)."}, {"bbox": [96, 1512, 1150, 1593], "category": "Text", "text": "On the other side of the spectrum, the last census of the Institute for Artisanal Fisheries (Instituto da Pesca Artesanal - IPA), in 2017, reported in 7 900 small scale fisheries vessels. This represents a community of around 40 000 fishermen. There are 16 900 women, mostly involved in the processing and the commercialisation of the seafood"}, {"bbox": [85, 1623, 528, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹¹ MARISMA Project - MARISMA (marisma-bclme.com)"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1667, 1143, 1691], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 25"}]