Fatshimetrie is a news media specializing in covering events related to the economy and the environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, we take a look at the exploitation of the country’s fisheries potential, a sector that holds opportunities but still faces various challenges.
With its inland waters rich in fish estimated at 700,000 tons per year, the DRC has significant potential to meet the needs of its population for animal protein. However, the exploitation of these resources remains below this potential, partly due to structural and financial challenges. It is in this context that the 2025 draft budget allocates an envelope of 129,574,529,648 Congolese francs to strengthen the capacities of the National Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture (ONPA), created in 2023 to support fish production activities.
This budget allocation includes the acquisition of new fishing vessels, including six 12-meter boats for ONPA and three 16-meter industrial fishing boats for the Kongo Central province. These investments aim to increase national fish production and reduce dependence on imports, which reach around 200,000 tons per year.
In addition to the boats, the financing plan provides for the acquisition of vaccination equipment to improve the health of livestock, the construction of fry centers in several provinces and the creation of infrastructure for the central administration of the sector. Refrigerated trucks will also be purchased to ensure an efficient cold chain and reduce post-harvest losses, a major challenge in the sector.
ONPA’s mission is to structure the entire fisheries and aquaculture value chain, from production to marketing. Despite these initiatives, the sector faces persistent challenges such as the lack of modern infrastructure, unsustainable fishing practices and the need for increased regulation to ensure the sustainability of resources.
In a context where economic and social stakes are high, the Congolese government places great hopes in these measures to strengthen the fisheries sector, increase national production and improve the food security of the population. This draft budget is currently being examined by the ECOFIN Committee of the National Assembly and is expected to be submitted to a vote in plenary session.
In conclusion, the allocation of funds to strengthen the fisheries sector in the DRC is an essential step to fully exploit the country’s fisheries potential and contribute to the food security of the population. It now remains to implement these measures in an effective and sustainable manner, by addressing structural challenges and promoting responsible exploitation of the country’s aquatic resources.