DRC - Enormous fishing potential

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a Central African country with enormous fishing potential. The fisheries sector includes marine fishing, inland fishing, and aquaculture.

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In the Atlantic Ocean, the Congo River, and all the lakes, the fishery potential is estimated at 707,000 tons/year. This potential is mainly linked to its vast hydrographic network and its terrain, which is favorable to the development of fish farming. The development of fisheries is therefore a priority in the fight against food insecurity, as fish can easily supplement the animal protein needs of the poorest populations.

Current annual production, mainly artisanal and continental, is around 240,000 tonnes, or about 30% of the potential. Due to the short length of the coast, catches of marine origin are modest and estimated at around 2% of total production since the 1980s, with only 6,000 tonnes.

This total production corresponds to an average annual consumption of 5.5 kg per inhabitant. All of this production comes from artisanal fishing using canoes and beach seines.

Marine production comes from a small coastline approximately 40 kilometers long sandwiched between Angola and the Republic of Congo, with an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covering an estimated area of 1,150 km².

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Freshwater fisheries populate the country's numerous lakes, marshes, and floodplains fed by the rich Congo Basin hydrographic system.

Aquaculture is mainly based on family subsistence fish farming in which the culture of tilapia and catfish is predominant despite the potential for farming other species.

As part of the Local Fishing Promotion Program, the government launched construction work on a landing stage at the Kinkole fishing port. For fishing, it was necessary to have not only a port but also infrastructure: a cold room, an ice production module to improve this local fishing and also ensure a connection to the city of Kinshasa. The President of the Republic wants to make local fishing a factor in the country's development. Therefore, a project to create three aquaculture schools was initiated in 2021 to train a skilled workforce capable of boosting production. The first pilot school will be established in Kasangulu in the Kongo Central province, the second in Chiavignonge on Lake Edward in North Kivu, and the third in Lubumbashi. This program is expected to expand to other regions of the country to make the DRC self-sufficient in aquaculture and fish products. According to the department's figures, imports of fish products amount to $120 million per year.

In February 2022, the government adopted the draft decree establishing, organizing, and operating the National Office for Fisheries and Aquaculture (ONPA). This technical structure, endowed with legal personality, aims to contribute to increasing fisheries and aquaculture production and promoting the related value chain. For the government, it is a tool for intervention in the system of production, processing, conservation, and marketing of fisheries and aquaculture products.

OPPORTUNITIES
Promoting SMEs in the agro-industry is one of the factors accelerating the process of diversification and development of the Congolese economy. The National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANAPI) encourages economic operators to invest in this sector, in which the Congolese government has guaranteed facilities and incentives.