The Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries defended yesterday, Monday, the adoption of sophisticated means to stop illegal fishing, warning about the existence of networks that engage in this type of activity in high seas.

"The country needs more sophisticated means," Lídia Cardoso told the media, moments after delivering a boat to reinforce surveillance in the bay of Maputo, the country's capital.

The vessel is part of a set of five that will be distributed throughout the country, as part of the strategies to strengthen control of the Mozambican coast and curb illegal fishing.

For the minister, although the new vessels can make a difference in the fight against illegal fishing, Mozambique needs more sophisticated and far-reaching means.

"Illegal fishing is not only done at the bay level. This vessel, for example, has the capacity to cover 20 miles of coastline, but beyond 20 miles we have challenges to do the surveillance and here is where the largest number of cases occur, "explained the governor quoted by Lusa.

Mozambique has lost 60 million dollars annually due to illegal fishing, according to the most recent data from the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries.