The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), Maria Ascensão Pinto, revealed on Wednesday in Maputo that Mozambique loses between 60 and 70 million dollars every year due to illegal fishing.

Speaking at the opening of the Global Forum of the EAF-Nansen Program, she said that the issue of illegal fishing deserves in-depth reflection.

She noted that fishing, especially small-scale fishing, contributes 98% of the total national catch and employs more than 90% of fishermen and fishing workers.

"Our sector has been recognized as a powerful generator of employment and income, stimulating the growth of various subsidiary industries," she said, quoted by AIM.

On the other hand, the ministerial portal states that the EAF-Nansen program has developed tools to facilitate the management of fisheries resources, in line with the ecosystem approach to fisheries in the partner countries.

The secretary said that the biggest challenge now is the responsible use of marine resources in order to protect biodiversity for future generations.