Encouraging activities undertaken to upgrade the skill of traditional fishermen

– Encouraging activities were carried out over the past 20 years towards upgrading the fishing skill of traditional fishermen, according to Mr. Tewolde Woldemichael, director general of marine resources development department in the Ministry of Marine Resources. Assab, 28 April 2011 – Encouraging activities were carried out over the past 20 years towards upgrading the fishing skill of traditional fishermen, according to Mr. Tewolde Woldemichael, director general of marine resources development department in the Ministry of Marine Resources. 

He explained that vocational training programs have been given to 3,000 traditional fishermen regrouped in 37 village cooperatives. Besides, boats and other necessary fishing tools have been extended to them, in addition to the putting in place of infrastructure facilities in their localities aimed at raising their income.

He  noted that during the 1950s and 60s, about 25,000 tones of fishes used to be exported. However, such number witnessed sharp decline due to the undermining of fishing activities and the destruction of infrastructure facilities on the part of colonial forces. Mr. Tewolde further pointed out that in the post-independence period, the Government has made substantial investment towards reactivating the sector.

Accordingly, fish storage and processing plants have been set up in Massawa, Assab, Asmara and Ti’o, in addition to fish unloading facilities in Gelalo, Edie and Berasole, as well as those for fish storage and jetty. Moreover, Mr. Tewolde explained that the newly renovated ice producing factory has a capacity of producing up to 50 tones of ice daily, and that the boat manufacturing plant in Haleb has already manufactured 65 boats of different sizes. 

He also outlined future action programs of the department aimed at strengthening fishing activities and boosting fish products.