The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a USD 22 million (EUR 18.4 million) grant to support a fisheries project in São Tomé and Príncipe that pushes the island nation closer to achieving its seafood production goals.
The project has several components, including the rehabilitation of multipurpose fish landing wharves, improving small-scale fishing boats, and enhancing cold storage capabilities.
For instance, the multipurpose fishing ports of Neves, Porto Alegre, and Chimaelo "will be completely rehabilitated, as these are critical hubs connecting fishing communities to markets and support maritime connectivity across the islands," AfDB said in a release.
Small-scale fishers will soon get their hands on at least 400 climate-resilient fiberglass vessels, which will replace aging wooden dugout canoes, curbing deforestation and dramatically improving safety, catch efficiency, and income potential for artisanal fishers.
Elsewhere, the project will provide six refurbished cold storage facilities, four refrigerated trucks to reduce currently high levels of post-harvest losses, and establish a link for fresh quality fish products to reach urban markets.
"By rehabilitating essential port infrastructure, equipping fishers with modern fiberglass vessels, and strengthening the entire fish value chain, the Bank Group is addressing immediate food security needs and building long-term economic resilience in one of Africa's nations with the most untapped Blue Economy potential," said Pietro Toigo, AfDB’s country manager for Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The financing will come from the AfDB’s Transition Support Facility (TSF) Prevention Window, which the bank established in 2008 to provide additional concessional resources to African countries facing situations of fragility and conflict.
By 2030, fish production in São Tomé and Príncipe is expected to increase from 15,000 metric tons (MT) to 25,000 MT, and the country also aims to reduce post-harvest losses from 4,800 MT to 2,500 MT. Additionally, the nation aims to increase earnings for artisanal fishers from EUR 2,000 (USD 2,394) to EUR 2,500 (USD 2,993) annually via "enhanced value chains and market access," according to the AfDB.
"This project represents a critical investment in the resilience and prosperity of São Tomé and Príncipe," Toigo said.
The project comes soon after São Tomé and Príncipe signed a new fisheries protocol with the E.U.
Under the protocol, signed last October, commercial fishing vessels from the E.U. will be allowed to harvest roughly 6,500 MT of tuna and other species annually for the next four years. In return, the E.U. will provide financial support to the tune of EUR 825,000 (USD 965,720) annually to help develop São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing sector. E.U. vessel owners will also be required to pay a licensing and catch fee of EUR 86 (USD 101) for each MT of fish they harvest.
“This protocol reinforces our shared commitment to responsible, sustainable fisheries and shows the power of cooperation in preserving the ocean,” E.U. Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadi said after the protocol was finalized. “Together, we secure the future of our shared resources, supporting local communities and ecosystems. Our collaboration sets a model for sustainable fishing that benefits all and fosters long-term ecological and economic resilience.”
