Luanda – Angola hosted the International Conference on Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (CIPAS 2025) on 4 November, 2025, bringing together regional and international leaders to discuss responsible fishing practices and the development of the Blue Economy in Southern Africa. The event coincided with Angola’s 50th independence anniversary and carried the theme “Responsible Fishing and Sustainable Aquaculture: a Challenge, a Commitment, a Mission Uniting the Nation.”
The conference was officially opened by Angola’s Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Dr. José de Lima Massano. Key discussions centred on the need for regional collaboration to manage shared marine resources effectively, with Angola taking a leading role in fostering collective action.
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms. Angele Makombo N’Tumba, participated as a panellist in the plenary session on Sustainable Fisheries, Climate, and International Cooperation. She noted the richness of the region’s marine ecosystems while warning of threats such as overfishing, illegal fishing, habitat degradation, climate change, and limited access to sustainable financing and technology. She stressed that sustainable fisheries and aquaculture are essential for economic resilience, social inclusion, and environmental preservation.
Other contributors included Angola’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr. Carmen Sacramento Nato, and Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Albano Vicente Lopes Ferreira. Representatives from Spain’s fisheries sector and international partners discussed strategies for cooperation and the adoption of sustainable practices.
Conference discussions underscored the importance of inclusive governance, calling for the active participation of local communities, fisherfolk, women, and civil society in decision-making processes. Building capacity and maintaining transparency were identified as key to managing marine resources equitably and sustainably.
SADC Secretariat acknowledged support from partners, including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through GIZ, in advancing the Global Programme for Sustainable Aquatic Food as part of transforming agricultural and food systems in Southern Africa.
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