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The present report is an update of all activities, at national level, related to fisheries and species under IOTC mandate, including fisheries statistics, management and research activities. In the year 2018 the total catch of IOTC species within Mozambique EEZ was 7583 tons of which 37% came from Foreign fleet and 63% came from domestic fisheries.
The total catch of distant water fishing nations composed of 32 longliners and four purse seiners in 2018, estimated at 2805 tons, was similar to the previous year figure. Yellowfin represented 56% of the catch followed by bigeye 13% and swordfish 7%. Shark species reported by this fleet represented about 1% of total catch, composed by blue shark.
The national industrial tuna fleet licensed two longline vessels, which produced a total catch of 135 tons (3% of the total domestic production for IOTC species). Compared to the catch of the year 2017 the production achieved by this fleet represented a signigficant redution of -47%. Cathes composition were dominated by yellowfin (46%) and swordfish (34%) acompanished by bigeye and dourado with 6% each. Sharks were not retained by this fleet with all being safe realised. The semi-industrial linefishery fleet of 33 vessels (14m-19m LOA) targeting primarily rocky bottom demersal fish, landed about 90 tons Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, representing 2% of the domestic catches of IOTC species . The multi-gears and multi-species artisanal sector landed 4513 tons of IOTC primary species, contributing with 94% of total IOTC species domestic landings. The 2018 prodution of this sector represented a slight reduction of -6% compared to the catch of IOTC species in the year 2017. Catch composition was dominated by Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (37%) and by frigate and bullet tunas with 44% followed by kawakawa 14%. The capture of sharks (IOTC and non IOTC sharks) by this sector is considerable and in the year 2017 was estimated at 2336 ton of which hammerhead sharks represented 71%. No update was made in 2018. The recreational and sport fishing sector, which also catches IOTC primary species, issued 3343 individual licenses in 2018. Similarlly to previous years about 90% of the licenses were issued in the southern coastal provinces where the activity is more intense. The total catch of IOTC primary species by this sector was roughly estimated around 39 tons in 2018. Data collection and reporting of fisheries statistics for this sector, including the nominal catch, is still a challenge.
To improve the knowledge about the dynamic of tuna fisheries, some tools and programs have been implemented at national level. A logbook system is in place for industrial and semi-industrial fleet and scientific observers have been regularly embarked on-board the fishing vessels. In 2018, 16 % of the total fishing days were covered by scientific observers on-board national longline vessels. Improvements in the observer program are being expected in the following years as Mozambique is willing to participate in the pilot project on regional observer scheme. For artisanal fisheries, a landing sampling scheme is in place and to continue improving the coverage and the quality of fisheries data, there are ongoing activities which include a pilot implementation of the FAO ARTFISH data collection framework. With respect to sharks, in 2018 Mozambique continued with elaboration of the NPOA-sharks, with a first draft to be delivered in 2019 throuthout a coolaboration between Mozambique government and WWF, WCS, TRAFFIC and other national agencies. For the recreational fisheries, a comprehensive update of the recreational fisheries census conducted in 2008 is planned for year 2019 in order to fill the gaps and improve the knowledge on the dynamic of the fishery.
