DILI, 19 july 2022 (TATOLI) – Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Acacio Guterres, said Timor – Leste has not had industrial fishing vessels since its independence until now, therefore the government’s MAF has opened a tender for the purchase of fishing vessels.
“We don’t have industrial fishing vessels, therefore the MAF Government has allowed foreign companies to operate in the fishing sector, but they usually violate TL fishing regulations, therefore the Government decided to end their contracts,” Guterres told Tatoli in his office, Comoros, today.
Based on this experience, MAF has decided to open a new tender for companies wishing to provide fishing vessels to Timor-Leste, to explore the sea and carry out fishing activities.
“We have opened a tender for the company to provide us with two units of industrial fishing vessels, both of which will be permanently owned by Timor-Leste to carry out operations in the Timor-Leste sea and carry out fishing activities,” he said.
With the operation of these two fishing industry vessels, MAF has collaborated with the Secretary of Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) to recruit Timor-Leste workers who have experience working in the South Korean fishing industry.
“We have worked closely with SEFOPE to hire Timorese workers who have returned from South Korea and have experience in the fishing industry,”
Guterres confirmed that the two vessels will be equipped with integrated equipment and each ship will be operated by 25 people as well as training crew members before the two industrial fishing vessels carry out operations.
Journalist: camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia Borges
