The government of Togo has halted fishing and related activities at Nangbéto Lake for three months. Edem Tengue, the minister of fishing and coast protection released the halt statement noting it corresponds to the period for the biological rest of fishes.
“Biological rest, established on the lake of Nangbeto as part of sustainable management measures, aims to allow for the lake’s repopulation in halieutic resources, to ensure their sustainability for the good of the present and future generations. Anyone caught, fishing, moving, or selling products from this Lake will be sanctioned according to law,” said the official.
Aquaculture
Besides fishing, aquaculture is also practiced at the Nangbéto Lake. The Aquaculture Development Project of Togo (PDAT) was deployed there and CFA380 million have been spent under this project, to provide fish farmers with the equipment they need to produce more tilapia. Up till April 2022, this investment has helped produce nearly 30 tons of tilapia for the local market.
Fishing remains relatively unimportant, in part because of the country’s limited territorial waters. Production, mostly by small operators employing pirogues, amounted to an estimated 22,227 tons in 2000; about 65% of that was caught in Atlantic waters and the rest inland. Almost all fish is sold smoked or dried. A new fishing quay has been constructed at Lomé, and a joint Libyan-Togolese fishing company has been established. Togo imports fish from Europe and its West African neighbors.
