Pescamar takes an active part in fishing research in Mozambique. Every year it puts one outrigger trawler at the disposal of the IIP (Fisheries Research Institute) for them to undertake a research cruise. This cruise has the main purposes of both establishing the prawn biomass and drawing conclusions about fishing-ground management.
Apart from the research cruise, Pescamar regularly cooperates with the Oceanographic Institute in oceanic data gathering, several technicians going aboard the fleet vessels throughout the year.
In 2010 an agreement was reached with the IIP to help with a pot vessel to assess the deep-sea lobster (Palinurus delagoae) biomass.
A four-month closed season, from November to February, has been established to allow stock-reproduction and, therefore, a sustainable exploitation of resources.
The law forbids fishing prawns in breeding areas, estuaries and rivers, so preserving the resource.
Vessels carry a satellite-monitoring device to control vessels within fishing areas.
Every ten years, the daily catch records -including position and catch composition- are sent.
In line with this, unloading is monitored by competent authorities from the Fishing and Health Administration.
Catch and healthcare certificates are issued to attest that the output does not come from illegal fishing (IUU) and that it complies with the EU healthcare requirements.
Fish which make up the prawn bycatch are frozen and sold in the company shops. Thus the company contributes to the country’s food security and the throwing of unwanted fish is avoided.
Prawn fishery in Mozambique is closed to the entry of new operators.
Licenses and fishing quotas are provided by the Mozambican authorities.