Angola has been included in the list of countries authorised to export all kinds of fishery products to the European Union (EU), said the country’s Minister of Fisheries, Victoria de Barros Neto.

The inclusion of Angola on the list follows “the upgrading of chemistry and microbiology laboratories, staff training and audits,” the Minister said in an interview with Angolan news agency Angop.

Commenting that 2014 was a positive year for the fisheries sector, Ms Barros Neto said the country recorded 396,000 tonnes of fish production last year, including artisanal, semi-industrial, industrial, marine and continental fishing.

“There were a total of 253 licensed fishing vessels that contributed to the success [last year], along with the 108 national companies involved in the sector,” said Ms Barros Neto.