Gabon launches artisanal fishing support centre
A new support centre in Donguila will assist 700 to 800 Gabonese fishermen with financing and social coverage.
Gabon's government is launching a program to support artisanal fishing, starting with a new support centre under construction in Donguila. Minister of Fisheries Georges Christian Waza visited the site on November 7, 2026, to inspect progress and discuss new support mechanisms for 700 to 800 Gabonese fishermen. This initiative aims to formalise fishing activities and improve access to financing, social coverage, and regulatory compliance.
The minister met with fishermen in Donguila, Estuaire province, to explain the new support system. Representatives from the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the National Agency for Investment Promotion, the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund, the National Social Security Fund, and the Bank for Commerce and Entrepreneurship of Gabon were present. They provided information on administrative, financial, and social procedures to help fishermen formalise their activities and access benefits.
This program, part of the national gabonisation of artisanal fishing, will expand to Cocobeach, Gamba, and Mayumba after Donguila. The initiative seeks to structure the sector, which faces challenges in formalisation and requires fishermen to declare their catches and sell them in approved centres.