Monday 24 February 2025 
The Minister of Fisheries and Fishery Products, Hicham Sofiane Salaouatchi, is carrying out a pioneering experiment with the aim of upgrading his sector, in order to increase fish production, paying attention to the situation of fishermen in terms of security and social security, in addition to the development of fishing methods through the introduction and construction of large fishing vessels in Algeria, as well as the generalization of aquaculture within the country.
Minister Salaouatchi has begun to provide facilities to professionals in the sector, by studying the operation to finalize the settlement of their social status linked to social security, so that they can benefit from the measures and exemptions provided for in Order No. ° 21 – 12, which includes exceptional measures for the benefit of employees and non-employees carrying out an activity for their own account and liable for contributions.
In this context, the departments of the ministry, at national and local level, with representatives of all the social security funds, have studied the current situation through each department and accelerated the operation of studying the files pending before the end deadline set for January 31.
With regard to the expansion of shipbuilding activity along the coastal strip, the joint ministerial commission which was created in accordance with the instructions issued by the President of the Republic, during the Council of Ministers held on November 21, 2021 , decided to support applications for real estate filed by shipbuilding and repair companies, as 37 applications were filed for real estate at the central and local level, of which 15 were approved for the allocation of designated real estate.
In this context, the Fishing Ports Management Company and the operators involved in the fishing activity have concluded 12 agreements for the construction of fishing vessels over 35 meters in length.
Also, 11 requests were initially approved, with the aim of allocating bases at the level of activity zones located near the coast, and 11 other requests will be taken care of at the end of the operation to determine real estate to be assigned.
At the last government meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aïmene Benabderrahmane, a draft executive decree was presented which defines the conditions and procedures for establishing benchmarks on board vessels prepared and equipped for fishing, in order to modernize fishing practices at sea and to secure fishermen in the event of unfortunate events at sea.
This draft text comes in application of the law amending and supplementing law n° 01-11 relating to fishing and aquaculture, which obliges vessels intended for fishing to be equipped with a site identification beacon.
It is linked to the implementation of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), aimed at protecting and preserving fisheries resources, which will be mandatory for certain types of fishing vessels.
Ahmed Achour