Kinshasa, June 24th, 2026 (CPA).- Fish in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was presented on Wednesday as a strategic commodity, accessible to all and a source of income for the Congolese people by the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock during celebrations marking National Fish Day, observed annually on June 24th. “For the Congolese people, fish remains a strategic commodity because of its accessibility to all and its role as a source of income. It therefore deserves special attention, to the extent that it is only fitting to dedicate National Fish Day to the producers of this commodity,” declared Jean-Pierre Tshimanga. According to the minister, fisheries and aquaculture had long been regarded as subsistence activities and fallback occupations, practiced mainly for survival and without substantial government support for their development.
This trend, he said, is being reversed through the new vision of “the revenge of the soil over the subsoil” advocated by the President of the Republic and implemented by the Prime Minister, serving as a guiding framework and renewed impetus for the development of fisheries and aquaculture as productive sectors. “Thus, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock serves as the spearhead for the implementation and popularization of the vision of the President of the Republic, Head of State,” he added. Mr. Tshimanga recalled that, following instructions from the President of the Republic and under the supervision of the Prime Minister, National Fish Day is celebrated on a rotational basis across the provinces. The objective, he noted, is to enable the government to engage directly with fish producers and discuss the effective implementation of the national program aimed at improving food and nutritional security for the Congolese population. Within this operational framework, fish producers from Tshopo, Kongo Central, Tanganyika and the city of Kinshasa, as privileged partners of the government, have held fruitful exchanges with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock during previous editions regarding the future of fisheries and aquaculture in the DRC. The minister further indicated that, in the same spirit, the government has resolved to meet fish producers in the seven territories of Equateur Province to deliver the Head of State’s message and strengthen collaboration with local stakeholders. According to him, this approach reflects the government’s commitment to ushering in a new era of good governance in the productive sectors of fisheries and aquaculture, genuinely serving the Congolese people. To this end, the ministry places particular emphasis on strengthening the capacities of services responsible for collecting, processing and compiling fisheries and aquaculture data. These services are expected to evolve into a national observatory, a key tool for monitoring, evaluation and development planning in fisheries and aquaculture, sectors capable of generating employment and wealth. The Democratic Republic of the Congo celebrates National Fish Day every June 24th. The 59th edition is being commemorated under the theme: “Fisheries and Aquaculture, Untapped Sources of Employment and Wealth.”