Fisheries: funding and regulation

Fishing in Cape Verde: Funding, Regulation and Opportunities 2026

The fisheries sector is one of the traditional pillars of the Cape Verdean economy and one of the areas of modernisation offering the greatest potential for returns, both for the domestic market and for exports.

Regulatory landscape

Fishing in Cape Verde is regulated by the Directorate-General for Fisheries (DGP) and by the IMar Institute of the Sea, in accordance with the Sectoral Plan for Fisheries and the quota and licensing scheme:

• Fishing licence: Mandatory for domestic and foreign vessels. Categorised by fishing gear, tonnage and area of operation.
• Shipowner’s licence: Registration of the vessel’s owner and the person responsible for its operation.
• Export authorisation: For species subject to origin and sustainability controls (e.g. lobster, cavaia).

Sector funding

Fisheries financing has certain distinctive features compared with traditional credit:

1. Purchase of vessels: Funding for capex with a charge on the vessel itself and compulsory hull insurance.
2. Fishing equipment:Gear, sonar, refrigeration systems. These can be financed through leasing or medium-term credit.
3. Working capital: Working capital credit for fuel, ice, crew wages and maintenance. Typically short-term and renewable.
4. Ground-based infrastructure: Cold stores, processing facilities (filleting, freezing), warehouses. Eligible for investment funding and, in specific cases, for rural development/international funds.

Sustainability and certification

Access to European and North American markets requires compliance with sustainable fishing standards:

• Traceability: Traceability system from catch to consumer (catch-to-plate).
• MSC certification:Marine Stewardship Council, which is still in its infancy in Cape Verde but is growing in the premium export sector.
• IUU control: Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Compliance is a prerequisite for access to international markets and economic partnership agreements.

Investment opportunities

• Aquaculture: Rearing of species in a controlled environment (e.g.: sea bream, sea bass, sea urchin) with less pressure on wild stocks.
• Processing and value-adding: Fish processing plants for export, creating jobs and retaining value within the region.
• Recreational fishing and tourism:Big-game fishing e sport fishing as a high-value niche tourism segment.

Conclusion

The fisheries sector in Cape Verde requires a balanced approach that takes into account sector-specific regulations, access to specialised financing and the demands of the international market. Investors who align these three aspects will find themselves in a market with structured demand and defensible barriers to entry.

Organise the financing and licensing for your fishing project