Fishing in Mozambique us a licensed sport. In this article we will take you through the steps needed to get a fishing license. It is quite an easy process but there are a few caveats that are important to know.

The Process

1. Recreational fishing licences are issued by ADNAP (the ministry of fisheries). They have more than one office in Maputo but the one you need is inside the fishing port (not the cargo port). This location will take you to the gate of the fishing port.
2. At the gate, you tell the guy you are going to ADNAP and he will direct you to the ADNAP office – first road on your left as you drive in. Having turned left, it is the last building on your left before the road curves (pin). You can park outside the building on the road.
3. Go inside the building, turn left down the corridor and left again into the first office. It’s a small office with just a couple of people in it but they will help you with the fishing licence. When I went in, there was a gentleman who spoke very good English but Portuguese will definitely help.
4. You need your DIRE and, preferably, a card to make payment. They can take cash but prefer cards.
5. You can purchase a monthly, quarterly or annual licence here.
6. They will also give you a link to the fishing limits if you ask them (Pages 14 and 15 give you the fishing size and number restrictions).

Caveats

An annual licence runs from Jan to Dec every year and will cost the same regardless of when you purchase it.
Fishing licences are only valid in the province where they are purchased.