Title: Management of a new fleet for expansion of fisheries in Cape Verde Islands: a feasibility study

A new fleet has been acquired by the Government of Cape Verde with the objective of taking advantage of the unexploited harvest potential of fish stock in the Cape Verde EEZ. The status of available fish stocks in Cape Verdean waters and the catching potential are analysed in this study. Available data indicates that there is expanding scope only for tuna. Different possible operating scenarios are then inventoried and the status of available fish stocks to Cape Verdean fisheries and their expansion potential are studied. The results indicate that there is substantial scope for expanding fishing for small pelagic species in Senegal and for small pelagic and demersal species in the Angolan EEZ, where free fishing licenses are available to Cape Verdean fisheries. To see how the profitability of the fishing operation may change, sensitivity analyses are conducted by using different catch, sale prices, value of crew share and fuel price (main consumption). A loan amortization schedule is made to show how the loan will be repaid. The results are discussed and recommendations concerning the way of running the fleet are made to the government.