Why has fishing not reached its full economic potential in Comoros?

Although Comoros is an island nation where fishing should logically be a cornerstone of the market economy, the industry remains limited to a small scale.1

The primary reasons this sector has not reached its full economic potential include:

• Foreign Exploitation: While the waters surrounding the islands are abundant in tuna, these resources have historically been harvested largely by European Union countries rather than by the local industry.1
• Economic Constraints: The country is one of the world's poorest, with an economy heavily reliant on subsistence agriculture and foreign aid. This lack of capital and infrastructure prevents the development of a more robust, commercial-scale fishing industry.12

While local fishermen do derive some income from catching coelacanth fish, the sector has yet to transition into a significant driver of the national economy.1