DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 19 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed fisheries stakeholders to join forces in the fight against illegal fishing and protect water bodies especially Lake Victoria whose fish productivity has declined.
The Premier issued the directives here on Thursday in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Mashimba Ndaki, at the opening of a meeting which brought together various stakeholders.
The participants of the meeting included among others, Regional Commissioners, District Commissioners, District Executive Directors, Council chairpersons and other fisheries stakeholders from the Lake Zone.
He said that illegal fishing has a huge impact on the economy, natural resources and environment such as decline in fish production.
The PM said that scientific research conducted in Lake Victoria in 2021 through Lake Victoria Fisheries Institution showed that Nile perch species have dropped from 1,024,623 tonnes in 2020 to 499,398 tonnes in 2021, which is equivalent to 50 per cent.
He said Lake Victoria is known for having a variety of fish species but most of them are at risk of extinction due to illegal fishing and environmental degradation.
Majaliwa directed the RCs, DCs, DEDs and other government executives to ensure that they contain such illegal fishing practices in their respective areas.
He said that the task to contain illegal fishing must be overseen by leaders from regional to village levels, stressing that they will be assessed based on the supervision and safety of fisheries resources.
Majaliwa directed that each DED must set aside 5 per cent of their revenue generated from the fisheries sector for strengthening the safety of fisheries resources based on government guidelines.
The Premier said that illegal fishing can be contained if all people engaged in the sector can adhere to the country’s laws, policies and regulations.
He underscored that regular meetings to remind fishermen on sustainable fishing, the use of authorised fishing equipment, regular patrol by police and environmental conservation are crucial in curbing illegal fishing.
“Illegal fishing such as the use of monofilament net, 90 watts battery and solar powered bulb which emit intense heat radiation, harvesting fishes below six inches and the like affect the fishery sector,” he said.
“Currently, the fisheries sector contributes 18 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with 5 million people employed in the sector, ending illegal fishing is a must in order to scale up our economic growth,” the PM said.
Ndaki further said that the government has set aside 60bn/- for empowering small-scale fishermen and those engaging in aquaculture growth and purchase of fishing boats among others.
He said the amount will also be used for construction of seven markets, ice production machines and equipment for dying small fish in order to reduce loss of fishery products and add value to the products.
The minister further said that the government has set aside another 50bn/- for construction of a modern fishing port in Kilwa Masoko, Lindi Region.
He noted that the construction of the port has already started.
For his part, Tanzania Industrial Fishing and Processors Association’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Onesmo Sulle urged the government to support fish processors so that they can smoothly take the lead in fish products value addition, securing both local and international markets.
Sulle said any delay of the government to end illegal processing might disappoint investors due to the fact that only few tonnes of fish will reach them and hence operating at loss.
Equally, the Representative for Fishers in Lake Zone, Augustino Gimasa urged the government to set indicative prices because price fluctuation has made the market unpredictable. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
