Tanzania will this June be host to the Africa Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit. This will be the first time the summit is held in the country. [Photo/Citizen]
Over 4 million Tanzanians are employed in fisheries, which contribute about 1.4 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Tanzania is among Africa’s top 10 fish producers.
Tanzania will host the Africa Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit.
Tanzania fisheries are an essential revenue generator for the country. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the fishing sector directly and indirectly provides jobs for over four million Tanzanians. Still, these small-scale fishermen are among the poorest groups in the country.
Tanzania is also reported to be one of the top 10 countries in Africa in capture fish production; however, given its size, colossal coastline, and numerous inland lakes and water bodies, Tanzania is far from reaching its fisheries’ true potential.
The Ministry estimates Tanzania’s coastline to be about 1,242 kilometres long, extending from the North bordering Kenya to the South bordering Mozambique. The country also has a territorial marine water area of about 64,000 square kilometres and an exclusive economic zone of 223,000 square kilometres.
The fishing sector is responsible for over 4 million jobs (about 35% of the 14 million in rural employment) and contributes about 1.4% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Ministry says the fisheries sector contributes about 10% of the national export earnings every year but admits it can do much, much more.
“The production has remained stagnant at around 350,000 MT per annum for almost 30 years with high overexploitation, illegal fishing, and postharvest losses,” the Ministry contends.
The World Fish Center is working with the government of Tanzania and development partners “…to maximie aquaculture production, minimise postharvest fish losses, encourage the role of fish in nutrition and enhance better management of small-scale coastal and inland fisheries.”
According to the World Fish Center Organisation, over a quarter of Tanzania’s population rely on coastal resources or inland lakes for livelihood. Over 180,000 people are directly employed in the fisheries sector, with another 19,000 estimated also to be involved in fish farming and/or aquaculture.
The organization estimates that Tanzania’s current fish production capacity is around 376,000 metric tons annually. As with all agricultural activities, around 97 per cent of Tanzania’s fish is sourced from small-scale fisheries.
The government reports that these small-scale fisheries contribute more than 90 per cent of the total annual fish landings in Tanzania. However, despite their considerably large output, small-scale fisheries remain at the low-income levels of the economy due to their informal operations.
Tanzania will host the Africa Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit.
Tanzania will this June be host to the Africa Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit. This will be the first time the summit is held in the country. [Photo/Citizen]
Tanzania will host the Africa Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit this June. This will be the first time the summit is held in the country, and Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to attend the maiden event.
According to Mr Abdallah Ulega, the Tanzania Minister in charge of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the summit is scheduled to be held from June 5th to 7th this year in Dar es Salaam.
This prestigious event will bring together fishermen from across the continent to discuss the industry’s successes, challenges, and future direction.
“In addition to shedding light on the opportunities available in the blue economy, the summit will also amplify the African voice for sustainable fisheries and shape policies for fisheries management,” the Minister said in a press statement released at the end of the week.
The Tanzania Minister for Livestock and Fisheries said, “The main reason Tanzania got this opportunity is the stable leadership of President Samia, who facilitated the ministry’s excelling implementation of the small-scale fisheries guidelines and being the first country in the world to prepare a strategic plan to execute the guidelines, a feat that made the country shine internationally.”
The Minister, who was last year invited by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to deliver a speech at the International Fisheries Conference in Italy, said this is a great opportunity for Tanzanian stakeholders.
“This summit is crucial for delegates to exchange ideas, fish out opportunities, and explore various technologies to ensure that the country takes significant steps towards the execution of the concepts of ‘Building a Better Tomorrow’ for our youth (BBT) and the blue economy,” he said.
Minister Ulega said the summit offers the country considerable economic stimulation for the hospitality sector and other service sub-sectors; hence, “hosting the summit is a privilege for us and we will reap multiple benefits.”
He said this is an opportunity for the sector’s stakeholders to expand their scope of business. In particular, “…it gives them a chance to reach the global market and creates publicity for the country’s fisheries products as well as opens up investment opportunities for the sector,” he noted.
The summit will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of implementing small-scale fisheries guidelines and the policy framework for managing Aquaculture in Africa.
The Tanzanian government will coordinate it, working closely with various international organisations, including the African Union-Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), FAO, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), to name but a few stakeholders.
Over 4 million Tanzanians are employed in fisheries. [Photo/un.org]Recently, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan outlined her government’s strategic roadmap to boost the growth of the fisheries sector.
“A key component of this initiative is the acquisition of vessels for deep-sea fishing, expressing the belief that the sector has yet to reach its maximum capacity,” President Samia announced.“Our comprehensive approach underscores the administration’s commitment to maximising the benefits of Tanzania’s fisheries sector,” the president added, noting that the fishing sector has excellent potential to increase its contribution to the national income.
She announced the upcoming construction of fishing ports in Kilwa Masoko and Bagamoyo. The establishment of fishing ports will go hand in hand with the establishment of modern fish markets. According to the president, over 200 Tanzanian youth have received special training, preparing them to take on the opportunities of the fishing industry.“In the coming year, 300 more individuals have been selected for similar training, fostering the development of businesses and companies utilising fishing resources,” she said.
President Samia told local media that her government is committed to formalising jobs in the fishing sector, “…particularly for young people and women who at the moment operate informally.”
Seconding the president, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Abdallah Ulega, announced plans to distribute 500 speed boats to youth beneficiaries in the fiscal year 2024/2025.
The Minister announced that the boats, ranging from 5 to 14 meters in length, would be equipped with fishing gear, GPS, and life jackets, much to the beneficiaries’ cheers.
The Minister also announced the allocation of funds for various fishing sector projects, including infrastructure development, markets, and model farms.
“Today we have handed out 55 boats … the direct beneficiaries come from Mwanza, Mara, Geita, Kagera, and Simiyu,” Minister Ulega detailed.
The Minister also announced the distribution of over 200 modern fishing cages, which he said would benefit more than 1,200 youth and women.
“As Tanzania strives to revitalise its fisheries sector, these initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth, job creation, and sustainable management of aquatic resources,” the Minister reiterated.
Present at the handover was Mwanza Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla, who decried the decline in fish in Lake Victoria.
According to a government study, the official estimated the decline to be 30 per cent of the lake’s original fish population.
The RC attributed the decline to illegal fishing practices, such as the use of makeshift bombs, unregulated nets, and the destruction of fishing grounds.
Giza Mdoe is an experienced journalist with 10 plus years. He's been a Creative Director on various brand awareness campaigns and a former Copy Editor for some of Tanzania's leading newspapers. He's a graduate with a BA in Journalism from the University of San Jose. Contact me at giza.m@mediapix.com
