There are no plans by the government of Tanzania to ban Nile perch fishing on Lake Victoria because of the social and economic impact of such a move, according to the Fisheries and Livestock Development Minister, Dr Titus Kamani.
Dr Kamani, speaking to the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, dismissed press reports linking his ministry with the proposed ban as unfounded, stressing however that he was determined to stop illegal fishing on Lake Victoria.
“We have no plans to ban Nile perch fishing nor any other species of fish on Lake Victoria because of the resulting social and economic impact on an estimated four million people who depend on fishing,” Dr Kamani noted.
He pointed out that imposing a six-month ban is a short sighted measure that may likely backfire because hundreds of people working in processing factories will lose jobs, Nile Perch market will be lost and illegal fishing will likely prevail.
“When we stop fishing, the market will be lost because a substitute product will take over, what will happen to the factories during the six months?”
Dr Kamani wondered saying any one advocating for the ban is not realistic. Tanzania own over 50 percent of the lake followed by Uganda which has 43 percent and Kenya six percent.
Experts warn that illegal fishing is threatening existence of Nile perch which is mostly exported to Europe hence urging authorities to impose six-month ban annually for five years starting this year.
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization is said to be behind the campaign to impose the ban but there is growing resistance among the three governments on the move which will hurt local industries and fishing communities.
The LVFO wants the EAC to impose the ban but Dr Kamani argued that the latest meeting of Fisheries Ministers from the five member countries bloc did not discuss anything relating to the subject.
“My deputy attended the meeting two weeks ago and nothing relating to banning Nile perch fishing came up,” the Minister argued.
According to LVFO, the lake produces a fish catch of over 800,000 tonnes annually, currently worth about US $590 million of which US $340 million is generated at the shore and a further US$ 250 million a year is earned in exports from the Nile perch fishery.
The lake fisheries support almost two million people with household incomes and meet the annual fish consumption needs of almost 22 million people in the region.
An LVFO Frame Survey of 2012 established that indicated an upward trend in number of fishermen and fishing craft compared to 2010.
“In 2010 the number of fishers decreased by 2.5 percent fishing craft by 4.3 percent, gillnets of less than 5 inches (Illegal) by 23.5 percent, gillnets of above 5 inches (legal) by 12.1 percent and number of length sizes 4-7 and 8-10 by 11.3 percent and 2.7 percent respectively while in 2012 all these parameter presented an upward trend,” the survey report stated.
The number of fishers increased by 5.7 percent, fishing craft by 7.7 percent, gillnets of less than 5 inches (Illegal) by 26.2 percent, gillnets of more than 5 inches (legal) by 17.5 percent and number of longlines sizes of less than 4, 4-7, and over 10 by 227.8 percent, 8.6 percent and 35.9 percent respectively.
“Nearly all the illegal gears increased. beach seines increased by 16.9 percent, monofilaments by a record 113.8 percent and cast nets by 21.0 percent but traps/baskets decreased by 26.9 percent.
These destructive gears affect mainly the juveniles and brooders because they are operated in breeding/nursery grounds,” the LVFO report noted.
“We know the problem of illegal fishing and we are working hard with our partners to make sure that we get rid of this malpractice,” Dr Kamani noted.