Several artisanal fishermen along the Coast, through their own
initiative, have started using the Global Positioning System (GPS)
device, it has been learnt.
Mr Mjanga Ali, a Captain of a fishing vessel which operates on the
Indian Ocean, said in Dar es Salaam this week that the device costs
between 180,000/- and 250,000/- if bought depending on its make. If
obtained in Europe or US it will cost more.
Fishermen in Zanzibar and Tanga have also confirmed that they have
started using the device. So far most of the fishermen can only use it
to record the distance between two points. It can be used to earmark a
location by recording the latitude and longitude of the location, said
a fisherman who always uses it in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Fidelis Ntima, Fisheries Officer at Magogoni fish market in Dar es
Salaam, said GPS has brought relief to fishermen. We will propose to
the ministry to find a way to support these new developments among the
fishermen, he said. Since most of the artisanal fishermen vessels were
small in size, they are always susceptible to high tides which can wreck
the boat, hence, the need to know exactly the spot they want to go for
fishing to avoid such calamities, according to him.
He added most of the small scale fishermen could only reach fishing
grounds in a distance of 12 nautical miles. Tanzania fishing territory
extends to 200 nautical miles. The coastal area extends from Tanga to
Mtwara and covers over 800km. Speaking to the ‘Daily News on Saturday’
at Kunduchi suburb in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, the Captain’ said
that it was a major breakthrough for them to be able to use the device.
He said that virtually around the world many sailors use GPS for
determining the speed, compass heading and estimated time of arrival.
He admitted that many sailors do not know how to use their GPS functions
to maximize their windward performance.
Most sailors will place Way Points in their GPS of the marks of the
course or their harbour entrance destination, he added. He therefore
urges the need for the training of artisanal fisherman on other
utilities in the GPS so as to maximize its usage. Another expert in
using GPS, Mr Abdul Wahaabi, who has worked in the Middle East in the
fishing industry, said that most sailors will place Way Points in
their GPS.
Most GPSs use similar terminology; the discussion should apply to all
units. Several cheap Garmin GPS 72 units use their screens to illustrate
the technique, he said. However, he advised that for such skills to be
available to the fishermen, it needs support to train them and import
such gadgets, calling for fisheries to popularize the device use among
the artisanal fishermen’.
These gadgets which are very helpful to the artisanal fishermen as per
their testimonies are not available in the local market, thus, making
them too expensive for them once imported, he remarked. Some boat
owners have said that it was worth investing in GPS given the risks that
fishermen face in the sea.
We are talking in terms of 17 to 20 people on board fishing boat which
puts them at risk if they are not aware of the climate conditions, he
said. He also said that the value of a boat is over 8m/-, that means a
serious financial risk that boat owners are undertaking.
If a boat has GPS it minimizes some of the risks since the captain can
calculate the speed and direction the boat should take to avoid high
tides and winds, he said, adding, otherwise the boat will be wrecked.
Mr Mohammed Hassan who is a resident of Kunduchi said that he had
advised the government to impart knowledge on operating in the sea to
artisanal fishermen. It is unfortunate that some fishermen go on
fishing without any knowledge about the sea, he said.
2012 DailyNews Online Edition