The government of Tanzania is planning to build three fishing harbours that will, among other issues, monitor commercial fishing in the country. Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ here last week, the Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development, Mr Benedict Ole Nangoro, said the three fishing harbours will be built in Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Lindi or Mtwara. Although he did not disclose how much the project will cost, he said the government will ensure it is implemented within the next four years, using local funds or loans from financial institutions.
Mr Ole Nangoro who was attending the 8th African Development Forum (ADF VIII) here, said although the country has made some strides in the fishing industry, it still faces a number of challenges including lack of current data on fish. He noted that although there is a database managed by the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) and the Tanzania Deep Sea Fishing Authority, headquartered in Zanzibar, the data is not current, to enable proper monitoring of commercial fishing in the country.
“With fishing harbours across the major coastal cities in the country, it will be easier to monitor commercial fishing, because they will have to go through the harbours to get the fishing licences and also once they have their catch, to ensure it is the right type and amount agreed,” he explained.
He noted that with such tools in place, it will be much easier for the government to ensure conditions in the fishing industries are adhered to, as well as monitoring of the amount of fish obtained from the sea and lakes across the country. Not involving other security organs in the country, such as police in controlling illegal fishing is another challenge facing the fishing industry in the country, Mr Olenangoro explained.
“We need to ensure security organs in the country are involved in curbing illegal fishing, like what Norway has done, looking at illegal fishing in a broader sense and bringing in law enforcement organs to work together to address the issue, including Interpol,” he explained. The deputy minister noted that challenges in the fishing industries are similar all over Africa, noting that discussions at the ADF VIII will pave way for a broader perspective in addressing the challenges.
“There have been studies conducted on the issue, policy reviews and laws, this will help the continent come up with one strategy to address challenges in the fishing industry,” he explained. In Namibia, the fisheries sector is one of the highest contributors to the nation’s economy and second to the mining sector in terms of exports.
The Director of Policy, Planning and Economics in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Namibia, Ms Anna Erastus, told delegates at the ADF VIII meeting in a topic “Harnessing Fisheries Resources; swimming the tide of Africa’s Development,” noted that Namibia’s fishing grounds of 200 nautical miles are amongst the most productive in the world.
“Over 20 commercially important fish species are landed using various fishing methods and to prevent over-exploitation and to promote economic viability in the industry. Management of commercial fisheries is based on a system by which rights are granted, total allowable catch are set based on research results and quotas are issued to rights holders,” Ms Erastus explained.
She noted that Namibia has also embarked on the development of aquaculture in order to create employment for Namibians, reduce poverty and increase economic growth, adding that the country’s management system has evolved over the years serving the country well in terms of monitoring, control, surveillance and stock rebuilding.
“We also make it a condition that 60 per cent of the crew on commercial fishing vessels should be Namibians, a move that has continued to ensure employment opportunities,” she explained.
Actualité Afrique – Africa News 2012