Tanzania Wants To Make More Money From Tuna Resources ff

Tanzania is blessed with a myriad of economic opportunities on land and at sea, and in the services sectors. Some economic analysts coin Tanzania as the ‘economic sleeping giant’ in terms of its potential for growth.

Tanzania’s mainland has over 200 types of gemstones and over 200 types of gemstones and base metals of iron, zinc, lead and copper, as well as strategic minerals of uranium, platinum, coltan and oil. All these remain mostly un-recovered due to previous policies that restrained the sector in favor of developing an agrarian Tanzania.

At sea, particularly along its 800-plus-km coast line and its 223,000 sq km exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Tanzania economic potential is bountiful. It has the potential for ‘fishing’ billions of dollars in catches of tuna fish and various types of fish that fetch millions of dollars in the world market.

However, so far the biggest beneficiaries have been foreign fishing companies estimated at about 70 at any one time, with most of them conducting business illegally. Others have fake permits from Tanzania government officials to catch fish in Tanzania waters.

Sources in government say recently, under the new ‘zeal and courage’ of President Jakaya Kikwete, some 60 foreign fish trawlers have been sent off and fined for fishing illegally. Most of the fishing ships have fish factories on board. They catch, process and export without the government knowledge because of the country’s inability to patrol its waters.

A few years ago, the South African Navy assisted Tanzania to chase away illegal fishing boats, but the latter are said to have returned when the SA Navy ended its operation.

Statistics from the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources show that in 2005 tuna fish season, some 78 fishing vessels were license to catch fish at a fee of $18,000 per vessel. This is pittance when compared to millions worth catches they illegally export to Europe and Asian markets.

Recent hopes are pinned on President Kikwete to spearhead the exploitation of marine resources that are set to earn Tanzania $20million annually just from the EEZ in the next six years. The real extent of marine benefits will come after conducting World Bank sponsored country-wide study of the fish biomass, abundance and related parameters in Tanzania’s 223,000square-kilometres EEZ whose potential has never been scientifically established.

Dr. Magnus Ngoile, the project leader of the Marine and Coastal environment Project (MACEMP) says Tanzania has to invest well over $60 million in the six-year project to assess near and off shore fish stocks in order for Tanzania’s maximize marine resources potential.

What is required for harvest handsomely would be to enable its thousands of small fishermen with knowledge and equipment to undertake the economic activity with competence and modernity. It would also be advisable for Tanzania to welcomed foreign fishermen to join local people in exploiting the resources to pass on the technical knowledge of deep sea and inland waters fishing and to oblige them to share the financial benefits with locals.

Thus, with such enabling environment, Tanzania would join such countries as Namibia, Canada, Ireland and many others countries that prosper from water resources. It is undeniable that marine resources hold great potential to raise the incomes and living standards of millions of Tanzanians and East Africans through provision of jobs and nutritious foodstuffs.

Source: African Press