| Increase fish prices to stop illegal export-call | Send to a friend |
| Thursday, 26 January 2012 22:33 |
|
The Citizen Reporter Dar es Salaam. Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Development to focus more on increasing wholesale prices of fish to processing industries to tackle illegal exportation. This comes in the wake of revelations that fishermen illegally export large amounts of fishes to industries in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda where the prices are higher than in Tanzania. Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Charles Nyamrunda, told the PAC at Bunge offices in Dar as Salaam on Wednesday that illegal exportation of the products was rampant.But, Mr Nyamrunda noted that they have already started taking measures on the matter, including discussing with owners of the industries to raise buying prices of fish.“Currently the prices are better than previously, and some exporters now sell fish to industries within the country,” he said. Chairman of the PAC, Bariadi East MP John Cheyo (UDP), said that the country loses a lot of revenues to the illegal export of fish as the result of low prices as compared to neighbouring countries. “If we could address the issue of prices, we could have solved the problems,” he said.“Government incurrs high expenses on controlling illegal fish exports, why not address prices to encourage fishermen to sell to local industries, why shouldn’t you go in that direction as our neighbours?” he asked. He assured that the move would benefit the country in terms of revenue and income to the fishermen.On the other hand, the ministry said they introduced centres at borders to improve collection of levies on exported livestock. Mr Nyamrunda told the PAC that the move helped to tackle loopholes used by business people to escape paying levies. The country has an estimated livestock population of 17.4 million cattle, 12.5 million goats, 3.6 million sheep, 0.88 million pigs and 47 million poultry. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
