Role of blue economy for growth in Tanzania explained

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By putting proper mechanisms in place, the blue economy can play an increased role towards supporting Tanzania’s vision of becoming a middle income economy by 2025, says a deputy principal secretary from Zanzibar.

Dar es Salaam. The blue economy should not be seen as merely a way to preserve the marine ecosystems but also as a way of starting sustainable businesses because it can play an important role in transforming Tanzania into a middle-status economy.

This was said on Thursday, November 15, during the national consultation on sustainable blue economy conference by the deputy principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries Development of Zanzibar, Dr Islam Seif Salum.

Blue economy means sustainable use of the marine resources for economic growth.

"The potentials of the marine and coastal environment in the country does not only rely on fisheries but also on other sectors such as maritime transport, coastal tourism, natural gas, and mariculture, to which we can all agree that have contributed significantly towards national socio-economic development," he said.

According to him, the fisheries sector contributes around 2.6 per cent of Zanzibar’s GDP and provides substantial employment, income, livelihoods, foreign earnings and revenue to the country.

The industry also directly employs more than 200,000 people, while more than 4,000,000 others benefit from the sector.

The deputy principal secretary said despite efforts made by the government to support the blue economy, including policies, there is a need to reactivate and give added momentum towards promoting the concept of that economy in practical and tangible terms.

He said, “This can best be achieved through holistic multi-sectoral planning, judicious investment, effective engagement of the private sector, and involvement of key players and stakeholders".

Further he stated that Tanzania has made considerable stride towards sustainable coastal and marine governance through development and implementation of various policies and strategies including Integrated Coastal environment Management Strategy in Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland.

Promotion of marine planning tools such as marine spatial planning was also a milestone to the blue economy in the country where by training on marine spatial planning have been conducted to various stakeholders.