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Mixed views as govt plans to halt Lake Tanganyika fishing
Traders sort fish at Kibirizi market in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The three-month suspension is expected to come into effect on May 15 and is aimed at increasing fish reproduction, controlling illegal fishing, curbing environmental degradation and ultimately increasing productivity among fishing communities, according to Livestock and Fisheries minister Abdallah Ulega
Mwanza. The government plans to temporarily suspend fishing in Lake Tanganyika from May, prompting mixed feelings among people who are likely to be impacted by the stoppage.
The three-month suspension is expected to come into effect on May 15 and is aimed at increasing fish reproduction, controlling illegal fishing, curbing environmental degradation and ultimately increasing productivity among fishing communities, according to Livestock and Fisheries minister Abdallah Ulega.
He was addressing fisheries stakeholders during their meeting in Kigoma earlier in the week.
Mr Ulega said the decision followed a 2022 agreement among countries which border Lake Tanganyika, namely Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo and Zambia.
“Apart from suspending fishing in Lake Tanganyika, the government has also started to promote alternative economic activities to economically empower local residents. This includes guaranteeing boats and equipment for fish farming.”
Mr Ulega added that the government, through the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (Tafiri), had allocated Sh200 million to identify potential areas for fish farming.
He said Sh400 million had been released for establishing a fish breeding centre in Kigoma, which would assure fish farmers of a constant supply of fingerlings.
Players speak out
Kigoma Fishers Union chairperson Francis John, said they supported the government’s plan, which was aimed at increasing fish stocks, making fishing sustainable and addressing illegal fishing on the lake.
“We were against this plan last year because we didn’t have adequate information. Suspending fishing for a specific period is good, considering the fact that fish will increase in both size and numbers and that will assure us of sustainable productivity in the long run,” he said.
“For us, it’s better that we lose income during in this short period in order to have sustainable livelihoods in the future.”
Tanzania Fishers Union secretary Jephta Machandaro said the government’s suspension plan would help protect fish resources in the lake.
“Continuous fishing is not sustainable. It’s a global practice to suspend fishing periodically to facilitate breeding.”
However, Mr Machandaro said if he had an opportunity to advise the minister, he would suggest suspending the fishing of sardines (dagaa) only because it was a threat to fish breeding.
The suspension plan was, however, opposed by Organisation of Fishers Unions chairperson Jevenary Mtagili, who said the lake was not supposed to be closed as many people earned their living from it.
“Fishing in Lake Tanganyika should not be suspended. Fishers don’t support the plan. If you can remember, we went to Parliament last year to oppose the same plan,” he said.
Lake Tanganyika, which has a surface area of 32,900 square kilometres, is under the control of countries that surround it. Tanzania owns 13,489 square kilometres, which represent 41 percent of the lake.
According to the Livestock and Fisheries ministry, Lake Tanganyika contributed 19 percent of all fish produced in Tanzania in 2021. This was equivalent to 90,743 tonnes of fish worth Sh592.5 billion.
Last year, the government announced a three-month suspension of fishing in the lake, but withdrew the order after only 18 days.
