SAMIA@4: Tanzania’s first fishing port takes shape

TANZANIA’S fishing sector has made significant strides over the past four years under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, including the construction of the country’s first fishing port in Kilwa Masoko, Lindi Region.

The 289.5 bn/- project, currently 79 per cent complete, is expected to transform the industry by boosting deep-sea fishing and improving the livelihoods of fishing communities.

Elaborating, Chief Government Spokesperson Mr Gerson Msigwa said that the investments in the fisheries sector aim to increase the production of fishery products.

He added that the fishing port project includes the construction of wharf berths, which are 98 per cent complete, as well as an administration building and a cold storage facility for preserving fish.

“The completion of this fishing port, along with related initiatives, will enable fishing vessels operating in Tanzania’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the deep sea to dock and offload both target and non-target fish.

This will stimulate investments in fish processing factories and the development of infrastructure for fishery product storage,” Mr Msigwa said. He further said that the investment would also contribute to boosting the export of fishery products.

“The government under President Samia has invested in the construction of the largest fishing port in Kilwa. The project is progressing well and once completed and it will open up numerous economic opportunities for us. Let’s take advantage of these opportunities,” he urged.

On September 19, 2023, President Samia, laid the foundation stone for the Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port Project and distributed 160 state-ofthe-art boats to dedicated Tanzania fishermen and seaweed farmers in the region.

The Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port project is set to drive forward Tanzania’s blue economy agenda and the construction of the fishing port is expected to create over 30,000 jobs.

Once completed, it will have the capacity to process 60,000 tonnes of fish products annually, a vital step in Tanzania’s goal of augmenting its ability to tap into the lucrative deepsea fishing market.

One of the key components of the project is a fish processing facility that aims to empower local fishing communities.

Fishermen will be equipped to increase their catch from 1kg to 100kg per day. Such an increase will allow them to benefit from larger yields and improved economic prospects.

Additionally, women in the sector are expected to see increased opportunities in seaweed farming, with the capacity to grow production from 4,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes annually, according to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.

Mr Msigwa further said that between 2020 and 2024, a total of 274 fish cages worth 5.6bn/- have been loaned to 1,250 citizens. Eight groups have harvested 83.2 tonnes of fish, generating 645m/- in revenue.

The government has also distributed 160 fishing boats to 3,163 beneficiaries, of whom 1,008 are women and 2,155 are men.

Mr Msigwa noted that the export of fishery products has increased from 167, 256.16 tonnes worth 813.53 million US dollars in 2020 to 181,655.70 tonnes, valued at 878.88 million US dollars in 2024. Tanzania currently produces 472,579 tonnes of fish annually, with 429,168 tonnes coming from natural waters.

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The sector generates 3.4tri/- per year, growing at a rate of 1.9 per cent and provides direct employment to 230,000 people.

Last year, during the launch and distribution of fish cages and modern fishing boats to fishermen in the Lake Zone regions President Samia outlined the government’s strategic roadmap to boost the fisheries sector and fully unleash its potential.

A key component of this initiative is the acquisition of vessels for deep-sea fishing, expressing the belief that the sector has yet to reach its maximum capacity; President Samia also revealed government’s plans to introduce cage fish farming across all major lakes.

This comprehensive approach underscores the administration’s commitment to maximising the benefits of Tanzania’s fisheries sector. She outlined the government’s comprehensive plan to promote the fishing sector, aiming to increase its contribution to the national income.

This includes the construction of fishing ports in Kilwa Masoko and Bagamoyo, the development of modern fish markets and the identification of suitable areas for cage fishing across the country. In 2022, the Fisheries sector grew by 1.9 per cent and contributed 1.8 per cent to the national income.

In addition, the sector provides employment to over 6.0 million Tanzanians, including direct employment to 198,475 fishermen and 35,986 as aquaculture farmers. Meanwhile, Mr Msigwa noted the successes of the livestock sector under President Samia’s leadership, including a substantial increase in meat exports.

From 1,774 tonnes in 2020/2021, meat exports grew to 14,701 tonnes in 2023/2024, contributing 61.39 million US dollars to the country’s foreign reserves.

He also said that the number of certified meat processing plants for export has increased from four to seven in the 2024/2025 financial year.

“The rise in the number of meat processing plants has provided livestock farmers with a reliable market for their products, creating employment opportunities and expanding the tax base,” he said.

Mr Msigwa also underscored the importance of economic diplomacy, as Tanzanian meat is now sold in 12 countries, including Bahrain, Comoros, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. He noted that the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, in collaboration with the National Land Use Planning Commission, has allocated 11,754.4 hectares of grazing land across 48 villages.

This brings the total amount of allocated land to 3,477,865.8 hectares as of February 2025. “This initiative will help reduce conflicts between livestock keepers and other land users,” Mr Msigwa noted.