RUKWA ,Kalambo : FISHERMEN have been urged to refrain from illegal fishing and instead they should support the government’s efforts in protecting water bodies for the country to benefit more from the blue economy.
The call was made on Thursday by the leader of Uhuru Torch, Mr Abdallah Shaibu Kaim shortly after launching two speed boats worth some 300m/- at Kasanga Port on the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika in Kalambo District.
The event was witnessed by hundreds of citizens from the precinct.
He also asked local government authorities to take strong measures in curbing leakages of revenues being collected and ensure proper supervision of development projects on various sectors.
“The government will continue putting strategies and allocating budget for implementation of various development projects in a move to improve access to social services.
Illegal fishing has a huge impact on the economy, natural resources and environment, such as decline in fish production,” he cautioned.
He went ahead to say that the task to contain illegal fishing must be overseen by leaders from regional to village levels, stressing that they will be assessed based on the supervision and safety of fisheries resources.
“Illegal fishing can be contained if all people engaged in the sector can adhere to the country’s laws, policies and regulations,” he said.
Kalambo District Council Executive Director, Mr Shafi Mpenda briefed the leader of Uhuru Torch Mr Kaim that the purchased of two speeding boat cost some 108.5m/- each.
“These marine vehicles will help efficiency on fisheries and curb illegal fishing and expand base of domestic revenue collections as they will help on rescue in marine accidents on Lake Tanganyika during hostile weather pattern,” he explained.
Fishery experts recount that illegal fishing such as the use of monofilament nets, 90 watts battery and solar powered bulbs which emit intense heat radiation, harvesting fishes below six inches and the like affects the sector.
Currently, the fisheries sector contributes 18 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with 5 million people employed in the sector, therefore ending illegal fishing is a must in order to scale up our economic growth.
