Govt, experts commit to enhancing fish safety, technology

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mr Shaaban Ali Othman, has emphasised the importance of “fish safety, technology and marketing” in driving the sustainable growth of Africa’s fisheries and blue economy sectors.

Mr Othman made this statement during the African Network on Fish Technology and Safety (ANFTS) meeting held in Zanzibar over the weekend.

The event, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, brought together professionals and experts from across Africa and beyond to discuss key challenges and opportunities in the fisheries sector.

The minister’s message was echoed throughout the three-day meeting, where participants called for strengthened collaboration and networking to ensure fish safety, greater adoption of technology and the identification of reliable markets for fish products.

“Our maritime area is far larger than our land area. This vast ocean, which we share with mainland Tanzania, offers immense potential for sustainable economic growth.

Fisheries, in particular, are central to our economy, contributing directly to food security, livelihoods and employment,” Mr Othman said.

He said that nearly twothirds of Zanzibar’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is tied to the blue economy and almost 99 per cent of its international trade by volume is conducted via sea.

Emerging sectors such as oil and gas, industrial fisheries, deep-sea mining and offshore renewable energy systems further underscore the vast potential of the country’s ocean-based resources.

The fisheries sector plays a crucial role in Zanzibar’s blue economy, providing food security and employment to thousands.

“The fisheries subsector employs around 63,000 people, with women comprising nearly 17.4 per cent of the workforce.

The entire fisheries value chain supports over 100,000 people, representing approximately 8.5 per cent of Zanzibar’s total workforce,” Mr Othman explained.

He also emphasised the critical role of women in fish processing and marketing, stressing the government’s commitment to promoting gender equality in the fisheries industry’s development.

“The importance of fish as a source of protein for our population cannot be overstated,” Mr Othman continued.

“In Zanzibar, the annual per capita fish consumption is 23 kilogramme—significantly higher than mainland Tanzania’s average of 7.9 kilogramme and much higher than the African average of 9.6 kilogramme.

The global recommendation for annual per capita fish consumption is 22 kilogramme.” He further noted that nearly the entire population of Zanzibar relies on fish as their primary source of protein, highlighting the sector’s vital role in both food security and economic stability.

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However, despite the importance of fisheries to Zanzibar’s economy, the sector faces challenges, including high post-harvest losses due to inadequate handling practices and limited processing infrastructure. Additionally, most fishing activities in Zanzibar are small-scale and artisanal, using traditional methods within territorial waters.

“As demand for fish products continues to rise both nationally and internationally, there is a clear need to improve our handling practices, processing capacity and value addition to meet these demands,” he said.

In response to these challenges, the Zanzibar government, under the leadership of President Dr Hussein Mwinyi, is advancing an ambitious Blue Economy agenda, with a focus on harnessing the full potential of ocean-based resources in a sustainable manner.

The agenda emphasises key sectors such as artisanal fisheries, seaweed farming, sea cucumber and mud crab farming and anchovy drying and processing.

“We are also focusing on educating our communities about the blue economy, building capacity, fostering innovation and ensuring better access to capital and markets,” Mr Othman explained.

He also mentioned the ongoing construction of a modern small pelagic fish processing plant in Zanzibar. The facility aims to reduce fish loss and support the commercialisation of small-scale pelagic fisheries, representing a significant step in addressing the sector’s most pressing challenges.

He also noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a unique opportunity to boost regional trade and urged stakeholders to leverage this and other initiatives to improve market access for African fishers.

Director of the Blue Economy Coordination Department in Zanzibar’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Ms Mondy Christopher Muhando, also addressed the meeting.

She said the importance of fisheries and aquaculture to both food security and economic development.

“This important meeting, coordinated by the FAO with support from the Zanzibar Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, provides a unique platform to address the critical challenges facing Africa’s fisheries sectors,” Ms Muhando said.

She added that the experts discussed key topics such as reducing food loss, improving food safety, boosting trade and promoting social and environmental sustainability across the fisheries value chain.

The meeting, which has been held in Tanzania since 1980, also provided an opportunity to share knowledge, explore technological innovations and develop practical solutions for enhancing the sector’s sustainability.

Assistant Director General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division at the FAO, Mr Manuel Barange, joined the meeting virtually.

He emphasised the importance of dialogue and networking among African countries to overcome emerging challenges.