Optimism high as Kilwa fishing port project reaches 70 percent

Dar es Salaam. The construction of Tanzania’s first fishing port in Kilwa Masoko, located on the Indian Ocean coastline in the Lindi region, is nearing completion, with 70 percent of the project finished.

The project marks a step forward in Tanzania’s strategy to boost the country’s deep-sea fishing industry and improve livelihoods for thousands in the fishing community.

With a construction cost of TSh 289.5 billion, the port is set to create 30,000 jobs upon completion and is expected to be fully operational by January next year.

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 deep-sea fishing market.

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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.

The Director of Infrastructure and Development at the Ministry, Mr George Kwandu, told this paper that Tanzania currently fails to fully capitalize on deep-sea fishing because much of the catch is taken by large foreign vessels or discarded due to a lack of transport facilities.

The new port will address such shortfalls and allow fish not bound by contracts to be brought to Kilwa Masoko, where they can be processed and sold to traders, creating a more efficient and profitable supply chain.

“This fishing port will bring significant changes to the fishing sector in Tanzania. It will have the capacity to store 1,800 tonnes of fish at a time and accommodate ships measuring up to 35 meters,” said Mr Kwandu.

The Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port is expected to become a hub for deep-sea fishing, bringing vital infrastructure that will drive growth in Tanzania’s fisheries sector and support local communities in increasing their economic output.

Last month, during the 8th Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters, and Fisheries of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Abdallah Ulega, said small-scale fishermen were playing a vital role in the country’s fishing industry.

He said that 95 percent of Tanzanian fishermen operate on a small scale basis, contributing significantly to both the economy and food security.

Tanzania produces 472,579 tonnes of fish annually, with 429,168 tonnes coming from natural waters.

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

The completion of the Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port is expected to play a crucial role in transforming Tanzania’s fisheries sector.

The port aligns with Tanzania’s recent efforts to improve fishing technology and access international markets, particularly for tuna.

The Tanzanian government, through the Deep Sea Fisheries Authority (DSFA), has signed an agreement with trawler owners and secured funding from USAID to implement an Electronic Monitoring (EM) system in deep-sea waters.

This initiative aims to help Tanzania tap into the lucrative American market for tuna.

The Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port is part of a broader development agenda under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, which aims to empower Tanzania’s productive sectors.

The President, who launched the port’s construction in September 2023, envisions the project as a catalyst for growth in Tanzania’s blue economy, creating jobs and facilitating value addition in fish products.

President Hassan’s administration has significantly increased the budget for the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development to 460.334bn/-  for the fiscal year 2024/25, up from 176bn/- in 2021/22 and just 66.8bn/- in 2020/21.

The investment reflects the government’s commitment to fostering economic transformation in Tanzania’s fishing sector.

During the launch of the Kilwa Masoko port, President Hassan also mentioned plans for a similar facility in Bagamoyo to capitalize on the country’s expansive coastline.

She said the Kilwa port would open opportunities not only for fishermen but also for those involved in value-added processes, such as seaweed farming and fish processing.

“If Kilwa doesn’t experience significant change after this project, we will need to evaluate where the problem lies, as the government is investing heavily to empower people and solve their challenges,” the President stated. She also discussed potential airport upgrades to facilitate the export of fish products from Kilwa, contingent on the port’s success.

The construction of the Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port is expected to take 36 months, including 24 months of construction and one year of supervision.