Tanzania intensifies fight against illegal fishing
DODOMA: THE government is stepping up its efforts to combat illegal fishing, particularly targeting the influx of illicit nets that threaten the long-term sustainability of fishery in Lake Tanganyika, Africa’s deepest freshwater lake and the world’s second deepest.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David Silinde told legislators on Wednesday that government authorities are intensifying checks at border points to impound these prohibited fishing gear.
“The government prohibits the use of illegal fishing nets. Illegal nets are not allowed to cross our borders. The government insists that nets should be manufactured within the country,” he stated on behalf of Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
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He was responding to a question from Special Seats Member of Parliament, Sylvia Sigula, who wanted to know when the government would eradicate illegal fishing in Lake Tanganyika. Mr Silinde said the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries is employing a multi-pronged approach to tackle this persistent challenge.
It is collaborating with various stakeholders, including the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), to ensure the protection and sustainable harvesting of fisheries resources.
Furthermore, the Ministry has been strengthening all Fisheries Resource Protection and Management centres in the Lake Tanganyika zone by providing them with essential working tools, he said.
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A key strategy involves the use of modern drone technology to monitor and combat illegal fishing activities on the lake, the deputy minister said. Additionally, the Ministry, in partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations, continues to educate fishing communities and other stakeholders on the detrimental effects of illegal fishing practices.
“I would like to urge Local Councils to continue collaborating with the Ministry in controlling illegal fishing activities,” Minister Silinde appealed.
“Also, I call upon all fishers in the country, including those in Lake Tanganyika, to conduct their activities by adhering to fishing guidelines, procedures, laws and regulations. By doing so, we will have eradicated illegal fishing here in the country, including in Lake Tanganyika.” Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a significant problem in Lake Tanganyika, severely impacting fish stocks and the livelihoods of local communities.
This includes activities such as fishing without licences, exceeding quotas and the widespread use of illegal gear.
Last year, fishers in Kigoma expressed concerns to the `Daily News’ that illegal gill-nets were undermining the lake’s ecosystem and hindering its recovery.
These nets, known for entangling fish by their gills, are particularly destructive as they often catch non-target species and disrupt the delicate ecological balance.
Despite various efforts to curb their use, illegal gill-nets continue to be a major issue, threatening the long-term sustainability of the sardine fishery and other valuable species like pelagic and perch.
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The Principal Fisheries Officer Zonal Incharge for Lake Tanganyika, Agnely Lishala, told the `Daily News’ that while gill-nets are permitted for fishing in Lake Tanganyika, they must strictly comply with the specifications outlined in the 2003 Fisheries Act and its subsequent amendments.
Gill-nets that violate these regulations, such as those with excessive mesh size or improper panelling, are deemed illegal, he said. Specifically, Section 58A of the 2020 Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations prohibits gillnets with panelling exceeding 144 meshes or measuring less than 3 inches in height, as well as those with less than 4 ply or more than 6 ply.
Mr Lishala confirmed that despite ongoing efforts, these illegal nets continue to be smuggled into the country in large quantities, often with specifications that flagrantly exceed legal limits.
