MINISTER for Livestock and Fisheries, Abdalah Ulega, has suspended Acting Director of Fisheries Stephen Lukanga for failure to execute his duties effectively especially, in dealing with illegal fishing in the country Instead the minister has appointed Professor Mohamed Sheikh as Director of Fisheries in replacement.
Before the appointment, Prof Sheikh served as Director of Research, Training and Extension Department within the ministry. In his address, Mr Ulega instructed him to collaborate with the security and defence organs to combat illegal fishing activities.
Handing over11 modern boats worth 1.85 bn/- to fishermen in Dar es Salaam and Coast regions, the minister stressed the importance of the new director of fisheries to work closely with the security organs in order to realise their goals.
The minister also ordered fishermen to cooperate with the government by providing information on people who use illegal ways of fishing such as explosives. Ulega also instructed the fishermen to protect resources with the aim of increasing the country’s economy and become financially dependent.
“Let us use the modern boats to boost our income and promote growth of the country’s economy and they should not be source of conflicts by doing so it will help to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1.8 per cent to 10 percent for the year 2030,” he said .
He noted that the boats have been provided by the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) noting that it also provides loans to fishermen.
The minister noted that if the fishermen will continue being trustful the bank will; continue to provide more support TADB will continue to aid more boats to the fishermen.
For his part the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Prof Riziki Shemdoe said the delivery of the boats is in response to a plan by the government to empower small scale fishermen in the Dar es Salaam and Coast regions.
Professor Shemdoe said a total of 92 boats will be provided in the Coastal zone and 27 in the Dar es Salaam and Coastal region.
“Today (yesterday) we have handed over the boats in various areas including Bagamoyo, Kinondoni, Temeke, Kigamboni, Ilala, Kibiti and other areas,” he said.
On the other hand, the Ilala District Commissioner, Edward Mpogolo said the boats will help to strengthen fishing activities in Ilala District.
