Page 12 - Tanzania Report

employment, volume and value output functions more productive than the commercial fisheries
(Sobo 4 2004). However, the contribution of the artisanal fisheries to foreign exchange earnings and
revenue to Tanzania is very minimal.

Mariculture

The government of Tanzania has committed itself to boost and develop the mariculture sector in
order to supply the growing international demand of foods. A variety of species like seaweed, finfish
Country Profile
and Mud crab are being farmed on the coastal regions, prawns are being farmed in Mafia and
Tanga regions. The plans to diversify into this market are immense as evident from the government
establishment of a Seaweed Development Strategic Plan proposed in 2005 and the Aquaculture
The Republic of Tanzania
Development Strategy proposed in 2008. The sector, however greatly depends on the knowledge and
financial support of international donors.

Despite the increasing threats of theft and vandalism in communities, the support of this sector
from both the government and NGOs has not deterred the expansion of this sector into Tanzania’s
economy.

Fisher’s organization

In 2008, the Republic of Tanzania established the Beach Management Units (BMUs) in fishing coastal
communities to enable transparency, empowering fishers to participate in the fish management
system and resource planning. Fishers are able to participate in decision making, acquire fishing
licenses for the movement, acquire data and information about the fisheries industry and also get
entitlement to services like beach cleaning and fish vessel patrols. Currently the plan is to have BMU
at all landing sites. In line to the establishment of BMUs, a Collaborative Fisheries Management
Areas (CFMA) was implemented which basically address the issues of the fishing gear, the size of
fish to be caught and the closing and opening seasons of fishing grounds. Other organizations are
established to look into the fisheries sector are; Tanzania Fish Processors Association (TIFPA), the
Dar es Salaam Fisheries Union (UWAWADA) and Crews Association for commercial fishing vessel
workers in Tanzania (WAMEUTA)

Traditional management systems
This has been long undermined and over looked by the fisheries industry, decision makers and by
also the marine science world. It is of recent authorities in Tanzania came to acknowledge that the
fisherfolk of Tanzania had great deal of knowledge on the coastal and marine environment. (Bryceson
et al. 1982). Examples of fisherfolk of Chwaka, Matemwe and Mkokotoni have knowledge on the
type of fishing gear to use, lunar and tidal effects on fishing activities, the cause of decline on the
number of crabs in Chwaka Bay among others.

The traditional management systems in Tanzania, however, have basically retained their mode of
operation, but due to increased pressures, and opportunities, traditional management systems have
become more vulnerable and the lack of legal recognition for the traditional systems of management
in recent years has led to their failure. Although some new laws in Tanzania acknowledge the
relevance and importance these traditional systems being integrated in the planning and decision-
making processes, the mechanisms of their institutionalization have not be laid down.

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