Shortage of speedboats at deep sea mars efforts against illegal fishing

ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar

THE Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba.

THE Minister for Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba, has attributed the increase in cases of illegal fishing and drugs trafficking to insufficient speed boats for marine patrols and criminals, including pirates.

Mr Nchemba said here in a meeting on ‘maritime insecurity and illegal fishing’ with his Isles counterpart that the use of unacceptable fishing methods and foreign ships fishing in the deepsea without permission were still big problems. “We must act now to control illegal fishing including, theft of our fish by foreign vessels.

Our waters must also be free from piracy,” Mr Nchemba said at the meeting in which marine vessel manufacturers from Italy marketed speedboats, which they said they could supply to Tanzania.

Mr Francesco Gargiulo from the MES Company of Italy said they would provide Tanzania with modern speedboats capable of conducting security operations in the deep sea.

Mr Nchemba said that the deep sea remained a target for criminals from outside Tanzania while local security officers were unable to make frequent visits due to lack of patrol boats.

“We need the vessels to stop theft of our sea natural resources and piracy,” the minister pointed out. At the meeting held at the Deep Sea Fishing Authority at Fumba in the West District, the minister said acquiring enough speed patrol boats would help control the illegal fishing and other criminal acts around the sea.

He said his office and their counterparts in the Isles would consider purchasing the modern speed patrol boats in their next budgets, further vowing that the two governments would ensure that its sea territory is safe and free from illegal fishing.

Mr Nchemba reiterated that the two governments are committed to ensuring that the available resources both on land and in the sea benefit all Tanzanians. The Zanzibar Deputy Minister for Fishing and Livestock, Mr Mohamed Said Mohamed, emphasized on collective responsibility to fight illegal fishing that includes use of explosives in fishing missions.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ernest Magu observed that the country’s lengthy coastal boundary made it difficult to control both onshore and offshore crime, also noting that modern speed patrol boats would greatly help to improve surveillance.

“Lack of modern equipment hampers patrol that should cover the whole coastal area and the deep sea. Criminals have been taking advantage. The government should work hard to equip the police and other security officers to improve patrol,” Mr Magu said