TANZANIA is considering enhancing its distant water fishing sector to increase its contribution in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a senior official in the Planning Commission in the Ministry of Finance and Planning has said.
He said the government targets to
increase the sector’s share to 10 percent by 2020, up from 2.9 per cent.
Speaking at a Fisheries Stakeholders Meeting organised by WWF and held
in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Planning Commission official, Mr Julius
Edward, said a plan is already in place and is seeking ministerial
sectors, private sector and civil society organisation partnership to
improve its contribution.
“There are a number of challenges,
especially with regard to preserving the marine nature and promote
sustainable development,” he added.Mr Edward pointed out that to make
matters even worse; climate change was becoming a threat.
However, the Vice-President’s Office
responsible for environment is working on a national adaptation plan
that will be launched soon. The workshop was held ahead alarming
dynamite fishing and other illegal activities putting the contribution
of the sector to the GDP to a limited as nothing. WWF Marine Sector
Coordinator Dr Mathias Iguru detailed that the sector has been vital to
about 30 per cent or 10 million people living near the coast.
“Illegal fishing and poor protection of
the water will affect a huge population directly depending on fishery
activities other than human, aquaculture, flora and fauna,” Dr Iguru
observed. He called for effective climate adaptation and enhancement of
sustainable artisanal fisheries.
But in his observation, the coordinator
noted that there was also a need to strengthen the judicial process in
cases of dynamite fishing and promote effective use of research.
Mwambao Coastal Community Network
Country Coordinator Mr Ali Thani and Journalist Environment Association
of Tanzania Chairperson Dr Ellen Otaru called for joint partnership of
CSO and private sector to help oversee implementation of sustainable
development goals.
Dr Otaru said while the organisation can
make good use of the media houses to inform the public, Mr Thani
highlighted the need to support artisanal fishers by creating a special
fund to finance the sector.
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