Ministry distributes 11 vehicles to boost fisheries project

KATARE MBASHIRU

Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba

THE Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has handed over 11 brand new motor vehicles to directors and heads of institutions of the fisheries department in yet another boost, aimed at smoothening implementation of the 36 million US dollars (79.2bn/-) project funded by the World Bank.

The ministry, through the Department of Fisheries Development is currently implementing a project dubbed ‘Southwest Indian ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth (SWIOFish) that aims at strengthening regional collaboration amongst countries surrounding the Indian ocean, hiking the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as boosting economic inclusion in the Coast Regions, among others.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the ministry’s headquarters, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba said that as part of the project, his ministry intends to put measures in place that will provide proper statistics for stock assessment of fish and their total allowable catch in order to have sustainable fishing in the country.

“In other countries that have made tremendous strides in the fishing profession, stock assessment ought to be done in each fishing season before any issuance of fishing licence,’’ said the Minister in his speech read on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry in charge of fisheries development, Dr Yohana Budeba.

According to him, the funding from the Bretton Woods institution for SWIOFish would help in boosting data and statistics collection whereas researchers will be able to be closer to people to create awareness on the importance of responsible fishing. SWIOFish project, according to Acting Director in the Department of Fisheries Development, Magese Emmanuel, is currently being implemented in Tanzania, Comoro, South Africa, Mauritius and Seychelles.

Mr Emmanuel also revealed that the multibillion shillings project which kicked off in June 2015 is expected to be implemented within six years.

The project is being implemented by the Department of Fisheries Development and Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) and the Private Sector through a special loans fund and all district councils surrounding the shores of Indian Ocean, among others.

In August 2017, Dr Tizeba handed over to the heads of the Department of Fisheries Development 17 motorcycles for the implementation of the project.

This means, the 11 vehicles that were handed over yesterday, complements the motorcycles that were handed over by the Minister.

The Minister further warned the heads of department to utilize the vehicles effectively, failure to which he will confiscate them and hand over to other departments of the ministry.