Fisheries in mainland Tanzania are managed by the Fisheries Department, subordinate to the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT). Under the current decentralized administrative structure, the department does not extend down to district level, and has no representation in the districts. Fisheries and aquaculture issues at district level are the responsibility of district fisheries officers who answer to the local District Council.
The fisheries sector in Tanzania is dominated by the artisanal Nile perch fishery on Lake Victoria, both in terms of volume, landed value, export revenue and government tax revenues. The industrial shallow water shrimp fishery is the most economically important marine fishery, but its contribution to the economy much less significant than that of the Nile perch fishery.
Table 1 - Fisheries in the economy (mainland)
|
Fisheries as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) |
2.7% |
2000 (BoT, 2001) |
|
|
Fisheries as percentage of exports |
12% |
2000/01, idem |
|
|
Direct employment |
121 000 |
2002, Fisheries Department (Artisanal), estimate (Industrial) |
|
| |
Artisanal |
119 400 |
|
|
Industrial |
1 500 |
|
|
|
Marine |
21 300 |
|
|
|
Freshwater |
99 600 |
|
|
|
Production (tonnes) |
334 000 |
2002, Fisheries Department |
|
| |
Nile perch |
92 000 |
|
|
Shrimp |
2 000 |
|
|
|
Exports (million US$) |
91.1 |
2002 (URT, 2003) |
|
| |
Shrimp |
6.6 |
|
|
Nile perch (all forms) |
77.1 |
|
|
There is currently only one commercial shrimp aquaculture project in Tanzania, still in the early stages of implementation. There is some small scale culture of tilapia, but the economic contribution is not significant. The mariculture of seaweeds for export make important contributions at coastal community levels, but the practise is not yet very widespread.
Fisheries in Zanzibar are managed through the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Cooperatives.
The fisheries sector in Zanzibar is dominated by artisanal fisheries, mostly fishing for national markets. There are no large scale commercial inshore fisheries, but EEZ fishing activity makes a larger contribution (relatively) to state revenues than with mainland Tanzania.
Table 2 - Fisheries in the economy (Zanzibar)
|
Fisheries as % of GDP |
2.5% |
RGZ, 1999 |
|
|
Direct employment |
23 800 |
1997, Fisheries Department, Zanzibar (FDZ) |
|
|
Production (tonnes) |
22 000 |
2002, FDZ |
|
| |
Anchovies |
3 500 |
|
|
Emperors |
2 100 |
|
|
The most significant export product is dried seaweed (approx. 4 000 tonnes/year) from extensive small scale mariculture.
