A cross section of invited guests at the function

State-of-the-art marine research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen has just concluded its two-week long research on fishery resources and ecosystem on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean waters.

This is the 3rd ship to bear the Nansen name during an ongoing 40-year partnership between FAO and Norway. Housing seven different laboratories packed with high tech equipment, the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen vessel is the only marine research ship that flies the UN flag. The vessel is conducting surveys in several countries with the objective to collect data on distribution and abundance of fish stocks, biodiversity, environmental conditions, occurrence of microplastics, using cutting-edge technology and sophisticated equipment to help developing countries assemble scientific data critical to sustainable fisheries management and study how a changing climate is affecting our oceans. 

Under the framework of the EAF-Nansen Programme funded by Norway and executed by FAO in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) of Norway the vessel is carrying out a regional Resources and Ecosystem Survey in Southeast Africa and in the Indian Ocean. Under this Progamme, thirty (30) African countries including Tanzania are set to receive technical and scientific support on fisheries management through the adoption and implementation of a sustainable ecosystem approach.

 Research was timely

Speaking on Thursday (April 19) at a port call event to mark the climax of the Tanzanian leg research organized at the Dar es Salaam Port aboard the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen vessel, the Chief Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania, HE Ambassador Eng. John William Kijazi said that the research was timely and that it was going to boost Tanzania’s industrialization drive in the fishing sector. He was representing the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, HE Dr. John Joseph Pombe Magufuli at the occasion.

“Indeed this is a great milestone for Tanzania to benefit from the services of such a high-tech research vessel with support from partners in this case FAO and Government of Norway, to establish with certainty the types and quantity of fish stocks and other marine resources in her waters,” he said adding: “The data on fisheries will be useful information for decision-making in tapping into opportunities to both local and international investors in the Fisheries sector while taking into consideration environmental concerns. With accurate data we can attract interested investors to come and establish fish processing and related industries in the country and therefore boost our industrialisation drive.”

Speaking at the same event the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Luhaga Joelson Mpina, said that it was Government’s hope that the data from the research would help the country to establish with certainty the types and quantity of fish stocks and other marine resources that we have in our Indian Ocean waters. “This will enable us to get investors in this area who will then build fish processing and related industries that apart from creating employment to our people especially the youth along the value chain development, will also boost our revenues,” he said.  

Contribution to sustainable use of marine resources

FAO Representative to Tanzania, Fred Kafeero, said that Partnership with the Norwegian Government in the implementation of the Nansen Programme is of major importance to FAO. “Beyond the information that will make it possible to better manage the use of resources in a sustainable way, the research will allow a better understanding of the impacts of climate change and other external factors, such as pollution, on aquatic ecosystems,” he said.

On her part, the Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Hanne-Marie Kaarstad, said: “It is my sincere hope that the Nansen vessel will contribute not only in making the scientific data available, but also to strengthen the capacity when it comes to use these data in order to develop frameworks for good management of marine resources.  The oceans have enormous potential in terms aquaculture, fisheries and fish processing. Knowledge based policies for these resources will create a basis for new industries such as mineral extraction on the seabed and the cultivation and harvest of seaweed, kelp and other organisms, contributing to Tanzania’s development efforts”.

The event was jointly organized by FAO in collaboration with the Embassy of Norway in Tanzania, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and was attended by other Ministers from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, ambassadors and heads of dilpomatic missions and UN agencies in Tanzania.

Background

The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) -Nansen Programme funded by Norway, is becoming one of the main reference frameworks of FAO in supporting countries in their efforts to manage fisheries and implement the principles of sustainable development. FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and many international agreements highlight the benefits that could be achieved by adopting an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF). The EAF is a way to implement many of the provisions of the Code by providing direction on how to translate the economic, social and ecological policy goals and aspirations of sustainable development into operational objectives, indicators and performance measures. The EAF aims at reconcile two paradigms: conserving the structure and diversity of the ecosystems and satisfying societal and human needs for food and economic benefits through management actions.

The Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and FAO signed a cooperation programme agreement for the implementation of the EAF-Nansen Programme, with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) providing scientific services.  This new EAF-Nansen Programme has an added focus on impacts of climate variability and change and of pollution affecting marine ecosystem productivity and health.