TANZANIA — In Tanzania, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been actively collaborating with partners to address the challenges and opportunities within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, ensuring a resilient and nourishing future for all.
Tanzanian territorial sea covers approximately 64,000 km2 with a coastal line of 1,424 km. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles, providing additional marine area and fisheries resources.
Inland waters, including rivers and transboundary lakes such as Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa, constitute an essential part of Tanzania’s fisheries sector.
The sector’s contribution is underscored by its employment of over 195,000 people in capture fishery and 30,000 in aquaculture.
Additionally, around 4.5 million people, equivalent to 6.96% of Tanzania’s population, are indirectly employed in various ancillary activities related to fisheries. The sector also contributes to the country’s GDP, accounting for 1.8% in 2021.
While Tanzania’s fish consumption provides 30% of the total animal protein, per capita fish consumption remains at 8.5 kg, considerably below the global average of 20.5 kg.
Challenges such as post-harvest losses, inadequate processing skills, limited access to financial services, feeble governance systems, and insufficient data management hinder the sector’s potential to generate wealth and uplift dependent communities.
In light of these challenges, FAO’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable fisheries management in Tanzania aim to enhance the sector’s resilience, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve livelihoods for those dependent on fisheries.
By addressing these challenges, Tanzania can unlock the full potential of its fisheries sector and contribute to improved food security and nutrition for its people.
In a world where food security and nutrition are paramount concerns, sustainable fisheries management takes center stage.
According to the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report for the year 2022, global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a peak of 214 million tonnes in 2020, encompassing 178 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 36 million tonnes of algae.
The report noted that with about 58.5 million people employed in fisheries and aquaculture worldwide, of which approximately 21% are women, these sectors provide livelihoods for around 600 million people.
Per capita fish consumption increased from an average of 9.9 kg in the 1960s to approximately 20.5 kg in 2020. Projections indicate that increased income, urbanization, and improvements in post-harvest practices could drive fish consumption to rise by 15% by 2030.
However, international trade in fisheries and aquaculture products decreased from USD 165 billion in 2018 to 151 billion in 2021. Significant variations exist between regions, with around 70% of global production coming from Asian countries, followed by the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
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