Local fish exporter expands operations with fish collection centers

TANZANIA – Alpha Tanganyika Flavour Ltd, a prominent local fish exporting company specializing in fish from Lake Tanganyika, has unveiled ambitious plans to establish fish collection centers in three regions – Rukwa, Katavi, and Kigoma.

The move is aimed at facilitating increased exports and providing local fishers with more market opportunities.

The announcement was made by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Alpha Nondo, during an exclusive interview at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF 2023) held in Dar es Salaam.

Mr. Nondo disclosed that the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries is supporting this initiative, which seeks to address the ongoing challenge of inadequate fish collection for export.

“In the current year alone, we have received an order for the export of 30 containers of fish from Lake Tanganyika. The demand is substantial, but our current collection capacity is insufficient. We urgently need to establish these collection centers,” emphasized Mr. Nondo.

Alpha Tanganyika Flavour Ltd primarily exports fish to the United States, with a notable presence in 20 states across the country.

Mr. Nondo highlighted their focus on promoting Lake Tanganyika’s unique fish species, noting that some species found in Lake Tanganyika are exclusive to this region and cannot be obtained elsewhere.

The company’s journey in the fish export business began with its distinction as the first to receive a license for exporting fish from the lake.

Although faced with initial challenges, they adapted to consumer preferences and steadily gained a competitive edge in the market.

Presently, the company has boosted its fish processing capacity through the introduction of a state-of-the-art drying machine.

“Since 2021, we’ve been able to dry two tonnes of fish every two hours, totaling 10 tonnes of sardines per day.”

Fisheries sector sees growth of 1.9% in 2022

In the backdrop of Alpha Tanganyika Flavour Ltd’s expansion plans, Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Mr. Alexander Mnyeti, has revealed encouraging statistics about the fisheries sector in Tanzania.

During a session in the National Assembly, he announced that government investments in the sector had boosted its contribution to the national economy by 1.8% in 2022, with a corresponding growth of 1.9%.

Mr. Mnyeti reported that products from sea fishing accounted for 10.68% of all the products from the fisheries sector, totaling 54,823.23 tonnes during the same period.

Additionally, the government collected 1.8 billion Tanzanian shillings in revenue from the sector, indicating its economic significance.

Furthermore, Mr. Mnyeti emphasized the government’s commitment to the development of the blue economy, aligning with efforts in Zanzibar.

“The blue economy policy promotes sustainable exploitation, innovation, and stewardship of ocean resources, fostering economic growth and environmental preservation.”

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