Retired President of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume

The sixth retired President of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume has urged fishermen to change and use modern fishing equipment in high sea in order to fight poverty and increase income.

Speaking during the launching of the USD 2.5m new building owned by thr Zanzibar Fishing Authority here, he said they have to use modern fishing equipment.

He urged fishermen to maintain the building and protect sea resources since it was their own responsibility.

Karume also asked the Authority to prepare strategies which would ensure that the there is no acts of piracy on the Zanzibar sea and fishermen conduct their activities without permission.

He said if all measures are taken to curb illegal fishing , legal permits for foreign vessel are issued it will enable the authority to increase income and livelihood of fishermen will improve.

He said high sea plays a crucial role in the development of economy particularly in development of industries.

“In order to improve fishing at high sea, there must be modern fishing vessels which would go extra miles and have capability of taking much of time in searching for fish,” he stressed.

He also urged investors to invest in the fishing industry which would help increase income to the people and improve economy of the country.

Speaking earlier, the Minister for livestock and Fishing, Said Ali Mbarouk, thanked the World Bank for funding the construction of the building and the supporting of fishing sector.

According to data from the fisheries department, catches in recent years have remained at about 25,000 tonnes annually, almost entirely from efforts of more than 30,000 artisanal fishermen.

Included is some 10,000 tonnes which is believed to be the quantity consumed locally by the fishermen and their families.

The per capita consumption of fish is high, between at least 25 and 40 kg/person annually.

Fish is the major contributor of animal protein in the diet of the average Zanzabari, and is almost the only animal protein for the lower income groups in the population.