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`Politicians have interests in dynamite fishing in coastal regions`
2007-12-11 10:03:11
By Lusekelo Philemon
Politicians in the country`s coastal regions have been alleged to be behind increasing incidents of dynamite fishing.
``This is the main impediment towards sustainable solution to over explosive fishing -the looming environmental tragedy in Tanzania,`` said the Fisheries`s Department Executive Director, Godfrey Nanyoro .
Director Nanyoro said: ``Armed forces which were deployed in the 1990s did a recommendable job and managed to reduce the scale of the dynamite fishing along the coast.`` in his paper at the just concluded Bagamoyo, Coast region meeting.
Presenting a paper on the national meeting on illegal use of explosives in fishing over the weekend at the Bagamoyo meeting, Nanyoro said some politicians in the coastal strip were uncomfortable with the successful campaign and they interfered its success.
``In 2000, the Tanzania People`s Defense Forces were forced to discontinue with the patrolling exercises,`` he said.
He said most politicians in the areas were putting their own interests for political gains rather than the fate of the country`s ecological and economical sustainability.
According to some top fisheries` experts, explosives were being heard in the off shores of Indian ocean ten times a day and in some pockets more than that on daily basis.
The increased dynamite incidents were allegedly due to poor participation of politicians in the campaigning processes.
Apart from the existing Beach Management Units (BMUs), Nanyoro said that the problem was getting out of hand calling for urgent collective efforts from all key players, the government, state organs, NGOs, private sector and other stakeholders.
It`s said that, fish species were depleting in the Tanzania`s sea waters due to dynamite fishing.
The trend is held to limit number of employment opportunities and shatters government`s vision of reducing poverty levels and meeting MDGs.
Tourism sector also was in danger, as tourists were not comfortable with the frequent explosives along the sea shores, it is further alleged.
``This again reduces the income of communities living along the coast-from Mtwara to Tanga and the Isles.``
Dynamite fishing, has been described as a new way of terrorism in the Tanzania`s water bodies, which shelters several unique fish and coral reef species that are useful for tourism.
Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism explained the government’s commitment to rescue the degraded oceanic environment.
Commenting on the matter, Jamal Rwambow, Kinondoni Regional Police Commander, urged politicians to change their mindset and be responsible for the national interests.
``To stop armed forces from operations against dynamite blasts is to slow down the government move towards prosperities. Let`s resume TPDF operations and play their role,`` said Abdul Aziz, Tanga regional commissioner.
The RC said the set penalties weren`t enough to the culprits-because dynamite fishing was detrimental to the environment.
In their final deliberations, they formed a special task force that will help to trim down the alleged increasing number of explosives along the indian Ocean Coast.
The meeting was sponsored by the British High Commission and hosted senior public officials, Regional Commissioners, Regional Police Officers from all coastal regions both from the mainland and Zanzibar.
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